MoroccoArabic (official), Berber dialects, French often thelanguage of business, government, and diplomacy
MozambiqueMakhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, numerous other indigenouslanguages, Portuguese (official; spoken by 27% of population as asecond language)
NamibiaEnglish 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most ofthe population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
NauruNauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language),English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government andcommercial purposes
NepalNepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about adozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many ingovernment and business also speak English (1995)
NetherlandsDutch (official language), Frisian (official language)
Netherlands AntillesDutch (official), Papiamento (aSpanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, Englishwidely spoken, Spanish
New CaledoniaFrench (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
New ZealandEnglish (official), Maori (official)
NicaraguaSpanish (official)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
NigerFrench (official), Hausa, Djerma
NigeriaEnglish (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
NiueNiuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan andSamoan; English
Norfolk IslandEnglish (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th centuryEnglish and ancient Tahitian
Northern Mariana IslandsEnglish, Chamorro, Caroliniannote: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
NorwayBokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official)note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
OmanArabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
PakistanPunjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%,Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and mostgovernment ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
PalauEnglish and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral(Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English areofficial), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)
PanamaSpanish (official), English 14%note: many Panamanians bilingual
Papua New GuineaMelanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca,English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua regionnote: 715 indigenous languages — many unrelated
ParaguaySpanish (official), Guarani (official)
PeruSpanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a largenumber of minor Amazonian languages
Philippinestwo official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) andEnglish; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynonor Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Pitcairn IslandsEnglish (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an 18thcentury English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
PolandPolish
PortugalPortuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locallyused)
Puerto RicoSpanish, English
QatarArabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
ReunionFrench (official), Creole widely used
RomaniaRomanian (official), Hungarian, German
RussiaRussian, other
RwandaKinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used incommercial centers
Saint HelenaEnglish
Saint Kitts and NevisEnglish
Saint LuciaEnglish (official), French patois
Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench (official)
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesEnglish, French patois
SamoaSamoan (Polynesian), English
San MarinoItalian
Sao Tome and PrincipePortuguese (official)
Saudi ArabiaArabic
SenegalFrench (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Serbia and MontenegroSerbian 95%, Albanian 5%
SeychellesEnglish (official), French (official), Creole
Sierra LeoneEnglish (official, regular use limited to literateminority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne(principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole,spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settledin the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%of the population but understood by 95%)
SingaporeChinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil(official), English (official)
SlovakiaSlovak (official), Hungarian
SloveniaSlovenian 92%, Serbo-Croatian 6.2%, other 1.8%
Solomon IslandsMelanesian pidgin in much of the country is linguafranca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of thepopulationnote: 120 indigenous languages
SomaliaSomali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
South Africa11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
SpainCastilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%note: Castilian is the official language nationwide; the otherlanguages are official regionally
Sri LankaSinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil(national language) 18%, other 8%note: English is commonly used in government and is spokencompetently by about 10% of the population
SudanArabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects ofNilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote: program of "Arabization" in process
SurinameDutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
SvalbardNorwegian, Russian
SwazilandEnglish (official, government business conducted inEnglish), siSwati (official)
SwedenSwedishnote: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
SwitzerlandGerman (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%,Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
SyriaArabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassianwidely understood; French, English somewhat understood
TaiwanMandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
TajikistanTajik (official), Russian widely used in government andbusiness
TanzaniaKiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahiliin Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce,administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken inZanzibar), many local languagesnote: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu peopleliving in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahiliis Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a varietyof sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become thelingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language ofmost people is one of the local languages
ThailandThai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic andregional dialects
TogoFrench (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina(the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimesspelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in thenorth)
TokelauTokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
TongaTongan, English
Trinidad and TobagoEnglish (official), Hindi, French, Spanish,Chinese
TunisiaArabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),French (commerce)
TurkeyTurkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
TurkmenistanTurkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Turks and Caicos IslandsEnglish (official)
TuvaluTuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
UgandaEnglish (official national language, taught in grade schools,used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radiobroadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congolanguages, preferred for native language publications in the capitaland may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages,Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
UkraineUkrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
United Arab EmiratesArabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
United KingdomEnglish, Welsh (about 26% of the population ofWales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
United StatesEnglish, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
UruguaySpanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix onthe Brazilian frontier)
UzbekistanUzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Vanuatuthree official languages: English, French, pidgin (known asBislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
VenezuelaSpanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
VietnamVietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as asecond language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain arealanguages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Virgin IslandsEnglish (official), Spanish, Creole
Wallis and FutunaFrench, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
West BankArabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and manyPalestinians), English (widely understood)
Western SaharaHassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
