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Legal System

Civil Law

Also Known As Continental Law
Civil Law Family

Civil law is a legal system in which comprehensive written codes, rather than judicial precedent, are the primary source of law, with courts interpreting and applying the code rather than making binding law of their own. The tradition traces its intellectual roots to ancient Roman law, especially its sixth century compilation under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the Corpus Juris Civilis, rediscovered and studied intensively in medieval European universities from the eleventh century onward, and took its modern codified form in the national civil codes enacted across Europe from the early nineteenth century, most influentially the Napoleonic Code of 1804. It is the most widespread legal system in the world today by number of jurisdictions, covering most of continental Europe, Latin America, and large parts of Africa and Asia.

Facts
Disputed
Origin Year
1804 2
1804, the enactment of the Napoleonic Code, is taken here as the origin of the modern codified civil law tradition, since it was the model most widely adopted or adapted by other nations. The tradition intellectual roots are far older, tracing to Roman law and particularly to Justinian own sixth century Corpus Juris Civilis, so which date counts as origin depends on whether the Roman legal inheritance or its modern codified form is meant.
Example Jurisdictions
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, most of continental Europe, Latin America, and large parts of Africa and Asia. 2
Primary Source of Law
Comprehensive written codes and statutes, with case law playing a secondary, interpretive role. 3
Classification
Legal Family
Civil Law 1
Connections

Showing the first 400 of 437 connections.

Includes

Jacques de Revigny, Jurists
Japanese Law, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Jason de Mayno, Jurists
Jean Joseph Lebrun, Jurists
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Haiti, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Jehovah's Witnesses Extremism Case (Russia), Landmark Cases
Source An Introduction to Comparative LawKonrad Zweigert and Hein Koetz; English translation by Tony Weir
Joachim Yua Koffi, Jurists
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Cote d'Ivoire, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Joao Cura Mariano, Jurists
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Portugal, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Judicial Yuan, Courts
Source Central Intelligence Agency: Taiwan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Julius Gallus Aquila, Jurists
Jurisprudence constante, Doctrines
Source Jurisprudence constante (Wikipedia)
Laurent Fabius, Jurists
Source Central Intelligence Agency: France, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Law of Algeria, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Argentina, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Austria, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Belgium, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Bolivia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Brazil, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Bulgaria, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Chile, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Colombia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Croatia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Denmark, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Ecuador, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Estonia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Finland, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Greece, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Hungary, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Iceland, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Italy, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Kazakhstan, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Kuwait, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Latvia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Lebanon, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Lithuania, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Luxembourg, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Mexico, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Mongolia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Norway, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Paraguay, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Peru, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Poland, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Portugal, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Romania, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Russia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Serbia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Slovakia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Slovenia, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of South Korea, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Spain, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Law of Sweden, Legal Systems

Legal-system family: Civil Law Family, following the CIA World Factbook and JuriGlobe comparative-law family classification.

Showing 151 to 200 of 332 in Includes, page 4 of 7.

Held Differently

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Courts

Why this is disputed. The CJEU is a supranational court whose case law draws heavily on continental civil law method and whose member states are mostly civil law jurisdictions, but EU law itself is often described by comparative scholars as a distinct legal order rather than a member of any single one of the five traditions; the civil law classification here reflects the Court's dominant working method, not a claim that EU law is simply continental civil law.

Source The Oxford Handbook of Comparative LawMathias Reimann and Reinhard Zimmermann, editors
Habeas Corpus, Doctrines

Civil law systems generally provide analogous judicial protection against arbitrary detention through differently named procedures rather than through habeas corpus as such.

Source Habeas Corpus (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Judicial Review, Doctrines

Civil law jurisdictions generally exercise constitutional review through a single dedicated constitutional court rather than diffusing it across the ordinary judiciary as the United States does, a different account of the same underlying power rather than a rejection of it.

Mens Rea, Doctrines

Civil law systems reach a broadly comparable result through the distinct concepts of dol (intent) and culpa (fault) rather than through mens rea as such, a different account of criminal culpability rather than a rejection of it.

Source Mens Rea (Wikipedia)
M'Naghten Rules, Doctrines

Civil law systems generally excuse a mentally disordered defendant through their own non-responsibility provisions (for example Article 122-1 of the French Penal Code), a differently framed doctrine reaching a broadly similar result rather than the M'Naghten test itself.

