History
Canon Law
Definition Canon law (from Greek kanon—a rule or measuring rod) is the legal system of the Catholic Church, governing its internal organization, sacramental life, and the rights and obligations of its …
Codification Movement
Definition The codification movement was a nineteenth-century intellectual and political movement to organize and rationalize law into comprehensive, authoritative written codes. It transformed legal …
Common Law Evolution
Definition The common law is the legal system that originated in England after the Norman Conquest (1066) and developed through judicial decisions rather than legislative codes. It is characterized by …
Geneva Conventions History
Definition The Geneva Conventions are a series of international treaties that establish the legal framework for humanitarian treatment during armed conflict. They form the core of international …
Legal Humanism
Definition Legal humanism (also known as the mos gallicus—the “French method”) was a Renaissance intellectual movement that applied humanist philology, history, and philosophy to the study …
Legal Transplants: Theory and Practice
Introduction Legal transplantation — the movement of legal rules, institutions, and concepts from one legal system to another — is one of the most important processes in comparative law and legal …
Magna Carta
Definition Magna Carta (Latin: “Great Charter”) is a royal charter of rights agreed by King John of England at Runnymede on June 15, 1215, after rebellion by barons opposed to the …
Napoleonic Code
Definition The Napoleonic Code—officially the Code civil des Français (Civil Code of the French) and enacted in 1804—is the French civil code that became the foundation of modern civil law systems …
Napoleonic Code: History and Global Influence
Introduction The Napoleonic Code — officially the Code civil des Français (Civil Code of the French), enacted in 1804 — is the French civil code that became the foundation of modern civil law systems …
Roman Law
Definition Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome that evolved over more than one thousand years, from the Twelve Tables (c. 450 BCE) to the codification of Emperor Justinian (529–534 CE). It …
Socialist Law
Definition Socialist law is the legal system that emerged in states governed by communist parties following Marxist-Leninist ideology. It originated in the Soviet Union after the 1917 Russian …
Soviet Legal System: History and Legacy
Introduction The Soviet legal system emerged after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and developed over seven decades as a distinct legal tradition. Socialist law — the legal system of states governed …
The Origins of the Common Law
Introduction The common law is the legal system that originated in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and developed through judicial decisions rather than legislative codes. It is characterized …
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Definition The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, in Paris. It proclaims, for the …