The term stare decisis is important to the U.S. legal system because _____.
A.) the term has no relevance whatsoever to the U.S. legal system
B.) it is an outdated guide for making legal decisions based on the position of the stars
C.) it emphasizes the importance of each judge making an individual decision regarding individual cases
D.) it establishes the concept that earlier judicial decisions can serve as the basis for subsequent legal rulings