Source M'Naghten Rules (Wikipedia)
Rule of Law, Doctrines

Civil law systems generally express the rule of law through the Rechtsstaat tradition and codified principles of legality rather than through the common law rule of law as such.

In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Europe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

France

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Germany

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Italy

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Latin America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Spain

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Major Legal Systems in the World TodayRene David and John E.C. Brierley
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Civil law
Civil law (legal system), or continental law, a legal system originating in continental Europe and based on Roman lawView the Source
2. Major Legal Systems in the World Today
Rene David and John E.C. Brierley, Stevens and Sons, 1985
3. An Introduction to Comparative Law
Konrad Zweigert and Hein Koetz; English translation by Tony Weir, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998
The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Law
Mathias Reimann and Reinhard Zimmermann, editors, Oxford University Press, 2006
  • Includes: Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
  • Includes: Administrative Law
  • Includes: Proportionality
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
  • Includes: Hugo Grotius
  • Includes: Andres Bello
  • Includes: Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield
View the Source
Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (Wikipedia)
Includes: Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)View the Source
Abuse of Law (Max Planck Encyclopedia of European Private Law)
Includes: Abuse of RightsView the Source
Rechtsstaat (Wikipedia)
Includes: RechtsstaatView the Source
REACH, Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (EUR-Lex)
Publications Office of the European UnionIncludes: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)View the Source
Montesquieu (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIncludes: Separation of Powers, Lead paragraph - in-legal-system civil-law
Quote, Includes: Separation of Powers, Lead paragraph - in-legal-system civil-law
a French jurist, historian, and political philosopher
View the Source
Law of France (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIncludes: French Legal SystemView the Source
M'Naghten Rules (Wikipedia)
Includes: M'Naghten RulesView the Source
Stare Decisis (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Includes: Precedent (Stare Decisis)
Mens Rea (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIncludes: Mens ReaView the Source
Habeas Corpus (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Includes: Habeas CorpusView the Source
Civil Code of the Empire of Ethiopia, 1960 (WIPO Lex)
Includes: Civil Code of Ethiopia (1960)
Contempt of court (Wikipedia)
Includes: Contempt of court, Article text
Quote, Includes: Contempt of court, Article text
Judges in common law systems usually have more extensive power to declare someone in contempt than judges in civil law systems.
View the Source
Contract (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIncludes: Contract Law, Article text
Quote, Includes: Contract Law, Article text
contract law is exercised and governed either under common law jurisdictions, civil law jurisdictions, or mixed-law jurisdictions that combine elements of both common and civil law.
View the Source
List of national legal systems (Wikipedia)
  • Legal Family Of: Legal System of Cuba, Section: Civil law
    Cuba
  • Legal Family Of: Legal System of Vietnam, Section: Civil law
    Vietnam
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Spain, Section: Civil law
    Spain
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Ethiopia, Section: Civil law
    Ethiopia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Greece, Section: Civil law
    Greece
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Colombia, Section: Civil law
    Colombia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Iceland, Section: Civil law
    Iceland
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Austria, Section: Civil law
    Austria
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Estonia, Section: Civil law
    Estonia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Bolivia, Section: Civil law
    Bolivia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Ecuador, Section: Civil law
    Ecuador
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Paraguay, Section: Civil law
    Paraguay
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Lebanon, Section: Civil law
    Lebanon
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Mongolia, Section: Civil law
    Mongolia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Slovenia, Section: Civil law
    Slovenia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Andorra, Section: Civil law
    Andorra
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Timor-Leste, Section: Civil law
    Timor-Leste
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Armenia, Section: Civil law
    Armenia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of the Dominican Republic, Section: Civil law
    Dominican Republic
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Angola, Section: Civil law
    Angola
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Belarus, Section: Civil law
    Belarus
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Benin, Section: Civil law
    Benin
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Section: Civil law
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Burkina Faso, Section: Civil law
    Burkina Faso
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Cabo Verde, Section: Civil law
    Cape Verde
  • Legal Family Of: Law of the Central African Republic, Section: Civil law
    Central African Republic
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Chad, Section: Civil law
    Chad
  • Legal Family Of: Law of the Republic of the Congo, Section: Civil law
    Republic of the Congo
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Costa Rica, Section: Civil law
    Costa Rica
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Cote d'Ivoire, Section: Civil law
    Ivory Coast
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Gabon, Section: Civil law
    Gabon
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Georgia (country), Section: Civil law
    Georgia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Guatemala, Section: Civil law
    Guatemala
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Guinea-Bissau, Section: Civil law
    Guinea-Bissau
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Haiti, Section: Civil law
    Haiti
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Vietnam, Section: Civil law
    Vietnam
