Final answer:
The common law is based on earlier court decisions. It relies on the use of precedent under the principle of stare decisis, allowing courts to ensure consistency and fairness in legal judgments by referencing historical judicial decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In political science, the common law is based on c) earlier court decisions. Common law is a system of law that is developed through the decisions of courts, rather than by relying solely on statutes or written laws passed by the legislature. In common law systems, courts base their decisions on precedent, which means they follow principles established by earlier judicial decisions. The principle of stare decisis is fundamental to common law, requiring courts to respect previous rulings and apply them to new cases that are similar. This is in contrast to civil law systems where laws are codified and judges have less room for interpretation.
Judges in common law systems look at the pattern of law developed through these cases to guide their decisions and ensure consistency and fairness in the legal process. Precedent is therefore the historical body of judicial decisions that form the basis for judging future cases of similar nature.