In legal analysis, what is the term for the legal question at the core of an issue?

The term that denotes the legal question at the core of an issue is the "legal issue." This refers to the specific question that needs to be addressed in legal proceedings or analysis. Accurately identifying the legal issue is foundational to any legal reasoning process, as it establishes the framework for all subsequent analysis, arguments, and conclusions within a case.

The other options, while they may seem relevant, do not encapsulate this concept as precisely as "legal issue." A legal premise refers to a basic assumption or proposition that supports a legal argument but does not focus on a specific question. Judicial inquiry generally describes the process by which judges investigate legal questions but does not denote a singular question itself. A legal query, though it implies a question in legal terms, is more informal and does not carry the same weight as "legal issue" in formal legal analysis. Therefore, identifying the core legal question with the term "legal issue" is vital for effective legal reasoning and resolution of cases.