S: (n) common law, case law, precedent (a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws) "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States"
S: (n) precedent (a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time))
S: (n) subject, topic, theme (the subject matter of a conversation or discussion) "he didn't want to discuss that subject"; "it was a very sensitive topic"; "his letters were always on the theme of love"
S: (n) bone of contention (the subject of a dispute) "the real bone of contention, as you know, is money"
S: (n) precedent (a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time))
S: (n) question, head (the subject matter at issue) "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets"
S: (n) keynote (the principal theme in a speech or literary work)