WorldChinese, Mandarin 14.37%, Hindi 6.02%, English 5.61%, Spanish5.59%, Bengali 3.4%, Portuguese 2.63%, Russian 2.75%, Japanese2.06%, German, Standard 1.64%, Korean 1.28%, French 1.27% (2000 est.)note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
YemenArabic
ZambiaEnglish (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi,Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
ZimbabweEnglish (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of theNdebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribaldialects
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@2100 Legal system
Afghanistanaccording to the new constitution, no law should be"contrary to Islam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous andprogressive society based on social justice, protection of humandignity, protection of human rights, realization of democracy, andto ensure national unity and equality among all ethnic groups andtribes; the state shall abide by the UN charter, internationaltreaties, international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights
Akrotirithe laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Albaniahas a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the InternationalCriminal Court for its citizens
Algeriasocialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed ofvarious public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
American SamoaNA
Andorrabased on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial reviewof legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Angolabased on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increaseduse of free markets
Anguillabased on English common law
AntarcticaAntarctica is administered through meetings of theconsultative member nations; decisions from these meetings arecarried out by these member nations (with respect to their ownnationals and operations) in accordance with their own nationallaws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against USnationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially; some USlaws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the AntarcticConservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil andcriminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorizedby regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; theintroduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry intospecially 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 upto $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National ScienceFoundation and Department of Justice share enforcementresponsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic ConservationAct of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US toAntarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805,Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plansto other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for moreinformation, 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 Barbudabased on English common law
Argentinamixture of US and West European legal systems; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Armeniabased on civil law system
Arubabased on Dutch civil law system, with some English common lawinfluence
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsthe laws of the Commonwealth ofAustralia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, whereapplicable, apply
Australiabased on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Austriacivil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review oflegislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separateadministrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Azerbaijanbased on civil law system
Bahamas, Thebased on English common law
Bahrainbased on Islamic law and English common law
Baker Islandthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Bangladeshbased on English common law
BarbadosEnglish common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Bassas da Indiathe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Belarusbased on civil law system
Belgiumcivil law system influenced by English constitutionaltheory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
BelizeEnglish law
Beninbased on French civil law and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
BermudaEnglish law
Bhutanbased on Indian law and English common law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Boliviabased on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bosnia and Herzegovinabased on civil law system
Botswanabased on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicialreview limited to matters of interpretation; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bouvet Islandthe laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Brazilbased on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
British Indian Ocean Territorythe laws of the UK, where applicable,apply
British Virgin IslandsEnglish law
Bruneibased on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a lawsupersedes civil law in a number of areas
Bulgariacivil law and criminal law based on Roman law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burkina Fasobased on French civil law system and customary law
Burmahas not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burundibased on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cambodiaprimarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codesfrom the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influencesof customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasinginfluence of common law in recent years
Cameroonbased on French civil law system, with common lawinfluence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Canadabased on English common law, except in Quebec, where civillaw system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Cape Verdederived from the legal system of Portugal
Cayman IslandsBritish common law and local statutes
Central African Republicbased on French law
Chadbased on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Chilebased on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequentcodes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdictionnote: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminaljustice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is beinggradually implemented throughout the country with the final stage ofimplementation in the Santiago metropolitan region expected in June2005
Chinaa complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legalcodes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are beingmade to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Christmas Islandunder the authority of the governor general ofAustralia and Australian law
Clipperton Islandthe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsbased upon the laws of Australia and locallaws
Colombiabased on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after USprocedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive andlegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
ComorosFrench and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Congo, Democratic Republic of thebased on Belgian civil law systemand tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Congo, Republic of thebased on French civil law system andcustomary law
Cook Islandsbased on New Zealand law and English common law
Coral Sea Islandsthe laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Costa Ricabased on Spanish civil law system; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Cote d'Ivoirebased on French civil law system and customary law;judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Croatiabased on civil law system
Cubabased on Spanish and American law, with large elements ofCommunist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cyprusbased on common law, with civil law modifications
Czech Republiccivil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified tobring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation inEurope (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legaltheory
Denmarkcivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Dhekeliathe laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Djiboutibased on French civil law system, traditional practices,and Islamic law
Dominicabased on English common law
Dominican Republicbased on French civil codes; undergoingmodification in 2004 towards an accusatory system
East TimorUN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remainsin place but will be replaced by civil and penal codes based onPortuguese law (2004)
Ecuadorbased on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Egyptbased on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleoniccodes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
