In the context of legal systems, which of the following is a primary characteristic of common law?

Common law is fundamentally characterized by its reliance on judicial decisions and precedents. This system evolves through the judgments made by courts, where past rulings are applied to current cases in order to maintain consistency and predictability in the law. The principle of stare decisis, which means "to stand by things decided," is at the heart of common law, ensuring that decisions from higher courts bind lower courts to follow established legal principles.

This characteristic allows for the development of legal standards through interpretations and applications of law over time, which can adapt to new circumstances and societal changes. While statutes and administrative regulations do play important roles in the overall legal framework, they complement rather than define the common law system, which is deeply rooted in case law. The ability of judges to interpret laws and precedents forms a dynamic element of common law that is not found to the same extent in statutory or administrative law, where interpretation is more constrained.