What is a common legal system based on?

The correct response highlights that a common legal system is often built upon customs, precedence, and tradition, which aligns with the concept of common law. In such a system, judges play a crucial role in interpreting the law and their decisions establish legal precedents that influence future cases. This approach emphasizes the importance of historical legal practices and societal norms in shaping legal principles.

In common law systems, the reliance on judicial precedents—often referred to as "stare decisis"—is fundamental. This means that decisions made in previous cases are taken into account when judging new cases, thereby creating consistency and continuity in the legal framework. This reflects how a legal system evolves over time, nurturing it with socio-cultural influences and historical significance.

The other options present different legal frameworks. Written laws and government mandates refer to codified systems, such as civil law, while theocratic principles relate more closely to religious legal systems where religious texts dictate laws. Lastly, international treaties and agreements typically govern relations between sovereign states but do not describe an internal legal system within a country. Each of these options shows different foundational principles for legal systems, but the principle of customs, precedence, and tradition specifically pertains to common law systems.