Legal systems of the world

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World distribution of major legal traditions
World distribution of major legal traditions

The three major legal systems of the world today consist of civil law, common law and religious law. However, each country (see State law) often develops variations on each system or incorporates many other features into the system.

Contents

[edit] Civil law

Shamash (the Babylonian sun god) hands King Hammurabi a code of law
Shamash (the Babylonian sun god) hands King Hammurabi a code of law

Civil law is the most widespread system of law in the world. It is also known as European Continental law. The central source of law that is recognised as authoritative are codifications in a constitution or statute passed by legislature, to amend a code. Civil law systems mainly derive from the Roman Empire, and more particularly, the Corpus Juris Civilis issued by the Emperor Justinian ca. 529AD. This was an extensive reform of the law in the Eastern Empire, bringing it together into codified documents. Civil law was also partly influenced by religious laws such as Canon law and Islamic law.[1][2] Civil law today, in theory, is interpreted rather than developed or made by judges. Only legislative enactments (rather than judicial precedents) are considered legally binding. However, in reality courts do pay attention to previous decisions, especially from higher courts[citation needed].

Scholars of comparative law and economists promoting the legal origins theory usually subdivide civil law into four distinct groups:

A comprehensive list of countries that base their legal system on a codified civil law follows:

Country Description
Flag of Albania Albania The Civil Code of the Republic of Albania, 1991 really[1]
Flag of Angola Angola Based on Portuguese civil law
Flag of Argentina Argentina The Spanish legal tradition had a great influence on the Civil Code of Argentina, basically a work of the Argentinean jurist Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield, who dedicated five years of his life on this task. The Civil Code came into effect on January 1, 1871. Beyond the influence of the Spanish legal tradition, the Argentinian Civil Code was also inspired by the Draft of the Brazilian Civil Code, the Draft of the Spanish Civil Code of 1851, the Napoleonic code and the Chilean Civil Code. The sources of this Civil Code also include various theoretical legal works, mainly of the great French jurists of the 19th century. It was the first Civil Law that consciously adopted as its cornerstone the distinction between i. rights from obligations and ii. real property rights, thus distancing itself from the French model.

The Argentinian Civil Code was also in effect in Paraguay, as per a Paraguayan law of 1880, until the new Civil Code went in force in 1987.

During the second half of the 20th century, the German legal theory became increasingly influential in Argentina.

Flag of Andorra Andorra Courts apply the customary laws of Andorra, supplemented with Roman law and customary Catalan law.[3]
Flag of Armenia Armenia Civil Code of the Republic of Armenia
Flag of Aruba Aruba Based on Dutch civil law
Flag of Austria Austria The Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (ABGB) of 1811
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
Flag of Belarus Belarus
Flag of Belgium Belgium Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Benin Benin
Flag of Bolivia Bolivia Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Civil Law system influenced mostly by Germanic and Austro-Hungarian law systems
Flag of Brazil Brazil Derived from the Portuguese civil law
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria Civil Law system influenced by Germanic and Roman law systems
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso
Flag of Burundi Burundi
Flag of Chad Chad
Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental civil code legal principles.
Flag of the Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia
Flag of Cape Verde Cape Verde Based on Portuguese civil law
Flag of the Central African Republic Central African Republic
Flag of Chile Chile The Spanish legal tradition exercised an especially great influence on the civil code of Chile. On its turn, the Chilean civil code influenced to a large degree the drafting of the civil codes of other Latin-American states. For instance, the codes of Ecuador (1861) and Colombia (1873) constituted faithful reproductions of the Chilean code, but for very few exceptions. The compiler of the Civil Code of Chile, Andrés Bello, worked for its completion for almost 30 years, using elements, of the Spanish law on the one hand, and of other Western laws, especially of the French one, on the other. Indeed, it is noted that he consulted and used all of the codes that had been issued till then, starting from the era of Justinian.

The Civil Code came into effect on January 1, 1857. Its technique is regarded as perfect; it is distinguished for the clarity, logic and cohesiveness of its provisions. As mentioned by Arminjon, Nolde, and Wolff ('Traite de droit comparé', Paris, 1950-1952) Andrés Bello may be regarded as one of the great legislators of mankind. The influence of the Napoleonic code is great; it is observed however that e.g. in many provisions of property law, the solutions of the French code civil were put aside in favor of pure Roman law.

