How does civil law differ from common law?

Civil law, also known as statutory law, is a body of law based on a written code which is created and enforced by a governing body. By contrast, common law is a body of law that is based on the opinions of a court or other authority. Common law is based on legal principles that are established from the precedents of past court decisions. In Minnesota, civil law is the primary source of law and determines the rights and obligations of citizens in both public and private relationships. Civil law is also used to regulate the conduct of organizations, such as businesses, educational institutions, and other government entities. Civil law can be further divided into two categories: public law and private law. Public law applies to the government and its citizens, while private law applies to individuals and their interactions. Civil law is different from common law in a number of ways. Civil law relies heavily on written codes and statutes, whereas common law relies more on prior court decisions and case law. Civil law is generally more detailed and precise than common law, which may be more abstract and open to interpretation. Additionally, civil law grants a great deal of power to the governing body responsible for enforcing the law, while common law is more decentralized. Finally, civil law typically allows for more direct enforcement of penalties, while common law is generally more flexible in its approach.

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