What must courts enforce even when issues arise?

The appropriate response highlights the principle of the rule of law, which asserts that courts are obliged to enforce statutes, regardless of potential ambiguities or controversies surrounding them. Statutes reflect the will of the legislative body and are intended to govern behavior within a jurisdiction. Even if issues arise regarding the interpretation or application of these statutes, courts are tasked with upholding and enforcing them to maintain order and predictability in the legal system.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the essence of the court's duty to uphold the law. Statutes that are popular, while perhaps indicative of societal approval, do not guarantee their enforceability. It is also not necessary for statutes to be without problems to be enforceable—courts often navigate through complex issues surrounding interpretation. Additionally, the timing of the statute's creation doesn't determine its enforceability; statutes from any time period can be relevant as long as they are valid laws.

Overall, courts must enforce the statutes enacted by the legislative body to ensure that the legal system functions consistently and fairly, regardless of the challenges that may arise.