Flag of Colombia Colombia Civil code introduced in 1873. Nearly faithful reproduction of the Chilean civil code
Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica First Civil Code (a part of the General Code or Carrillo Code) came into effect in 1841; its text was inspired by the South Peruvian Civil Code of Marshal Andres de Santa Cruz. The present Civil Code is into effect since January 1, 1888, and reveals the influenced by the Napoleonic Code and the Spanish Civil Code of 1889 (from its 1851 draft version).
Flag of Croatia Croatia Kazneni zakon RH- Great influence of Austro- Hungarian law system
Flag of Cuba Cuba Influenced by Spanish and American law with large elements of Communist legal theory.
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Flag of Denmark Denmark Scandinavian-German civil law
Flag of the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Based by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Civil code introduced in 1861. Nearly faithful reproduction of the Chilean civil code
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador
Flag of Estonia Estonia
Flag of Finland Finland
Flag of France France Based on the Napoleonic code (code civil of 1804)
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia
Flag of Gabon Gabon
Flag of Guinea Guinea
Flag of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
Flag of Georgia (country) Georgia
Flag of Germany Germany The Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch of 1900 ("BGB"). The BGB is influenced both by Roman and German law traditions.
Flag of Greece Greece The Greek civil code of 1946, highly influenced by the German civil code of 1900 (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch); the Greek civil code replaced the Byzantine-Roman civil law in effect in Greece since its independence (Νομική Διάταξη της Ανατολικής Χέρσου Ελλάδος, Legal Provision of Eastern Mainland Greece, November 1821: 'Οι Κοινωνικοί Νόμοι των Αειμνήστων Χριστιανών Αυτοκρατόρων της Ελλάδος μόνοι ισχύουσι κατά το παρόν εις την Ανατολικήν Χέρσον Ελλάδα', 'The Social [i.e. Civil] Laws of the Dear Departed Christian Emperors of Greece [referring to the Byzantine Emperors] alone are in effect at present in Eastern Mainland Greece')
Flag of Guatemala Guatemala Guatemala has had three Civil Codes: the first one from 1877, a new one introduced in 1933, and the one currently in force, which was passed in 1963. This Civil Code has suffered some reforms throughout the years, as well as a few derogations relating to areas which have subsequently been regulated by newer laws, such as the Code of Commerce and the Law of the National Registry of Persons. In general, it follows the tradition of the roman-French system of civil codification.

Regarding the theory of 'sources of law' in the Guatemalan legal system, the 'Ley del Organismo Judicial' recognizes 'the law' as the main legal source (in the sense of legislative texts), although it also establishes 'jurisprudence' as a complementary source. Although jurisprudence technically refers to judicial decisions in general, in practice it tends to be confused and identified with the concept of 'legal doctrine', which is a qualified series of identical resolutions in similar cases pronounced by higher courts (the Constitutional Court acting as a 'Tribunal de Amparo', and the Supreme Court acting as a 'Tribunal de Casación') whose theses become binding for lower courts.