  • Legal Family Of: Law of North Macedonia, Section: Civil law
    North Macedonia
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Mozambique, Section: Civil law
    Mozambique
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Uzbekistan, Section: Civil law
    Uzbekistan
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Montenegro, Section: Civil law
    Montenegro
  • Legal Family Of: Law of Syria, National legal systems table, Syria
    Based on Napoleonic civil law.
View the Source
General State Laws for the Prussian States (Wikipedia)
Includes: General State Laws for the Prussian States, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: General State Laws for the Prussian States, Wikipedia lead sentence
The code had over 17,000 articles, and covered fields of civil law, penal law, family law, public law, administrative law etc.
View the Source
Usufruct (Wikipedia)
Includes: Usufruct, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Usufruct, Wikipedia lead sentence
fructus) is a limited real right (or in rem right) found in civil law and mixed jurisdictions that unites the two property interests of usus and fr
View the Source
Hypothec (Wikipedia)
Includes: Hypothec, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Hypothec, Wikipedia lead sentence
hypothēkē), sometimes tacit hypothec, is a term used in civil law systems (e.g. the law of most of Continental Europe) to refer to a registered
View the Source
Synallagmatic contract (Wikipedia)
Includes: Synallagmatic contract, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Synallagmatic contract, Wikipedia lead sentence
In civil law systems, a synallagmatic contract is a contract in which each party to the contract is bound to provide something to the other party
View the Source
Legal good (Wikipedia)
Includes: Legal good, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Legal good, Wikipedia lead sentence
In the civil law tradition, a legal good is an interest or right that the legal system protects
View the Source
Obrogation (Wikipedia)
Includes: Obrogation, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Obrogation, Wikipedia lead sentence
In civil law, obrogation (Latin: obrogat from obrogare) is the modification or repeal of a law in whole or in part by issuing a new law
View the Source
Patrimony of affectation (Wikipedia)
Includes: Patrimony of affectation, Wikipedia lead sentence
Quote, Includes: Patrimony of affectation, Wikipedia lead sentence
In certain civil law jurisdictions (e.g., France, Quebec, Mexico, etc.), the patrimoine d'affectation is property, assets, or a legal estate that can
View the Source
Servitude in civil law (Wikipedia)
Includes: Servitude in civil law, Introduction
Quote, Includes: Servitude in civil law, Introduction
At civil law, ownership (dominium) (e.g.
View the Source
Matrimonial regime (Wikipedia)
Includes: Matrimonial regime, Introduction
Quote, Includes: Matrimonial regime, Introduction
Matrimonial regimes are applied either by operation of law or by way of prenuptial agreement in civil-law countries, and depend on the lex domicilii of the spouses at the time of or immediately following the wedding.
View the Source
Usucaption (Wikipedia)
Includes: Usucaption, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Usucaption, Lead paragraph
Usucaption (Latin: usucapio), also known as acquisitive prescription, is a concept found in civil law systems and has its origin in the Roman law of property.
View the Source
Inquisitorial system (Wikipedia)
Includes: Inquisitorial system, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Inquisitorial system, Lead paragraph
Inquisitorial systems are used primarily in countries with civil legal systems, such as France and Italy, or legal systems based on Islamic law like Saudi Arabia, rather than in common law systems.
View the Source
Jurisprudence constante (Wikipedia)
Includes: Jurisprudence constante, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Jurisprudence constante, Lead paragraph
This doctrine is recognized in most civil law jurisdictions as well as in certain mixed jurisdictions such as Louisiana.
View the Source
Saisine (Wikipedia)
Includes: Saisine, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Saisine, Lead paragraph
This principle is notably prevalent in civil law jurisdictions, such as France, Germany and Quebec.
View the Source
Contravention (Wikipedia)
Includes: Contravention, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Contravention, Lead paragraph
In civil law, a contravention is a lesser offense, similar to an infraction or civil penalty in common law countries.
View the Source
Legitime (Wikipedia)
Includes: Legitime, Lead paragraph
Quote, Includes: Legitime, Lead paragraph
In civil law and Roman law, the legitime (legitima portio), also known as a forced share or legal right share, of a decedent's estate is that portion of the estate from which they cannot disinherit their children, or their parents, without sufficient legal cause.
View the Source
Actio libera in causa (Wikipedia)
Includes: Actio libera in causa, Lead
Quote, Includes: Actio libera in causa, Lead
Actio libera in causa (frequently abbreviated as a.l.i.c., Latin for "action free in its cause") is a law principle in a typical Western law system (both common law and civil law).
View the Source
Legal origins theory (Wikipedia)
Includes: Legal origins theory, Lead
Quote, Includes: Legal origins theory, Lead
The legal origins theory claims that the two main legal traditions or origins, civil law and common law, crucially shape lawmaking and dispute adjudication and have not been reformed after the initial exogenous transplantation by Europeans.
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Honduras, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Honduras, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Wagner Vallecillo, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Rebeca Raquel Obando, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Honduras, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: El Salvador, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of El Salvador, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with minor common law influence
  • Includes: Henry Alexander Mejia, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador, Government, legal system
    civil law system with minor common law influence;
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Nicaragua, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Nicaragua, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Justice of Nicaragua, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Alba Luz Ramos, Government: Legal system
    civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
  • Includes: Ana Julia Guido Ochoa, Government: Legal system
    civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Suriname, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Suriname, Government: Legal system
    civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
