Are we common law?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. It depends
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is the source of police authority in our legal system: do we rely on common law (judge-made rules) or on statutory law and constitutional provisions. Here, the best answer is that we are not common law. While court decisions do interpret statutes and protect constitutional rights, the authority to act—like arrest, search, and enforcement—primarily comes from written statutes, regulations, and the constitution. Common law evolves through court rulings, but it isn’t the sole basis for police powers in this jurisdiction. So, saying we are common law would misstate the primary source of our authority. The other options aren’t as accurate because they imply either a pure judge-made framework, an uncertain basis, or unnecessary ambiguity when the statutory/constitutional framework is the correct foundation.