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@2100 Legal system
Afghanistan
the Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission to
rebuild the justice system in accordance with Islamic principles,
international standards, the rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions
Albania
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
American Samoa
NA
Andorra
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review
of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Angola
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased
use of free markets
Anguilla
based on English common law
Antarctica
Antarctica is administered through meetings of the
consultative member nations. Decisions from these meetings are
carried out by these member nations (within their areas) in
accordance with their own national laws. US law, including certain
criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may
apply extra-territorially. Some US laws directly apply to
Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute:
the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of
nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected
areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation
into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the
Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in
fines and one year in prison. The National Science Foundation and
Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law
95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in
1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in
advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as
required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information, contact
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science
Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or
visit their website at www.nsf.gov.
Antigua and Barbuda
based on English common law
Argentina
mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Armenia
based on civil law system
Aruba
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law
influence
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the laws of the Commonwealth of
Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where
applicable, apply
Australia
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Austria
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of
legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Azerbaijan
based on civil law system
Bahamas, The
based on English common law
Bahrain
based on Islamic law and English common law
Baker Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Bangladesh
based on English common law
Barbados
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Bassas da India
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Belarus
based on civil law system
Belgium
civil law system influenced by English constitutional
theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Belize
English law
Benin
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bermuda
English law
Bhutan
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bolivia
based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bosnia and Herzegovina
based on civil law system
Botswana
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial
review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bouvet Island
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Brazil
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
British Indian Ocean Territory
the laws of the UK, where applicable,
apply
British Virgin Islands
English law
Brunei
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Bulgaria
civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burkina Faso
based on French civil law system and customary law
Burma
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burundi
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cambodia
primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes
from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences
of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing
influence of common law in recent years
Cameroon
based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Canada
based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil
law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Cape Verde
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Cayman Islands
British common law and local statutes
Central African Republic
based on French law
Chad
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
note: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal
justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being
gradually implemented throughout the country
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
Christmas Island
under the authority of the governor general of
Australia and Australian law
Clipperton Island
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
based upon the laws of Australia and local
laws
Colombia
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US
procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Comoros
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
based on Belgian civil law system
and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Congo, Republic of the
based on French civil law system and
customary law
Cook Islands
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Coral Sea Islands
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Costa Rica
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Cote 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
Croatia
based on civil law system
Cuba
based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of
Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cyprus
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Czech Republic
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory
Denmark
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Djibouti
based on French civil law system, traditional practices,
and Islamic law
Dominica
based on English common law
Dominican Republic
based on French civil codes
East Timor
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
Ecuador
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Egypt
based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic
codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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
Equatorial Guinea
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Eritrea
primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with
revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been
promulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted
laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
Estonia
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative
acts
Ethiopia
currently transitional mix of national and regional courts
Europa Island
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
English common law
Faroe Islands
Danish
Fiji
based on British system
Finland
civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may
request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
France
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts
French Guiana
French legal system
French Polynesia
based on French system
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
the laws of France, where
applicable, apply
Gabon
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Gambia, The
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law,
and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Georgia
based on civil law system
Germany
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Ghana
based on English common law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Gibraltar
English law
Glorioso Islands
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Greece
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts
Greenland
Danish
Grenada
based on English common law
Guadeloupe
French legal system
Guam
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Guatemala
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Guernsey
English law and local statute; justice is administered by
the Royal Court
Guinea
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Guinea-Bissau
NA
Guyana
based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Haiti
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
the laws of Australia, where
applicable, apply
Holy See (Vatican City)
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to
it
Honduras
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing
influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include
abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial
system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Hong Kong
based on English common law
Howland Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Hungary
rule of law based on Western model
Iceland
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
India
based on English common law; limited judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Indonesia
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Iran
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Iraq
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn
regime by US-led coalition
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
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
Italy
based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials;
judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Jamaica
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Jan Mayen
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Japan
modeled after European civil law system with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Jarvis Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Jersey
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the
Royal Court
Johnston Atoll
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
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
Juan de Nova Island
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Kazakhstan
based on civil law system
Kenya
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law,
tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional
amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in
1991
Kingman Reef
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Kiribati
NA
Korea, North
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
Korea, South
combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Kuwait
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Kyrgyzstan
based on civil law system
Laos
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and
procedures, and socialist practice
Latvia
based on civil law system
Lebanon
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
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
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
Liechtenstein
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Lithuania
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be
appealed to the constitutional court
Luxembourg
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Macau
based on Portuguese civil law system
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
based on civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts
Madagascar
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
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
Maldives
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Mali
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was
formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Malta
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Man, Isle of
English common law and Manx statute
Marshall Islands
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Martinique
French legal system
Mauritania
a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil
law
Mauritius
based on French civil law system with elements of English
common law in certain areas
Mayotte
French law
Mexico
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Micronesia, Federated States of
based on adapted Trust Territory
laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Midway Islands
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Moldova
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews
legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Monaco
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Mongolia
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems of law that
combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a
presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Montserrat
English common law and statutory law
Morocco
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court
Mozambique
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Namibia
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Nauru
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Navassa Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Nepal
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Netherlands
civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Netherlands Antilles
based on Dutch civil law system, with some
English common law influence
New Caledonia
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy
to the islands; formerly under French law
New Zealand
based on English law, with special land legislation and
land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Nicaragua
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative
acts
Niger
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Nigeria
based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in
some northern states), and traditional law
Niue
English common law
note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Norfolk Island
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and
acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either
Australian or Norfolk Island law
Northern Mariana Islands
based on US system, except for customs,
wages, immigration laws, and taxation
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
Oman
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to
the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Pakistan
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Palau
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Palmyra Atoll
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Panama
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Papua New Guinea
based on English common law
Paraguay
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Peru
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Philippines
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Pitcairn Islands
local island by-laws
Poland
mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover
Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part
of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of
legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are
final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of
Justice in Strasbourg
Portugal
civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the
constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Puerto Rico
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal
system of justice
Qatar
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although
civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and
personal matters
Reunion
French law
Romania
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal
theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Russia
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
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
Saint Helena
NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis
based on English common law
Saint Lucia
based on English common law
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
French law with special adaptations for
local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
based on English common law
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
San Marino
based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sao Tome and Principe
based on Portuguese legal system and customary
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saudi Arabia
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Senegal
based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Serbia and Montenegro
based on civil law system
Seychelles
based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law
Sierra Leone
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Singapore
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Slovakia
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply
with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Slovenia
based on civil law system
Solomon Islands
English common law, which is widely disregarded
Somalia
no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some
localities
South Africa
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the laws of the UK,
where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland
Islands presides over the Magistrates Court
Spain
civil law system, with regional applications; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sri Lanka
a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sudan
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January
1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic
law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of
the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate
religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suriname
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal
theory
Svalbard
NA
Swaziland
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts
and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sweden
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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
Syria
based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Taiwan
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Tajikistan
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Tanzania
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Thailand
based on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Togo
French-based court system
Tokelau
New Zealand and local statutes
Tonga
based on English law
Trinidad and Tobago
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Tromelin Island
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Tunisia
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session
Turkey
derived from various European continental legal systems;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Turkmenistan
based on civil law system
Turks and Caicos Islands
based on laws of England and Wales, with a
few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Tuvalu
NA
Uganda
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one
based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Ukraine
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts
United Arab Emirates
federal court system introduced in 1971; all
emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah are not fully
integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular and
Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
United Kingdom
common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; has judicial review of Acts of Parliament
under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
United States
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Uruguay
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Uzbekistan
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
judicial system
Vanuatu
unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems
Venezuela
based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial
court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Vietnam
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Virgin Islands
based on US laws
Wake Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Wallis and Futuna
French legal system
World
all members of the UN plus Switzerland are parties to the
statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or
World Court
Yemen
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and
local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
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
Zimbabwe
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law