  • Includes: Iwan Rasoelbaks, Government: Legal system
    civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
  • Includes: High Court of Justice of Suriname, Government, legal system, legal system of Suriname
    civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Senegal, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Senegal, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on French law
  • Includes: Youssoupha Ndiaye, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Senegal, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
  • Includes: Constitutional Council of Senegal, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Madagascar, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Madagascar, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
  • Includes: Claudette Sophia Ramanankavana, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Madagascar, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Liechtenstein, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Liechtenstein, Government: Legal system
    civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Liechtenstein, Government, legal system
    civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Turkmenistan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Turkmenistan, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Turkmenistan, Government, legal system, legal system of Turkmenistan
    civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Tajikistan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Tajikistan, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Rustam Mirzozoda, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Tajikistan, Government, legal system
    civil law system
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Kyrgyzstan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, Government: Legal system
    civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
  • Includes: Mederbek Satyev, Government: Legal system
    civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan, Government, legal system
    civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
  • Includes: Constitutional Court of Kyrgyzstan, Government, legal system
    civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Guinea, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Guinea, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French model
  • Includes: Fatoumata Yarie Soumah, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French model
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Guinea, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on the French model
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Mali, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Mali, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law
  • Includes: Manassa Danioko, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
  • Includes: Constitutional Court of Mali, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law;
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Mali, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law;
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Moldova, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Moldova, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with Germanic law influences
  • Includes: Domnica Manole, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
  • Includes: Constitutional Court of Moldova, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with Germanic law influences
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Monaco, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of Monaco, Government: Legal system
    civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Monaco, Government, legal system
    civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: San Marino, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of San Marino, Government: Legal system
    civil law system with Italian civil law influences
  • Includes: Council of Twelve of San Marino, Government, legal system
    civil law system with Italian civil law influences
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Taiwan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Constitution of the Republic of China, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Supreme Court of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Judicial Yuan, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Hsu Tzong-li, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Kazakhstan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyLegal Family Of: Law of Kazakhstan, Government: Legal system
Quote, Legal Family Of: Law of Kazakhstan, Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
View the Source
Non ultra petita (Wikipedia)
Includes: Non ultra petita, Lead
Quote, Includes: Non ultra petita, Lead
The principle is a traditional basis of the rules of procedure governing civil and administrative litigation in continental legal systems, and in public international law.
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Serbia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Miroljub Tomic, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Miroljub Tomic, Government: Legal system
civil law system
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Bhutan, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Norbu Tshering, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Norbu Tshering, Government: Legal system
civil law based on Buddhist religious law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Brazil, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: André Mendonça, Government: Legal system
    civil law
  • Includes: Carmen Lucia, Government: Legal system
    civil law
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Central Intelligence Agency: France, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Philippe Bas, Government: Legal system
    civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
  • Includes: Alain Juppe, Government: Legal system
    civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
  • Includes: Laurent Fabius, Government: Legal system
    civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
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Central Intelligence Agency: Portugal, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Joao Cura Mariano, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Joao Cura Mariano, Government: Legal system
civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
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Central Intelligence Agency: Democratic Republic of the Congo, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Marcel Lihau, Government: Legal system
    civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
  • Includes: Nicolas Bayona Ba Meya, Government: Legal system
    civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
  • Includes: Elie-Leon Ndomba Kabeya, Government: Legal system
    civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
