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 | South AfricaReviewed | PeruReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Mixed: Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, customary law | Civil law |
| System of government | Parliamentary republic | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 | Political Constitution of Peru |
| In force since | 1996 | 1993 |
| Capital | Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) | Lima |
| Official languages | isiZulu, English, Afrikaans, +9 official languages | Spanish, Quechua, Aymara |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Peruvian sol (PEN) |
| Population | 61,000,000 | 34,000,000 |
| Division of powers | Parliamentary executive with strong constitutional supremacy; the Constitutional Court may declare conduct of any branch invalid. | Unitary and decentralised, with twenty-five regional governments and the Lima Metropolitan Municipality holding elected councils and administrative competence. Peasant and native communities exercise jurisdiction within their territory under Article 149 in coordination with the justices of the peace. |
| How law is made | Bills are tagged by subject matter, pass the National Assembly and, where provinces are affected, the NCOP, before presidential assent; the President may refer a bill to the Constitutional Court. | Bills come from Congress, the executive, regional governments or citizens. A single chamber debates in committee and plenary; a second vote is required unless exempted. The President may observe a bill, and Congress insists by absolute majority. Constitutional amendment needs an absolute majority in two successive ordinary legislatures, or a two-thirds vote plus referendum. |
| Legal profession | The Legal Practice Act 2014 unified regulation under the Legal Practice Council, retaining the attorney and advocate distinction. | A law degree followed by a bachiller and título de abogado, then compulsory registration with one of the departmental colegios de abogados, which hold disciplinary power. Registration in one college permits practice nationwide. Notaries are a separate profession appointed by competitive examination. |
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.