El Salvadorbased on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law;judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Equatorial Guineapartly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Eritreaprimary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, withrevisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet beenpromulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enactedlaws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
Estoniabased on civil law system; no judicial review of legislativeacts
Ethiopiacurrently transitional mix of national and regional courts
Europa Islandthe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)English common law
Faroe IslandsDanish
Fijibased on British system
Finlandcivil law system based on Swedish law; the president mayrequest the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Francecivil law system with indigenous concepts; review ofadministrative but not legislative acts
French GuianaFrench legal system
French Polynesiabased on French system
French Southern and Antarctic Landsthe laws of France, whereapplicable, apply
Gabonbased on French civil law system and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the SupremeCourt; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Gambia, Thebased on a composite of English common law, Koranic law,and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Georgiabased on civil law system
Germanycivil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial reviewof legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Ghanabased on English common law and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
GibraltarEnglish law
Glorioso Islandsthe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Greecebased on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,criminal, and administrative courts
GreenlandDanish
Grenadabased on English common law
GuadeloupeFrench legal system
Guammodeled on US; US federal laws apply
Guatemalacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
GuernseyEnglish law and local statute; justice is administered bythe Royal Court
Guineabased on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Guinea-BissauNA
Guyanabased on English common law with certain admixtures ofRoman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Haitibased on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Heard Island and McDonald Islandsthe laws of Australia, whereapplicable, apply
Holy See (Vatican City)based on Code of Canon Law and revisions toit
Hondurasrooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasinginfluence of English common law; recent judicial reforms includeabandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarialsystem; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Hong Kongbased on English common law
Howland Islandthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Hungaryrule of law based on Western model
Icelandcivil law system based on Danish law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Indiabased on English common law; limited judicial review oflegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Indonesiabased on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified byindigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and electioncodes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Iranthe Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Iraqbased on civil and Islamic law under the Iraqi InterimGovernment (IG) and Transitional Administrative Law (TAL)
Irelandbased on English common law, substantially modified byindigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in SupremeCourt; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Israelmixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations,and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legalsystems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat thatit would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Italybased on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials;judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Jamaicabased on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Jan Mayenthe laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Japanmodeled after European civil law system with English-Americaninfluence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Jarvis Islandthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
JerseyEnglish law and local statute; justice is administered by theRoyal Court
Johnston Atollthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Jordanbased on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review oflegislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Juan de Nova Islandthe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Kazakhstanbased on civil law system
Kenyabased on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law,tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutionalamendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in1991
Kingman Reefthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
KiribatiNA
Korea, Northbased on German civil law system with Japaneseinfluences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review oflegislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Korea, Southcombines elements of continental European civil lawsystems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Kuwaitcivil law system with Islamic law significant in personalmatters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Kyrgyzstanbased on civil law system
Laosbased on traditional customs, French legal norms andprocedures, and socialist practice
Latviabased on civil law system
Lebanonmixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, andcivil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Lesothobased on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicialreview of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Liberiadual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American commonlaw for the modern sector and customary law based on unwrittentribal practices for indigenous sector
Libyabased on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separatereligious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review oflegislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Liechtensteinlocal civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Lithuaniabased on civil law system; legislative acts can beappealed to the constitutional court
Luxembourgbased on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Macaubased on Portuguese civil law system
Macedoniabased on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts
Madagascarbased on French civil law system and traditional Malagasylaw; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malawibased on English common law and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malaysiabased on English common law; judicial review of legislativeacts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of thefederation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Maldivesbased on Islamic law with admixtures of English common lawprimarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Malibased on French civil law system and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which wasformally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Maltabased on English common law and Roman civil law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Man, Isle ofEnglish common law and Manx statute
Marshall Islandsbased on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of thelegislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
MartiniqueFrench legal system
Mauritaniaa combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civillaw
Mauritiusbased on French civil law system with elements of Englishcommon law in certain areas
MayotteFrench law
Mexicomixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Micronesia, Federated States of based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Midway Islandsthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Moldovabased on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviewslegality of legislative acts and governmental decisions ofresolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Monacobased on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Mongoliablend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine"continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitutionambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
MontserratEnglish common law and statutory law
Moroccobased on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil lawsystem; judicial review of legislative acts in ConstitutionalChamber of Supreme Court