Flag of Haiti Haiti Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Honduras Honduras
Flag of Hungary Hungary
Flag of Iceland Iceland Based on Germanic traditional laws and influenced by Medieval Norwegian and Danish laws.
Flag of Italy Italy Based on codified Roman law, with elements of the Napoleonic civil code; civil code of 1942 replaced the original one of 1865
Flag of Japan Japan Modeled after European (primarily German) civil law system. Japanese civil code of 1895.
Flag of Latvia Latvia Largely influenced by Germany, medium influences from Russian and Soviet law.
Flag of Lebanon Lebanon Modeled after French civil law
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Modeled after Dutch civil law
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Macau Macau
Flag of the People's Republic of China (China)
Based on the Portuguese strand of the continental tradition, itself much influenced by Germany; also influenced by the law of the PRC
Flag of Mexico Mexico "The origins of Mexico's legal system are both ancient and classical, based on the Greek, Roman and French legal systems, and the Mexican system shares more in common with other legal systems throughout the world (especially those in Latin America and most of continental Europe)..." From: http://www.mexonline.com/lawreview.htm Jaime B. Berger Stender Attorney at Law author, Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Norway Norway Scandinavian-German civil law. King Magnus VI the Lawmender unified the regional laws into a single code of law for the whole kingdom in 1274. This was replaced by Christian V's Norwegian Code of 1687.
Flag of Panama Panama
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay The Paraguayan Civil Code in force since 1987 is largely influenced by the Napoleonic Code and the Argentinian Code
Flag of Peru Peru
Flag of Poland Poland The Polish Civil Code in force since 1965
Flag of Portugal Portugal Influenced by the Napoleonic Code and later by the German Civil Law
Flag of the Republic of China Republic of China (Taiwan)
Flag of Romania Romania Based on the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Russia Russia
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia A Civil Law system influenced mostly by Germanic and Austro-Hungarian law systems
Flag of Spain Spain Influenced by the Napoleonic Code
Flag of Sweden Sweden Scandinavian-German civil law. Like all Scandinavian legal systems, it is distinguished by its traditional character and for the fact that it did not adopt elements of Roman law. It is indeed worth mentioning that it assimilated very few elements of foreign laws whatsoever. It is also interesting that the Napoleonic Code had no influence in codification of law in Scandinavia. The historical basis of the law of Sweden, just as for all Nordic countries, is the Old German law. Codification of the law started in Sweden during the 18th century, preceding the codifications of most other European countries. However, neither Sweden, nor any other Nordic state created a civil code of the kind of the Code Civil or the BGB.
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland The Zivilgesetzbuch of 1908 and 1912 (obligations; fifth book)
Flag of Turkey Turkey Modeled after the Swiss civil law (Zivilgesetzbuch) of 1907; this has been a conscious choice of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish state, in order to abolish the Islamic law (Sharia), aiming at westernizing the country
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Civil Code of Ukraine of 2004
Flag of Uruguay Uruguay
Flag of the Vatican City Vatican City based on principles of Code of Canon Law
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam Communist legal theory and French civil law

[edit] Common law

Main article: Common law
King John of England signs Magna Carta
King John of England signs Magna Carta

Common law and equity are systems of law whose sources are the decisions in cases by judges. Alongside, every system will have a legislature that passes new laws and statutes, however these do not amend a collected and codified body of law. Common law developed in England, influenced by the Norman conquest of England which introduced legal concepts from Norman law and Islamic law.[2] Common law was later inherited by the Commonwealth of Nations, and almost every former colony of the British Empire (Malta being an exception). The doctrine of stare decisis or precedent by courts is the major difference to codified civil law systems.

Common law is currently in practice in Ireland, most of the United Kingdom (England and Wales and Northern Ireland), Australia, India, South Africa, Canada (excluding Quebec), Hong Kong and the United States (excluding Louisiana) and many more places. In addition to these countries, several others have adapted the common law system into a mixed system. For example, Pakistan and Nigeria operate largely on a common law system, but incorporate religious law.

In the European Union the Court of Justice takes an approach mixing civil law (based on the treaties) with an attachment to the importance of case law. One of the most fundamental documents to shape common law is Magna Carta[4] which placed limits on the power of the English Kings. It served as a kind of medieval bill of rights for the aristocracy and the judiciary who developed the law.

Country Description
Flag of American Samoa American Samoa
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda based on English common law
Flag of Australia Australia based on English common law
Flag of the Bahamas Bahamas based on English common law
Flag of Barbados Barbados based on English common law
Flag of Belize Belize based on English common law
Flag of Bhutan Bhutan
Flag of the British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands based on English common law
Flag of Canada Canada based on English common law, except in Flag of Quebec Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails
Flag of Dominica Dominica based on English common law
Flag of England Flag of Wales England and Wales
Flag of the United Kingdom (UK)
primarily common law, with early Roman and some modern continental influences
Flag of Fiji Fiji based on English common law
Flag of Ghana Ghana
Flag of Burma Myanmar based on English common law
Flag of Grenada Grenada based on English common law
Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong
Flag of the People's Republic of China (China)
principally based on English common law
Flag of Ireland Ireland based on Irish law before 1922, which was itself based on English common law
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica based on English common law
Flag of Kiribati Kiribati based on English common law
Flag of the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands based on U.S. Law
Flag of Nauru Nauru based on English common law
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand based on English common law
Northern Ireland
Flag of the United Kingdom (UK)
based on Irish law before 1921, which was itself based on English common law
Flag of Palau Palau based on U.S. Law
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis based on English common law
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines based on English common law
Flag of Tonga Tonga based on English common law
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago based on English common law
Flag of Tuvalu Tuvalu based on English common law
Flag of Uganda Uganda based on English common law
Flag of the United States United States Federal court system based on English common law
Unlike the rest of the other United States, the state legal system of State of Louisiana (USA) is based upon napoleonic code(see below)

