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 | United KingdomReviewed | FranceReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Common law | Civil law |
| System of government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| Constitution | Uncodified constitution | Constitution of the Fifth Republic |
| In force since | 1215 | 1958 |
| Capital | London | Paris |
| Official languages | English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic | French |
| Currency | Pound Sterling (GBP) | Euro (EUR) |
| Population | 68,500,000 | 68,200,000 |
| Division of powers | The executive sits inside the legislature. Judicial independence was strengthened in 2005 when the Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. | Semi-presidential: the President holds reserved powers over defence and foreign affairs; the Government answers to Parliament. The Conseil constitutionnel reviews statutes before promulgation and, since 2008, on referral from litigation. |
| How law is made | First reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading in each House, then ping-pong on amendments, then Royal Assent. | A projet or proposition de loi shuttles between the chambers; the Assembly can be given the last word. Organic laws and constitutional amendments follow stricter routes. |
| Legal profession | A split profession: solicitors (regulated by the SRA) advise and conduct litigation; barristers (Bar Standards Board) hold rights of audience in the higher courts. | Avocats qualify through a CRFPA examination and the CAPA. Notaires, huissiers and avocats aux Conseils are separate regulated professions. |
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.