Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

What is the legal authority that allows officers to enforce the law?

1. Duty of care

2. Color of law

3. Judicial review

4. Administrative power

The correct answer is: Color of law

The legal authority that allows officers to enforce the law is known as "color of law." This term refers to actions taken by law enforcement officers that are authorized by law, giving them the legal power to act in their official capacity. When officers operate under the color of law, they have the right to enforce statutes, ordinances, and regulations, and their actions are shielded from personal liability as long as they are acting within the scope of their duties. The concept is crucial because it establishes the legitimacy of law enforcement actions and ensures that officers are held accountable to the law while performing their duties. In contrast, choices related to duty of care, judicial review, and administrative power deal with other aspects of law and governance but do not specifically provide the basis for the legal authority of law enforcement activities. The duty of care pertains to the responsibility to avoid causing harm to others, judicial review involves the evaluation of the legality of legislation and governmental actions by courts, and administrative power refers to the authority of certain agencies to create regulations and enforce them, rather than the direct enforcement authority granted to law enforcement officers.