Which of the following is included in the concept of source law?

• A. United States Code
• B. Concepts and ideas
• C. Supreme Court Reporter
• D. Alcoholic Beverage Code

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that source law includes not only the formal texts that state the law but also the ideas and principles that underlie those rules. Concepts and ideas provide the reasoning, values, and policy goals that shape how laws are written and how they’re interpreted. So, the broader notion of where law comes from includes these underlying notions—they influence statutory language, judicial interpretation, and the development of legal doctrine. For example, notions like fairness, public safety, and due process help determine how a statute is drafted and how a court should apply it. While a statutory code, like the United States Code, or a case reporter, like the Supreme Court Reporter, or a state code, like an Alcoholic Beverage Code, are actual sources of law, the question emphasizes that the concepts and ideas behind them are also part of source law.