Abstract: A method for identifying which business rules relate to particular segments of source or object code, comprising the steps of identifying a set of business rules, providing each business rule with a business rule unique identifier, and attaching an attribute containing the business rule unique identifier to a segment of code. The method can be used to validate the existence of a business rule at coding time, compile time, or on demand, as well as to query compiled code for a particular business rule. An automated system comprising a set of business rules, a set of business rule unique identifiers, and one or more attributes attached to one or more segments of source or object code, wherein each attribute contains at least one business rule unique identifier. The system can be implemented in connection with any programming language or environment that allows attributes and utilizes reflection.