laws

• characteristics of an effective law

  • clear and understandable
  • a reflection of societies values
  • known
  • enforceable
  • stable
• common law


  laws made by the courts
• courts engage in law making in two main ways

  • precedent
  • statutory interpretation
• statute law

  written law passed by a body of legislature
• legislature


  parliament body
• common law


  a body of law based on court decisions rather than codes or statutes
• law makers

  • parliament
  • the courts
• parliament


  supreme law making body, passing legislation