[edit] Religious law

Main article: Religious law

Religious law refers to the notion of a religious system or document being used as a legal source, though the methodology used varies. For example, the use of Jewish Halakha for public law has a static and unalterable quality, precluding amendment through legislative acts of government or development through judicial precedent; Christian Canon law is more similar to civil law in its use of civil codes; and Islamic Sharia law (and Fiqh jurisprudence) is based on legal precedent and reasoning by analogy (Qiyas), and is thus considered a precursor to common law.[5]

The main kinds of religious law are Sharia in Islam, Halakha in Judaism, and Canon law in some Christian groups. In some cases these are intended purely as individual moral guidance, whereas in other cases they are intended and may be used as the basis for a country's legal system. The latter was particularly common during the Middle Ages.

The Islamic legal system of Sharia (Islamic law) and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is the most widely used religious law, and one of the three most common legal systems in the world alongside common law and civil law.[6] During the Islamic Golden Age, classical Islamic law had a fairly significant influence on the development of common law,[2] and also influenced the development of several civil law institutions.[1]

Aleppo Codex: 10th century Hebrew Bible with Masoretic pointing
Aleppo Codex: 10th century Hebrew Bible with Masoretic pointing

The Halakha is followed by orthodox and conservative Jews in both ecclesiastical and civil relations. No country is fully governed by Halakha, but two Jewish people may decide, because of personal belief, to have a dispute heard by a Jewish court, and be bound by its rulings. Sharia Law governs a number of Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, though most countries use Sharia Law only as a supplement to national law. It can relate to all aspects of civil law, including property rights, contracts or public law.

Canon law also differs from other religious laws, properly speaking, because it is not found in revelation. Instead, it is seen as human law inspired by the word of God and applying the demands of that revelation to the actual situation of the church. Canon law regulates the internal ordering of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. Canon law is amended and adapted by the legislative authority of the church, such as councils of bishops, single bishops for their respective sees, the Pope for the entire Catholic Church, and the British Parliament for the Church of England.

  • Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
  • Flag of Bahrain Bahrain
  • Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
  • Flag of Iran Iran
  • Flag of Jordan Jordan
  • Flag of Libya Libya
  • Flag of Mauritania Mauritania
  • Flag of Morocco Morocco
  • Flag of Oman Oman
  • Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
  • Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
  • Flag of Sudan Sudan
  • Flag of Syria Syria
  • Flag of The Gambia The Gambia
  • Flag of Western Sahara Western Sahara
  • Flag of Yemen Yemen

