Sources of Law

Which branch of U.S. government creates statutes?

• Executive

• Judicial

• Legislative

Which branch of U.S. government is charged with enforcing the laws?

• Judicial

• Executive

• Legislative

A state constitution is ________ authority.

• Primary

• Secondary

Commentary on the law is . . .

• primary authority

• secondary authority

• common law

Secondary authority is always . . .

• right

• non-binding

• stare decisis

Which of the following authorities would be binding on the decision on a Massachusetts trial court? Select all that apply.

• A decision from the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

• An appellate court of Illinois case.

• A decision from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

A decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on an issue of state law will bind . . .

• the Massachusetts Appeals Court

• the Massachusetts trial courts

• a federal court deciding a state law claim under Massachusetts law on the same issue

• all of the above

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit . . .

• is a mid-level, federal, appellate court

• binds the U.S. Supreme Court

Consider the following citation: Commonwealth v. Smithson, 41 Mass. App. Ct. 545 (1996).

The 41 stands for . . .

• The volume number of the reporter

• the first page of the case

• the year 344 A.D.

Consider the following citation: Commonwealth v. Smithson, 41 Mass. App. Ct. 545 (1996).

The Mass. App. Ct. stands for . . .

• the General Court of Massachusetts

• an abbreviation for the Massachusetts Appeals Court reporter

• Boston slang