CALIFORNIA LAW JURISPRUDENCE
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What are the three branches of government? Answer: Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial.
◉ What is statutory law? Answer: Law created by a legislative body that
must be written down (codified) and changes with societal values and
events.
◉ What is an ex post facto law? Answer: A law that is not allowed; it
retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were
committed before the law was enacted.
◉ What is the California Penal Code? Answer: A codified set of laws
enacted in 1872 that outlines various criminal offenses and their
punishments in California.
◉ What are the types of state laws under statutory law? Answer: Penal
Code, Vehicle Code, Welfare & Institutions Code, Health & Safety
Code, Evidence Code, Civil Code, Business & Professions Code,
, Education Code, Government Code, Fish & Game Code, Harbor &
Navigation Code, and California Code of Regulations.
◉ What is case law? Answer: Judicial review and appellate court
interpretations that help define vague statutes and codes.
◉ What is precedent in case law? Answer: A legal principle that a
decision made in a previous case should be followed in similar future
cases.
◉ What is the difference between common law and statutory law?
Answer: Common law is based on traditions and judicial decisions,
while statutory law is written and codified.
◉ What is the spirit of the law? Answer: The interpretation of law
violations in relation to legislative intent and the actual words used.
◉ What distinguishes civil law from criminal law? Answer: Civil law
addresses individual wrongs and seeks financial redress, while criminal
law involves the state prosecuting individuals for offenses against
society.
◉ What is required for a conviction in civil cases? Answer:
Preponderance of evidence.
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What are the three branches of government? Answer: Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial.
◉ What is statutory law? Answer: Law created by a legislative body that
must be written down (codified) and changes with societal values and
events.
◉ What is an ex post facto law? Answer: A law that is not allowed; it
retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were
committed before the law was enacted.
◉ What is the California Penal Code? Answer: A codified set of laws
enacted in 1872 that outlines various criminal offenses and their
punishments in California.
◉ What are the types of state laws under statutory law? Answer: Penal
Code, Vehicle Code, Welfare & Institutions Code, Health & Safety
Code, Evidence Code, Civil Code, Business & Professions Code,
, Education Code, Government Code, Fish & Game Code, Harbor &
Navigation Code, and California Code of Regulations.
◉ What is case law? Answer: Judicial review and appellate court
interpretations that help define vague statutes and codes.
◉ What is precedent in case law? Answer: A legal principle that a
decision made in a previous case should be followed in similar future
cases.
◉ What is the difference between common law and statutory law?
Answer: Common law is based on traditions and judicial decisions,
while statutory law is written and codified.
◉ What is the spirit of the law? Answer: The interpretation of law
violations in relation to legislative intent and the actual words used.
◉ What distinguishes civil law from criminal law? Answer: Civil law
addresses individual wrongs and seeks financial redress, while criminal
law involves the state prosecuting individuals for offenses against
society.
◉ What is required for a conviction in civil cases? Answer:
Preponderance of evidence.
