Sources of Law Quiz

Primary Sources of Law

• Primary sources of law include constitutions, statutes, regulations, and case law.
• Examples of primary sources that should be identified and updated in legal research involve court decisions and legislative enactments.
• The authority of primary sources is considered higher and more direct than secondary sources in establishing legal standards.

Branches of Government

• The legislative branch is responsible for enacting and promulgating codes, statutes, rules, regulations, and court decisions.

Secondary Sources

• Secondary materials/sources, such as legal commentaries and textbooks, provide interpretations and analysis of primary law but do not hold the same authority.
• Characteristics of secondary sources include being less authoritative compared to primary sources.
• Secondary sources are useful for context and understanding but are not binding in legal arguments.

Legal Research

• A highly developed sense of relevance is crucial in legal research to effectively identify pertinent information and sources.
• Steps that follow the formulation of legal issues include conducting a thorough search for relevant laws and cases.

Legal Research Tools and Methodology

• Finding tools in legal research, such as indexes and reports, help locate specific legal materials efficiently.
• Steps in the systematic approach to legal research include identifying issues, gathering information, and analyzing findings.
• The TARP Rule aids in identifying significant facts by analyzing factors relating to the topic, audience, relevance, and purpose.

Misconceptions About Legal Research Tools

• Digest sources in legal research summarize case law and provide quick references, but may not always offer comprehensive legal analysis.
• Annotations in legal research serve to comment on court rulings, but misconceptions exist regarding their binding nature.
• Computer-assisted legal research sources provide access to extensive databases and efficiency; however, not all are considered finding tools.

Non-primary Authorities and Misconceptions

• Examples of non-primary authorities include administrative guides and unofficial reports.
• Misunderstandings about the role and authority of secondary materials and missteps in the systematic approach could lead to ineffective legal research practices.

Test your knowledge on the sources of law with this quiz! Learn about primary sources such as statutes and regulations, as well as secondary materials and finding tools. Understand the relative authority of each source and how they contribute to the legal system.