Which rule provides the general rule of competency for witnesses?

Which rule provides the general rule of competency for witnesses?

• A. Rule 603
• B. Rule 602
• C. Rule 601
• D. Rule 604

Answer: (C)

The central idea being tested is the baseline rule that governs who may testify as a witness. The general rule of competency sets the default: every person is competent to be a witness unless a later rule says otherwise. This baseline is what makes most people eligible to testify, with exceptions carved out only when a specific rule applies. That’s why this option is the best answer: it captures the overarching standard—the starting point for who can testify—rather than focusing on more narrow requirements. After this baseline, other rules address particular limits on testimony, such as the need for a witness to have personal knowledge of the matter and the requirement that testimony be given under oath or affirmation. There are also additional, narrower provisions about credibility or other specific circumstances, but they operate once competency has been established.

The central idea being tested is the baseline rule that governs who may testify as a witness. The general rule of competency sets the default: every person is competent to be a witness unless a later rule says otherwise. This baseline is what makes most people eligible to testify, with exceptions carved out only when a specific rule applies.

That’s why this option is the best answer: it captures the overarching standard—the starting point for who can testify—rather than focusing on more narrow requirements. After this baseline, other rules address particular limits on testimony, such as the need for a witness to have personal knowledge of the matter and the requirement that testimony be given under oath or affirmation. There are also additional, narrower provisions about credibility or other specific circumstances, but they operate once competency has been established.