Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | Costa RicaReviewed | PortugalReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal familyIdentical | Civil law | Civil law |
| System of government | Unitary presidential republic | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Constitution | Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica | Constitution of the Portuguese Republic |
| In force since | 1949 | 1976 |
| Capital | San José | Lisbon |
| Official languages | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Currency | Costa Rican colón (CRC) | Euro (EUR) |
| Population | 5,100,000 | 10,400,000 |
| Division of powers | Unitary, with seven provinces that have no legislative power. Municipalities have constitutionally guaranteed autonomy over local services and land use. | A semi-presidential republic in which a directly elected President, a Government answerable to parliament and an independent judiciary share power, with a Constitutional Court guarding the constitution. |
| How law is made | A bill passes two debates in the Legislative Assembly. The President may veto within ten working days; the Assembly overrides with two-thirds. Any deputy may refer a bill to the Sala Constitucional for pre-enactment review, and the chamber's finding of a procedural defect is binding. | Laws are passed by the Assembly of the Republic and promulgated by the President, who may veto a bill or refer it to the Constitutional Court. |
| Legal profession | Practice requires enrolment with the Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica, which holds disciplinary power. Notaries are lawyers holding a separate notarial licence supervised by the Dirección Nacional de Notariado. | Advogados belong to the Ordem dos Advogados; solicitadores and notaries handle registration and authentication of deeds and companies. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.