  • Includes: Court of Cassation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Government, legal system
    civil law system primarily based on Belgian law
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Justice of Zaire, Government, legal system
    civil law system primarily based on Belgian law
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Turkey, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Furuzan Ikincioullari, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Furuzan Ikincioullari, Government: Legal system
civil law system based on various European systems, notably the Swiss civil code
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Central Intelligence Agency: Estonia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Villu Kove, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Villu Kove, Government: Legal system
civil law system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Germany, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Udo Steiner, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Astrid Wallrabenstein, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Dieter Grimm, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Holger Wöckel, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Henning Radtke, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Martin Eifert, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Miriam Meßling, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Rhona Fetzer, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Heinrich Amadeus Wolff, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Sigrid Emmenegger, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Yvonne Ott, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Günter Spinner, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Ines Härtel, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Thomas Offenloch, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Luxembourg, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Thierry Hoscheit, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Thierry Hoscheit, Government: Legal system
civil law system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Vietnam, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Nguyen Van Quang, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Nguyen Van Quang, Government: Legal system
civil law system with European influences
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Central Intelligence Agency: Haiti, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Jean Joseph Lebrun, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Jean Joseph Lebrun, Government: Legal system
civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code
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Central Intelligence Agency: The Dominican, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Luis Henry Molina Pena, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system
  • Includes: Mariano German Mejía, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Peru, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Delia Revoredo, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
  • Includes: Pedro Hernández Chávez, Government: Legal system
    civil law system
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Latvia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Aigars Strupiss, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Aigars Strupiss, Government: Legal system
civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
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Central Intelligence Agency: Armenia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Arman Dilanyan, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Arman Dilanyan, Government: Legal system
civil law system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Colombia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Manuel José Cepeda Espinosa, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Manuel José Cepeda Espinosa, Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
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Central Intelligence Agency: Paraguay, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Luis Maria Benitez Riera, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Luis Maria Benitez Riera, Government: Legal system
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
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Central Intelligence Agency: China, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Ma Xiwu, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Ma Xiwu, Government: Legal system
civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes
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Central Intelligence Agency: Bolivia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Paola Prudencio Candia, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Paola Prudencio Candia, Government: Legal system
civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups' pre-colonial law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Slovenia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Rok Čeferin, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Rok Čeferin, Government: Legal system
civil law system
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Central Intelligence Agency: Cote d'Ivoire, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Chantal Camara, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil code; Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court reviews legislation
  • Includes: Joachim Yua Koffi, Government: Legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil code; Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court reviews legislation
  • Includes: Constitutional Council of Cote d'Ivoire, Government, legal system
    civil law system based on the French civil code;
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Central Intelligence Agency: Benin, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Cossi Dorothe Sossa, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Cossi Dorothe Sossa, Government: Legal system
civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Slovakia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Ivan Fiacan, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Ivan Fiacan, Government: Legal system
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes
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Central Intelligence Agency: Finland, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Tatu Leppanen, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Tatu Leppanen, Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the Swedish model
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Central Intelligence Agency: Chile, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Maria Pia Silva Gallinato, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Maria Pia Silva Gallinato, Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by several Western European civil legal systems; Constitutional Tribunal reviews legislative acts