Mozambiquebased on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Namibiabased on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Nauruacts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Navassa Islandthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Nepalbased on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Netherlandscivil law system incorporating French penal theory;constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the StatesGeneral; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Netherlands Antillesbased on Dutch civil law system with someEnglish common law influence
New Caledoniathe 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomyto the islands; formerly under French law
New Zealandbased on English law, with special land legislation andland courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Nicaraguacivil law system; Supreme Court may review administrativeacts
Nigerbased on French civil law system and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Nigeriabased on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only insome northern states), and traditional law
NiueEnglish common lawnote: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Norfolk Islandbased on the laws of Australia, local ordinances andacts; English common law applies in matters not covered by eitherAustralian or Norfolk Island law
Northern Mariana Islandsbased on US system, except for customs,wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Norwaymixture of customary law, civil law system, and common lawtraditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislaturewhen asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Omanbased on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal tothe monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Pakistanbased on English common law with provisions to accommodatePakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Palaubased on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Palmyra Atollthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Panamabased on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Papua New Guineabased on English common law
Paraguaybased on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Perubased on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Philippinesbased on Spanish and Anglo-American law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Pitcairn Islandslocal island by-laws
Polandmixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdoverCommunist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as partof broader democratization process; limited judicial review oflegislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal arefinal; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court ofJustice in Strasbourg
Portugalcivil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews theconstitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Puerto Ricobased on Spanish civil code and within the US Federalsystem of justice
Qatardiscretionary system of law controlled by the amir, althoughcivil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family andpersonal matters
ReunionFrench law
Romaniaformer mixture of civil law system and communist legaltheory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Russiabased on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Rwandabased on German and Belgian civil law systems and customarylaw; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saint HelenaNA
Saint Kitts and Nevisbased on English common law
Saint Luciabased on English common law
Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench law with special adaptations forlocal conditions, such as housing and taxation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesbased on English common law
Samoabased on English common law and local customs; judicial reviewof legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of thecitizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
San Marinobased on civil law system with Italian law influences;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sao Tome and Principebased on Portuguese legal system and customarylaw; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saudi Arabiabased on Islamic law, several secular codes have beenintroduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Senegalbased on French civil law system; judicial review oflegislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of Stateaudits the government's accounting office; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Serbia and Montenegrobased on civil law system
Seychellesbased on English common law, French civil law, andcustomary law
Sierra Leonebased on English law and customary laws indigenous tolocal tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Singaporebased on English common law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Slovakiacivil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to complywith the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation inEurope (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Sloveniabased on civil law system
Solomon IslandsEnglish common law, which is widely disregarded
Somaliano national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in somelocalities
South Africabased on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsthe laws of the UK,where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the FalklandIslands presides over the Magistrates Court
Spaincivil law system, with regional applications; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sri Lankaa highly complex mixture of English common law,Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sudanbased on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamiclaw in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents ofthe northern states regardless of their religion; some separatereligious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Surinamebased on Dutch legal system incorporating French penaltheory
SvalbardNA
Swazilandbased on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courtsand Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Swedencivil law system influenced by customary law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Switzerlandcivil law system influenced by customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decreesof general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Syriabased on Islamic law and civil law system; special religiouscourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Taiwanbased on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Tajikistanbased on civil law system; no judicial review oflegislative acts
Tanzaniabased on English common law; judicial review of legislativeacts limited to matters of interpretation; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Thailandbased on civil law system, with influences of common law;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
TogoFrench-based court system
TokelauNew Zealand and local statutes
Tongabased on English law
Trinidad and Tobagobased on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Tromelin Islandthe laws of France, where applicable, apply
Tunisiabased on French civil law system and Islamic law; somejudicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in jointsession
Turkeycivil law system derived from various European continentallegal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights(ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratifiedEuropean Convention on Human Rights
Turkmenistanbased on civil law system
Turks and Caicos Islandsbased on laws of England and Wales, with afew adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
TuvaluNA
Ugandain 1995, the government restored the legal system to onebased on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Ukrainebased on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts
United Arab Emiratesfederal court system introduced in 1971;applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah,which are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirateshave secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercialmatters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes
United Kingdomcommon law tradition with early Roman and moderncontinental influences; has judicial review of Acts of Parliamentunder the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
United Statesfederal court system based on English common law; eachstate has its own unique legal system, of which all but one(Louisiana's) is based on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction withreservations
Uruguaybased on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Uzbekistanevolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independentjudicial system
