What is civil law primarily based on?

Civil law is primarily based on a comprehensive and structured set of written codes and statutes that outline legal principles and rules. This system operates under the idea that law should be applied uniformly and consistently, and it's characterized by its reliance on codifications that explicitly define legal rights and obligations.

This approach helps provide clarity and predictability in legal matters, guiding citizens and legal practitioners in understanding what is permitted or prohibited under the law. Unlike common law systems, which derive legal principles from judicial decisions and precedents over time, civil law emphasizes predefined laws that serve as the foundation for legal judgments.

This reliance on formal writings means that judges in civil law jurisdictions typically have less discretion to interpret the law since they are bound by the established codes and statutes, which reduces variability in legal outcomes.