What does case law consist of?

Case law refers to the body of law that is established through judicial decisions made in courts. It consists of the rules of law that are announced in court decisions, which set precedents for future cases. These decisions interpret and apply statutory laws and can fill in gaps where statutes may be ambiguous or silent on certain issues. This means that through their rulings, judges clarify how the law is understood and implemented in various contexts, guiding both lower courts and future litigants.

In contrast, regulations enacted by administrative agencies represent a different aspect of the law, focusing on the rules created by government agencies based on statutes. Statutes passed by the legislature are laws enacted by the federal or state legislatures, and local ordinances are specific laws created by city councils or municipalities. Each of these components plays a distinct role in the legal system but does not constitute case law.