BLAW 341 Maull Exam 1 2026/2027 – 150
Verified Q&A with Rationales | Complete
Study Guide | Penn State
,1. Which of the following is a primary source of law?
A. Legal encyclopedia
B. State statute
C. Law review article
D. Legal treatise
Correct Answer: B. State statute
Rationale: Primary sources establish law, while encyclopedias,
treatises, and law review articles are secondary sources.
2. Which source is considered secondary?
A. U.S. Constitution
B. Court opinion
C. Legal treatise
D. Administrative regulation
Correct Answer: C. Legal treatise
Rationale: A legal treatise summarizes and interprets law but does
not itself establish binding law.
3. The U.S. Constitution is best described as:
A. A secondary source
B. The supreme law of the land
, C. A local ordinance
D. An administrative rule
Correct Answer: B. The supreme law of the land
Rationale: The Constitution is the highest source of law in the
United States.
4. If a state law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, which prevails?
A. State law
B. Both laws
C. U.S. Constitution
D. Neither law
Correct Answer: C. U.S. Constitution
Rationale: Under the Supremacy Clause, federal constitutional law
prevails over conflicting state law.
5. Stare decisis means:
A. Let the decision stand
B. Buyer beware
C. The thing speaks for itself
D. Guilty mind
Correct Answer: A. Let the decision stand
Rationale: Stare decisis requires courts to follow precedent from
earlier decisions.
, 6. A court decision that establishes a new legal rule is an example of:
A. Statutory law
B. Common law
C. Constitutional law
D. Administrative law
Correct Answer: B. Common law
Rationale: Judge-made law based on precedent is known as
common law.
7. Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?
A. Local ordinance
B. State constitution
C. Legal encyclopedia
D. Court opinion
Correct Answer: C. Legal encyclopedia
Rationale: A legal encyclopedia is a secondary source because it
explains law rather than creates it.
8. The Uniform Commercial Code is an example of:
A. A model statute
B. A constitutional amendment
C. A court rule
D. An executive order
Verified Q&A with Rationales | Complete
Study Guide | Penn State
,1. Which of the following is a primary source of law?
A. Legal encyclopedia
B. State statute
C. Law review article
D. Legal treatise
Correct Answer: B. State statute
Rationale: Primary sources establish law, while encyclopedias,
treatises, and law review articles are secondary sources.
2. Which source is considered secondary?
A. U.S. Constitution
B. Court opinion
C. Legal treatise
D. Administrative regulation
Correct Answer: C. Legal treatise
Rationale: A legal treatise summarizes and interprets law but does
not itself establish binding law.
3. The U.S. Constitution is best described as:
A. A secondary source
B. The supreme law of the land
, C. A local ordinance
D. An administrative rule
Correct Answer: B. The supreme law of the land
Rationale: The Constitution is the highest source of law in the
United States.
4. If a state law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, which prevails?
A. State law
B. Both laws
C. U.S. Constitution
D. Neither law
Correct Answer: C. U.S. Constitution
Rationale: Under the Supremacy Clause, federal constitutional law
prevails over conflicting state law.
5. Stare decisis means:
A. Let the decision stand
B. Buyer beware
C. The thing speaks for itself
D. Guilty mind
Correct Answer: A. Let the decision stand
Rationale: Stare decisis requires courts to follow precedent from
earlier decisions.
, 6. A court decision that establishes a new legal rule is an example of:
A. Statutory law
B. Common law
C. Constitutional law
D. Administrative law
Correct Answer: B. Common law
Rationale: Judge-made law based on precedent is known as
common law.
7. Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?
A. Local ordinance
B. State constitution
C. Legal encyclopedia
D. Court opinion
Correct Answer: C. Legal encyclopedia
Rationale: A legal encyclopedia is a secondary source because it
explains law rather than creates it.
8. The Uniform Commercial Code is an example of:
A. A model statute
B. A constitutional amendment
C. A court rule
D. An executive order
