Comparing Law

PREFACE 11

PART I – LAW COMPARISON 13
CHAPTER 1. What is law comparison?15
1. The concept of law comparison15
2. Scientific discipline or method? 16
3. Types of law comparison 17
4. Relations with contiguous domains of law and science 19
CHAPTER 2. Why law comparison? 25
1. Multiple functions of law comparison 25
2. Immediate goals and functions of law comparison 27
3. Intermediate goals and functions of law comparison 29
4. Remote goals and functions of law comparison 34
CHAPTER 3. How to compare law 39
1. Methods of law comparison 39
2. Phases of law comparison 40
3. Other points of attention 52
4. Modesty and courage 58
CHAPTER 4. How to group countries 59
1. Legal families 59
2. Legal transplants 67
3. Unitary and federal states 69
4. Monism and dualism 69
CHAPTER 5. United Kingdom 129
1. Historical background 129
2. Organization of the state and sources of law 132
3. Hierarchy of the sources of law 138
4. Characteristics of the legal system 140
5. Organization of the court system 141
6. Influences 145
CHAPTER 6. United States of America 147
1. Historical background 147
2. Organization of the state and sources of law 149
3. Hierarchy of the sources of law 153
4. Characteristics of the legal system 156
5. Organization of the court system 157
6. Influences 159
CHAPTER 7. Russia161
1. Historical background 161
2. Organization of the state and sources of law162
3. Hierarchy of the sources of law 166
4. Organization of the court system 168
5. Influences 169
CHAPTER 8. China 173
1. Historical background 173
2. Organization of the state and sources of law175
3. Hierarchy of the sources of law 179
4. Characteristics of the legal system 180
5. Organization of the court system 182
6. Influences 182
CHAPTER 9. Japan 185
1. Historical background 185
2. Organization of the state and sources of law 187
3. Hierarchy of the sources of law 90
4. Characteristics of the legal system 191
5. Organization of the court system 192
6. Influences 193
COMPARING LAW-8
CHAPTER 10. Brazil 195
1. Historical background 195