Which of the following lists sources that can define an offense?

Which of the following lists sources that can define an offense?

• A. Statutes, municipal ordinances, orders of a county commissioners court, or rule lawfully adopted.
• B. Common law only.
• C. Executive orders.
• D. Codes of practice.

Answer: (A)

Offenses are created by formal, written authority and the rules those authorities adopt. In this context, the sources that can define an offense include statutes enacted by the legislature, municipal ordinances adopted by cities, orders issued by a county commissioners court, and rules that are lawfully adopted under proper authority. These are the recognized, binding bases for criminal or quasi-criminal conduct within their jurisdictions. Common law alone does not typically define modern offenses in this setting, and executive orders generally do not establish offenses unless they operate under statutory authority. Codes of practice are guidance for professionals and do not themselves create crimes.

Offenses are created by formal, written authority and the rules those authorities adopt. In this context, the sources that can define an offense include statutes enacted by the legislature, municipal ordinances adopted by cities, orders issued by a county commissioners court, and rules that are lawfully adopted under proper authority. These are the recognized, binding bases for criminal or quasi-criminal conduct within their jurisdictions.

Common law alone does not typically define modern offenses in this setting, and executive orders generally do not establish offenses unless they operate under statutory authority. Codes of practice are guidance for professionals and do not themselves create crimes.