Civil law意思

"Civil law" is a legal system that originated in continental Europe and is now practiced in many countries around the world. It is based on a comprehensive set of laws, usually codified in a civil code, which are designed to regulate almost all aspects of private law, such as contracts, property, family law, and torts.

The civil law system is characterized by:

1. Codification: The law is written in a single, unified code, which makes it easier to find and apply the law.
2. Inquisitorial system: The judge plays a more active role in the investigation and gathering of evidence.
3. Emphasis on written law: Judges are bound by the letter of the law and are not supposed to make law through their decisions.
4. A system of precedent: While judges do not make law, they do follow the precedent set by previous decisions.
5. Private law focus: Civil law systems focus on private disputes between individuals and organizations, rather than public law matters.

Countries that follow the civil law system include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and much of Latin America. The United States, on the other hand, has a common law system, which is based on the doctrine of precedent and is less codified than the civil law system.