Which of the following can be described as primary authority in legal research?

Primary authority in legal research refers to the laws and legal principles that are officially recognized and have binding effect in a jurisdiction. Statutes and regulations, as indicated in the correct answer, are examples of primary authority because they are enacted by legislative bodies or regulatory agencies, making them an essential source of law that practitioners rely on to determine legal rights, obligations, and standards.

Statutes are laws passed by legislatures, providing concrete legal rules that govern behavior. Regulations, on the other hand, are rules created by administrative agencies based on statutes, equipping those agencies with the authority to enforce laws. Together, they form the foundational legal framework that guides courts and individuals in legal matters.

In contrast, law views and opinions, legal textbooks, and secondary sources provide commentary, analysis, or interpretation of the law but do not themselves constitute law. Similarly, public opinions on legal matters reflect societal views and sentiments but hold no formal or binding legal authority, making them secondary to the established legal system. This distinction is crucial in legal research, as practitioners must prioritize primary authority to ensure their work is grounded in legally enforceable rules.