Law A-Level
Ratio Decidendi
What Ratio Decidendi means in Law A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definition of Ratio Decidendi
The legal reason for a judge's decision, which creates the binding precedent for lower courts.
Topics that use Ratio Decidendi
- The sources of English law, its enforcement and administration (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
Using Ratio Decidendi in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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