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