How do fundamental rights differ from statutory rights?

• A. Fundamental rights are created by laws
• B. Statutory rights are protected by the Constitution
• C. Fundamental rights are protected by the Constitution; statutory rights are created by laws passed by the government
• D. Statutory rights are permanent

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that fundamental rights come from the Constitution and are meant to protect essential liberties from government action, making them hard to take away or change through ordinary law. Because they’re part of the constitutional framework, altering them usually requires a constitutional amendment or a significant judicial ruling. Statutory rights, by contrast, come from laws that the legislature passes. They grant protections or benefits through statutes and can be created, amended, or repealed by future legislation, without touching the Constitution itself.

That’s why the best description is that fundamental rights are protected by the Constitution, while statutory rights are created by laws passed by the government. For context, fundamental rights include protections like free speech and due process, while statutory rights cover things like minimum wage laws or consumer protections that exist because a statute was enacted.