Question

due. friday, january 23, 2026 at 11:59 pm locks on tuesday, march 31, 2026 at 1:46 pm
answer the constructed response question. your response must answer all parts of the constructed response question and must be at least 3 sentences long

• which influence that we studied do you believe has had the greatest influence on the laws of the united states?
• explain why you chose that influence, including at least 2 examples with details of how that influence is seen in our laws.

posted mon at 9:33 am

Explanation:

English common law is the most impactful influence on U.S. laws, as the U.S. legal system evolved directly from the British colonial legal framework that relied on this tradition. First, the principle of stare decisis (binding precedent) is a core feature of both English common law and U.S. law: judges in the U.S. are required to follow rulings from higher courts in their jurisdiction, just as English judges followed decisions from royal courts to create consistent legal standards. For example, the 1803 case Marbury v. Madison, which established judicial review, is now a binding precedent that guides how federal courts assess the constitutionality of laws, mirroring how English common law built a body of consistent rules over centuries. Second, the structure of U.S. criminal law, including the presumption of innocence and the right to a trial by jury, comes directly from English common law. The right to a jury trial, enshrined in the 6th and 7th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, originated in the English Magna Carta (1215) and the later English Bill of Rights (1689), which guaranteed jury trials to prevent unfair rulings by unaccountable judges. This influence is visible in every U.S. criminal trial, where a jury of peers decides guilt or innocence, a practice rooted entirely in English common law traditions.

Answer:

The greatest influence on the laws of the United States is English common law. This foundational framework shaped the core structure, principles, and procedures of the U.S. legal system through its colonial roots. The principle of stare decisis, or binding precedent, ensures consistency in legal rulings, as seen in Marbury v. Madison establishing judicial review as a lasting precedent for all federal courts. Additionally, the right to a jury trial, protected in the 6th and 7th Amendments, traces directly to English common law protections from the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights, ensuring that citizens are judged by their peers in both criminal and civil cases, a cornerstone of U.S. legal fairness.