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