Country ranking for field: legal system 1990

Other rankings:

This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An additional type of legal system - international law, which governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another - is also addressed below. The following list describes these legal systems, the countries or world regions where these systems are enforced, and a brief statement on the origins and major features of each.

	World	varies among each of the entities; 162 are parties to the United Nations International Court of Justice
1	Afghanistan	0
2	Paraguay	based on Argentine codes Roman law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
3	Niue	English common law
4	Norfolk Island	wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court
5	North Korea	based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
6	Northern Mariana Islands	NA
7	Norway	mixture of customary law civil law system and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
8	Oman	based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
9	Pakistan	based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
10	Panama	based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
11	Papua New Guinea	based on English common law
12	Peru	based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
13	Niger	based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
14	Philippines	based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
15	Pitcairn Islands	local island by-laws
16	Poland	mixture of Continental
17	Portugal	civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
18	Puerto Rico	based on English common law
19	Qatar	discretionary system of law controlled by the amir although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
20	Romania	former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory that increasingly reflected Romanian traditions is being revised; Communist regime had not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; Provisional Council of National Unity will probably accept ICJ jurisdiction
21	Rwanda	based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
22	Réunion	French law
23	Saint Helena	NA
24	Nigeria	based on English common law Islamic and tribal law
25	Nicaragua	civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
26	Saint Lucia	based on English common law
27	Mexico	mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
28	Malaysia	based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
29	Maldives	based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
30	Mali	based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
31	Malta	based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
32	Marshall Islands	based on adapted Trust Territory laws acts of the legislature municipal common and customary laws
33	Martinique	French legal system
34	Mauritania	based on Islamic law
35	Mauritius	based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas
36	Mayotte	French law
37	Monaco	based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
38	New Zealand	based on English law with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
39	Mongolia	blend of Russian Chinese and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
40	Montserrat	English common law and statute law
41	Morocco	based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
42	Mozambique	based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
43	Myanmar	martial law in effect throughout most of the country; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
44	Namibia	based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
45	Nauru	own Acts of Parliament and British common law
46	Nepal	based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
47	Netherlands Antilles	based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
48	New Caledonia	the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
49	Saint Kitts and Nevis	based on English common law
50	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	based on English common law
51	Madagascar	based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
52	United Arab Emirates	secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains influential
53	Togo	French-based court system
54	Tokelau	British and local statutes
55	Tonga	based on English law
56	Trinidad and Tobago	based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
57	Tunisia	based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
58	Turkey	derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
59	Turks and Caicos Islands	based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
60	U.S. Virgin Islands	based on US
61	Uganda	government plans to restore system based on English common law and customary law and reinstitute a normal judicial system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
62	United Kingdom	common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
63	The Gambia	based on a composite of English common law Koranic law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
64	United States	based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
65	Uruguay	based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
66	Vanuatu	unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
67	Venezuela	based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
68	Vietnam	based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system
69	Wallis and Futuna	French
70	Western Samoa	based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
71	Yugoslavia	mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
72	Zaire	based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
73	Zambia	based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
74	The Netherlands	civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
75	The Bahamas	based on English common law
76	Saint-Pierre and Miquelon	French law
77	Soviet Union	civil law system as modified by Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
78	San Marino	based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
79	Saudi Arabia	based on Islamic law several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
80	Senegal	based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court which also audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
81	Seychelles	based on English common law French civil law and customary law
82	Sierra Leone	based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
83	Singapore	based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
84	Solomon Islands	common law
85	South Africa	based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
86	South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	English common law
87	South Korea	combines elements of continental European civil law systems Anglo-American law and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
88	Spain	civil law system with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
89	Thailand	based on civil law system with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
90	Sri Lanka	a highly complex mixture of English common law Roman-Dutch Muslim and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
91	Sudan	based on English common law and Islamic law; in September 1983 then President Nimeiri declared the penal code would conform to Islamic law; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
92	Suriname	NA
93	Swaziland	based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
94	Sweden	civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
95	Switzerland	civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
96	Syria	based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
97	São Tomé and Príncipe	based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
