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Gov 200 exam 2 Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
What are the main characteristics of Common Law? Answer: Common
Law is based on judicial precedent, where courts make decisions based
on past cases and evolving legal principles. It is a law that is common
to all, meaning that it is law made up of common sense, prudence, and
judgments of wise men that gradually evolved over time, not law
created by a legislature.
What are the main characteristics of Civil Law? Answer: Civil Law is
based on written statutes and legal codes, where laws are codified and
courts apply them rather than relying on past judicial decisions. It was
formed through legislation and political thought. Additionally, it does
not employ a jury in rulings and instead relies on the code of civil law
and evidence to determine sentencing and decisions.
Where did Common Law originate? Answer: Common Law originated
in Anglo-Saxon England but was primarily shaped during the reign of
King Henry II.
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,2
Where did Civil Law originate? Answer: Civil Law also called Roman
Law, was developed in Europe throughout the 6th century. Roman
Empire Justinian brought the compliation of the Justinian Code, or
Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law), in 529
What is judicial precedent? Answer: Judicial precedent, adn decisions,
set up a legal framework for future judges to apply previous decisions
to similar cases to ensure legal stability.
What is Stare Decisis? Answer: Latin: Stare Decisis. meaning: "stand by
things decided." while precedent can be binding for lower courts,
precedent is not binding for the higher courts that set it.
define judicial precedent and understand its relation to common law
and stare decisis Answer: Examples: King Henry II set many
precedents with Common Law, such as:
a. disputes coming before a court
b. changed the perception of justice from royal grace (king's mood) to a
right
c. Having many judges instead of one or two judges for a city
d. Having facts sworn in front of a jury
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, 3
e. Jurisdiction from not only the city but to the countryside
How does Civil Law differ from Common Law in terms of statute and
precedent? Answer: Civil Law more closely follows the strict letter of
the law, ignoring past precedents or other facts. primarily concerned
with the hard facts of whether a law was followed to its code or not
An example of this in the US would be codes of building or health and
safety regulations
Judges were required to follow its statutes, limiting their discretionary
freedom. the law was ultimate and this lex script or written law, was to
be strictly followed
What is the difference between codified and uncodified law? Answer:
common law is the unmodified (unwritten) law created through
precedent.
© 2025 All rights reserved
Gov 200 exam 2 Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
What are the main characteristics of Common Law? Answer: Common
Law is based on judicial precedent, where courts make decisions based
on past cases and evolving legal principles. It is a law that is common
to all, meaning that it is law made up of common sense, prudence, and
judgments of wise men that gradually evolved over time, not law
created by a legislature.
What are the main characteristics of Civil Law? Answer: Civil Law is
based on written statutes and legal codes, where laws are codified and
courts apply them rather than relying on past judicial decisions. It was
formed through legislation and political thought. Additionally, it does
not employ a jury in rulings and instead relies on the code of civil law
and evidence to determine sentencing and decisions.
Where did Common Law originate? Answer: Common Law originated
in Anglo-Saxon England but was primarily shaped during the reign of
King Henry II.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
Where did Civil Law originate? Answer: Civil Law also called Roman
Law, was developed in Europe throughout the 6th century. Roman
Empire Justinian brought the compliation of the Justinian Code, or
Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law), in 529
What is judicial precedent? Answer: Judicial precedent, adn decisions,
set up a legal framework for future judges to apply previous decisions
to similar cases to ensure legal stability.
What is Stare Decisis? Answer: Latin: Stare Decisis. meaning: "stand by
things decided." while precedent can be binding for lower courts,
precedent is not binding for the higher courts that set it.
define judicial precedent and understand its relation to common law
and stare decisis Answer: Examples: King Henry II set many
precedents with Common Law, such as:
a. disputes coming before a court
b. changed the perception of justice from royal grace (king's mood) to a
right
c. Having many judges instead of one or two judges for a city
d. Having facts sworn in front of a jury
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3
e. Jurisdiction from not only the city but to the countryside
How does Civil Law differ from Common Law in terms of statute and
precedent? Answer: Civil Law more closely follows the strict letter of
the law, ignoring past precedents or other facts. primarily concerned
with the hard facts of whether a law was followed to its code or not
An example of this in the US would be codes of building or health and
safety regulations
Judges were required to follow its statutes, limiting their discretionary
freedom. the law was ultimate and this lex script or written law, was to
be strictly followed
What is the difference between codified and uncodified law? Answer:
common law is the unmodified (unwritten) law created through
precedent.
© 2025 All rights reserved