[edit] Pluralistic systems

[edit] Civil law and common law

Country Description
Flag of the United Kingdom Akrotiri
Flag of Botswana Botswana South African law (a mixed system) transferred uno acto through a proclamation of reception
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon
Flag of Cyprus Cyprus Based on English common law (Cyprus was a British colony 1878-1960), with admixtures of French and Greek civil and public law, Italian civil law, Indian contract law, Greek Orthodox canon law, Muslim religious law, and Ottoman civil law.
Flag of Guyana Guyana
Flag of Israel Israel Originally (1948) based on English common law; in the process, influenced by German civil law—for instance, between 1962 and 1981, the Knesset issued twenty (20) wide-ranging laws, which were clearly influenced by European continental law, and were in the form of codes. Religious law plays a role, especially in matters of personal status and family law, and judicial and legislative decisions take into account Jewish law (halakhah) on occasion.[7]
Flag of Lesotho Lesotho South African law (a mixed system) transferred uno acto through a proclamation of reception
Flag of Louisiana Louisiana
Flag of the United States (U.S.)
Based on the French Napoleonic Code; the modern legal system of the state of Louisiana has its origin in the Louisiana Purchase (i.e. the sale of Louisiana—not coterminous with the present eponymous state—by Napoleon to the United States of America in 1803), while federal laws (based on common law) are in effect in Louisiana as well.
Flag of Malta Malta Initially based on Roman Law and eventually progressed to the Code de Rohan, Code Napoleon with influences from Italian Civil Law. English common law however is also a source of Maltese Law, most notably in Public Law
Flag of Mauritius Mauritius
Flag of Namibia Namibia South African law (a mixed system) transferred uno acto through a proclamation of reception
Flag of the Philippines Philippines Based on Spanish law; influenced by U.S. common law after 1898 Spanish and Philippine-American Wars.
Flag of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
Flag of the United States (U.S.)
Based on Spanish law; influenced by U.S. common law after 1898 (victory of the U.S. over Spain in the Spanish-American war of 1898 and cession of Puerto Rico to the U.S.)
Flag of Quebec Quebec
Flag of Canada (Canada)
After the defeat of the French in the battle at the Plains of Abraham, the British allowed them to keep their language (French), their religion (Roman Catholicism), and their legal system (civil law). However, as Quebec is part of the Canadian Confederation, English-based laws applied at the federal level are in effect in Quebec also.
Flag of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia
Flag of Scotland Scotland
Flag of the United Kingdom (UK)
based on Roman and continental law, with common law elements dating back to the High Middle Ages
Flag of the Seychelles Seychelles
Flag of South Africa South Africa An amalgam of English common law and Roman-Dutch civil law as well as Customary Law.
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka An amalgam of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law and Customary Law
Flag of Swaziland Swaziland South African law (a mixed system) transferred uno acto through a proclamation of reception
Flag of Thailand Thailand
Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe South African law (a mixed system) transferred uno acto through a proclamation of reception

[edit] Civil law and religious law

Country Description
Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
Flag of Algeria Algeria
Flag of Bahrain Bahrain
Flag of the Comoros Comoros
Flag of Djibouti Djibouti
Flag of Egypt Egypt Based on Islamic law and French civil law system
Flag of Eritrea Eritrea
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia Based on civil law of Holland and adat (cultural law of Indonesia)
Flag of Morocco Morocco Based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system

[edit] Common law and religious law

Country Description
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
Flag of Brunei Brunei
Flag of The Gambia Gambia
Flag of India India based on English common law, separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus, but criminal penal law is uniform
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia based on English common law, personal law based on sharia law applies to Muslims
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria
Flag of Oman Oman
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan based on English Common Law, some Islamic Law applications in inheritance. Tribal Law in FATA
Flag of Qatar Qatar
Flag of Singapore Singapore based on English common law

[edit] Systems by geography

Despite the usefulness of different classifications, every legal system has its own individual identity. Below are groups of legal systems, categorised by their geography. Click the "show" buttons on the right for the lists of countries.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Badr, Gamal Moursi (Spring, 1978), “Islamic Law: Its Relation to Other Legal Systems”, The American Journal of Comparative Law 26 (2 [Proceedings of an International Conference on Comparative Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 24-25, 1977]): 187-198 [196-8] 
  2. ^ a b c Makdisi, John A. (June 1999), “The Islamic Origins of the Common Law”, North Carolina Law Review 77 (5): 1635-1739 
  3. ^ Andorra (11/07)
  4. ^ Magna Carta. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  5. ^ El-Gamal, Mahmoud A. (2006), Islamic Finance: Law, Economics, and Practice, Cambridge University Press, p. 16, ISBN 0521864143 
  6. ^ Badr, Gamal Moursi (Spring, 1978), “Islamic Law: Its Relation to Other Legal Systems”, The American Journal of Comparative Law 26 (2 - Proceedings of an International Conference on Comparative Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 24-25, 1977): 187-198 
  7. ^ E.g., see the work of Menachem Elon and Nahum Rakover.
  • Moustaira Elina N., Comparative Law: University Courses (in Greek), Ant. N. Sakkoulas Publishers, Athens, 2004, ISBN 960-15-1267-5
  • Moustaira Elina N., Milestones in the Course of Comparative Law: Thesis and Antithesis (in Greek), Ant. N. Sakkoulas Publishers, Athens, 2003, ISBN 960-15-1097-4