98	Taiwan	based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
99	Tanzania	based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
100	Malawi	based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
101	Macau	Portuguese civil law system
102	Albania	judicial review of legislative acts only in the Presidium of the People's Assembly which is not a true court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
103	Cocos Islands	based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
104	Burundi	based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
105	Cameroon	based on French civil law system with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
106	Canada	based on English common law except in Quebec where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
107	Cayman Islands	British common law and local statutes
108	Central African Republic	based on French law
109	Chad	based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
110	Chile	based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
111	China	a complex amalgam of custom and statute largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil administrative criminal and commercial law
112	Christmas Island	under the authority of the governor general of Australia
113	Colombia	based on Spanish law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
114	Bulgaria	based on civil law system with Soviet law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the State Council; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
115	Comoros	French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
116	Congo	based on French civil law system and customary law
117	Costa Rica	based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
118	Cuba	based on Spanish and American law with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
119	Cyprus	based on common law with civil law modifications
120	Côte d'Ivoire	based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
121	Denmark	civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
122	Djibouti	based on French civil law system traditional practices and Islamic law
123	Dominica	based on English common law
124	Dominican Republic	based on French civil codes
125	Burkina Faso	based on French civil law system and customary law
126	Brunei	based on Islamic law
127	Egypt	based on English common law Islamic law and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
128	Austria	civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
129	Algeria	socialist based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
130	Andorra	based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
131	Angola	based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law but being modified along socialist lines
132	Anguilla	based on English common law
133	Antigua and Barbuda	based on English common law
134	Argentina	mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
135	Aruba	based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
136	Ashmore and Cartier Islands	relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
137	Australia	based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
138	Bahrain	based on Islamic law and English common law
139	British Virgin Islands	English law
140	Bangladesh	based on English common law
141	Barbados	English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
142	Belgium	civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
143	Belize	English law
144	Benin	based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
145	Bermuda	English law
146	Bhutan	based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
147	Bolivia	based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
148	Botswana	based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
149	Brazil	based on Latin codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
150	Ecuador	based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
151	El Salvador	based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
152	Luxembourg	based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
153	Jamaica	based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
154	Iceland	civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
155	India	based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
156	Indonesia	based on Roman-Dutch law substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
157	Iran	the new Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
158	Iraq	based on Islamic law in special religious courts civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
159	Ireland	based on English common law substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
160	Isle of Man	English law and local statute
161	Israel	mixture of English common law British Mandate regulations and in personal matters Jewish Christian and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985 Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
162	Italy	based on civil law system with ecclesiastical law influence; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
163	Japan	civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
164	Hong Kong	based on English common law
165	Jersey	English law and local statute
166	Jordan	based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
167	Kenya	based on English common law tribal law and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; constitutional amendment in 1982 made Kenya a de jure one-party state
168	Kuwait	civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
169	Laos	based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
170	Lebanon	mixture of Ottoman law canon law Napoleonic code and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
171	Lesotho	based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
172	Liberia	dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
173	Libya	based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
174	Liechtenstein	local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
175	Hungary	based on Communist legal theory with both civil law system
176	Honduras	rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
177	Equatorial Guinea	in transition; partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
178	Ghana	based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
179	Ethiopia	complex structure with civil Islamic common and customary law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
180	Falkland Islands	English common law
181	Faroe Islands	Danish
182	Federated States of Micronesia	based on adapted Trust Territory laws acts of the legislature municipal common and customary laws
183	Fiji	based on British system
184	Finland	civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
185	France	civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
186	French Guiana	French legal system
187	French Polynesia	based on French system
188	Gabon	based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
189	Gibraltar	English law
190	Haiti	based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
191	Greece	NA
192	Greenland	Danish
193	Grenada	based on English common law
194	Guadeloupe	French legal system
195	Guam	NA
196	Guatemala	civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
197	Guernsey	English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
198	Guinea-Bissau	NA
199	Guinea	based on French civil law system customary law and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
200	Guyana	based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
201	Zimbabwe	mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Back to statistical information of Northern Mariana Islands 1990

Northern Mariana Islands
Atlas

You found a piece of the puzzle

Please click here to complete it