Vanuatuunified system being created from former dual French andBritish systems
Venezuelabased on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarialcourt system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Vietnambased on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Virgin Islandsbased on US laws
Wake Islandthe laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Wallis and FutunaFrench legal system
Worldall members of the UN are parties to the statute thatestablished the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
Yemenbased on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, andlocal tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Zambiabased on English common law and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Zimbabwemixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@2101 Legislative branch
Afghanistannonfunctioning as of January 2004; government isempowered by the constitution to issue legislation by decree untilthe new assembly is seated; under the new constitution, thebicameral National Assembly will consist of the Wolesi Jirga orHouse of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for afive-year term, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102seats, one third elected from provincial councils for a four-yearterm, one third elected from local district councils for athree-year term, and one third presidential appointees for afive-year term; the presidential appointees will include tworepresentatives of Kuchis and two representatives of the disabled;half of the presidential appointees will be women)note: on rare occasions the government may convene the Loya Jirga onissues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorialintegrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution andprosecute the president; it is made up of members of the NationalAssembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councilselections: scheduled for spring 2005
Albaniaunicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats;100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional votefor four-year terms)elections: last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July,22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held July 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD andcoalition allies 36.8%, PDR 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH (nowPAA) 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies46, PDR 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, independents 2;note - seats by party as of January 2005: PS 65, PD and coalitionallies 46, LSI 9, PDR 6, PSD 3, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3,PDS 1, independents 1
Algeriabicameral Parliament consists of the National People'sAssembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from380 seats in the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president,two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms;the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every threeyears)elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (nextto be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30December 2003 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council ofNations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party NA
American Samoabicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists ofthe House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected bypopular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from SwainsIsland; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats;members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002(next to be held 2 November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - independents 18note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the USHouse of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2002 (nextto be held 2 November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA(Democrat) reelected as delegate
Andorraunicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell Generalde las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote,14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each ofthe 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March-April2005)election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, other 2
Angolaunicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD3, others 7
Anguillaunicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected bydirect popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; membersserve five-year terms)elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA June 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -ANA 3, AUM 2, ADP 1, independent 1
Antigua and Barbudabicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House ofRepresentatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportionalrepresentation to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (nextto be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -ALP 4, UPP 12, contested 1; note - new election will decide thecontested seat
Argentinabicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consistsof the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote;presently one-third of the members elected every two years to asix-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members areelected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every twoyears to a four-year term)elections: Senate - last held intermittently by province during the2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005); Chamber of Deputies -last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003(next to be held NA 2005)election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA;seats by bloc or party - PJ 41, UCR 16, provincial parties 15;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seatsby bloc or party - PJ 133, UCR 46, IF 23, ARI 11, Socialist 6,other/provincial parties 38
Armeniaunicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov(131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of2007)note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, JusticeBloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National UnityParty 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - RepublicanParty 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11,National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party changefrequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselvesindependent
Arubaunicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected bydirect, popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%,PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
Australiabicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the twomainland territories; one-half of the members elected every threeyears by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (150 seats - this is up from 148 seats in 2001election; members elected by popular vote on the basis ofpreferential representation to serve three-year terms; no state canhave fewer than five representatives)elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held notlater than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9October 2004 (next to be held not later than November 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty (as of 1 July 2003) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition34, Australian Labor Party 28, Australian Democrats 7, Green Party2, One Nation Party 1, Country Liberal Party 1, AustralianProgressive Alliance 1, independent 2; House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LiberalParty-National Party coalition 86, Australian Labor Party 60,Country Liberal Party 1, independent and other 3
Austriabicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists ofFederal Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each ofthe states on the basis of population, but with each state having atleast three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term)and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members electedby direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to beheld in the fall of 2006)election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17
Azerbaijanunicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November2005)note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on thebasis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected basedon proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 nationalreferendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of thenext parliament will be elected from single mandate constituencieselection results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2,CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take theirseats