What is the second step in determining whether enacted law applies to a case?

The second step in determining whether enacted law applies to a case involves identifying the elements of the law or statute. This step is crucial because understanding the specific criteria or components that must be satisfied under the law is essential for its application to any given situation. Each law or statute typically has defined elements that determine the scope of its applicability, and these elements must be met for a case to fall under its purview.

By identifying these elements, one can readily assess whether the facts of the case align with the requirements of the law. This step sets the foundation for analyzing how the law interacts with the specifics of the case, leading to a more informed legal analysis and aiding in the accurate application of the law.

The other options serve different purposes in the legal analysis process but do not constitute the immediate next step after recognizing that a law might apply. Identifying the jurisdiction relates to understanding which court's law is relevant, analyzing past case law involves looking at precedent to guide interpretation and application of the law, and collecting evidence is part of building the factual basis of the case rather than interpreting the law itself. Each of these components plays a role in the broader legal analysis process but follows after establishing the specific elements of the law in question.