Matching Pairs English InfluencesOnline version Common law & US legal traditions by Chris McCormick 1 became a legal bible for Americans after gaining independence from England; a comprehensive collection of common law 2 based on precedent, has an adversarial system and relies on juries to be fact finders and decide outcomes 3 society surrenders certain rights for security and protection; based on the general will 4 codified and created by legislative bodies or legal scholars 5 in 1961 legal reformers collated general American legal principles and interpretations; 34 states adopted this "rational" criminal law code 6 using previous judicial rulings to guide current decisions 7 "stand on the decision"; principle of precedent when deciding cases 8 basis of American legal traditions ENGLISH COMMON LAW PRECEDENT BLACKSTONE'S COMMENTARIES CIVIL LAW TRADITION MODEL PENAL CODE (MPC) SOCIAL CONTRACT STARE DECISIS COMMON LAW TRADITION