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Central Intelligence Agency: Mauritius, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Ariranga Pillay, Government: Legal system
    civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
  • Includes: Supreme Court of Mauritius, Government: Legal system
    civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Poland, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Bogdan Swieczkowski, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Bogdan Swieczkowski, Government: Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final
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Central Intelligence Agency: Guatemala, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence Agency
  • Includes: Annabella Morfín, Government: Legal system
    civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
  • Includes: Oscar Cruz Oliva, Government: Legal system
    civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
  • Includes: Nester Vasquez, Government: Legal system
    civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
View the Source
Central Intelligence Agency: Cuba, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Oscar Manuel Silvera Martinez, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Oscar Manuel Silvera Martinez, Government: Legal system
civil law system based on Spanish civil code
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Central Intelligence Agency: Cambodia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Chiv Keng, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Chiv Keng, Government: Legal system
civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Lithuania, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Danguole Subliene, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Danguole Subliene, Government: Legal system
civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court
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Central Intelligence Agency: Costa Rica, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Orlando Aguirre Gómez, Government: Legal system
Quote, Includes: Orlando Aguirre Gómez, Government: Legal system
civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
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Civil law (legal system) (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Group: Roman Law and Ius Commune Foundations, Introduction, sentence 1
Quote, In Group: Roman Law and Ius Commune Foundations, Introduction, sentence 1
Civil law is a legal system rooted in the Roman Empire and was comprehensively codified and disseminated starting in the 19th century, most notably with France's Napoleonic Code (1804) and Germany's Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (1900).
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Central Intelligence Agency: Djibouti, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Supreme Court of Djibouti, Government, legal system
Quote, Includes: Supreme Court of Djibouti, Government, legal system
mixed system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Mauritania, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Supreme Court of Mauritania, Government, legal system
Quote, Includes: Supreme Court of Mauritania, Government, legal system
mixed system of Islamic and French civil law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Tunisia, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Court of Cassation of Tunisia, Government, legal system, legal system of Tunisia
Quote, Includes: Court of Cassation of Tunisia, Government, legal system, legal system of Tunisia
mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Equatorial Guinea, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Supreme Court of Justice of Equatorial Guinea, Government, legal system, legal system of Equatorial Guinea
Quote, Includes: Supreme Court of Justice of Equatorial Guinea, Government, legal system, legal system of Equatorial Guinea
mixed system of civil and customary law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Eritrea, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: High Court of Eritrea, Government, legal system, legal system of Eritrea
Quote, Includes: High Court of Eritrea, Government, legal system, legal system of Eritrea
mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Seychelles, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Court of Appeal of Seychelles, Government, legal system, legal system of Seychelles
Quote, Includes: Court of Appeal of Seychelles, Government, legal system, legal system of Seychelles
mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
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Central Intelligence Agency: Comoros, The World Factbook (factbook.json archive copy)
Central Intelligence AgencyIncludes: Supreme Court of the Comoros, Government, legal system, legal system of Comoros
Quote, Includes: Supreme Court of the Comoros, Government, legal system, legal system of Comoros
mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law
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World Factbook archive, Georgia profile
Includes: Supreme Court of Georgia, Government, legal system, legal system of Georgia
Quote, Includes: Supreme Court of Georgia, Government, legal system, legal system of Georgia
civil law system
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Open Questions (1 open question)
Is Socialist Law a Distinct Legal Family, or a Variant of the Civil Law Tradition?

Comparativists have never fully settled this. Rene David's influential classification treated socialist law (the historical Soviet system and its export to Eastern Europe, China and elsewhere) as a family of its own, defined by the subordination of law to Communist Party policy and state ownership, even though its courts, codes and legal vocabulary were built on a civil-law base. Zweigert and Kotz, working from a different comparative method, are more skeptical that this political fact by itself creates a distinct legal FAMILY rather than a civil-law variant under unusual political conditions, and post-1989 practice complicates the question further: China's law today keeps socialist characteristics in name while its commercial and procedural codes converge heavily with mainstream civil law.

What would resolve this A comparative-law consensus classification would need to specify which feature is doing the definitional work, legal FORM (codes, courts, procedure, which stayed civil-law in shape) or POLITICAL FUNCTION (subordination to party policy, which did not), since the two point to different answers; a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction study tracking how far post-1989 codes have converged with ordinary civil law would also narrow the question for any single country.
Konrad Zweigert and Hein Koetz; English translation by Tony Weir, An Introduction to Comparative Law
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