Legal System

The legal system of France is primarily based on its civil code and like many other countries with a civil law system, its laws can be divided into public law, including administrative and constitutional law, and private law, including civil and criminal law.

Civil law, also called Continental law or Romano-Germanic law, is the most prevalent legal system in the world. The main difference between civil and common law is that that common law draws abstract rules from specific cases, whereas civil law starts with abstract rules, which judges must then apply to the various cases before them. In other words, historically speaking, common law is based upon traditions and laws are codified following court rulings. On the other hand, in the case of civil law, laws are first codified and then applied.

Currency

Official name: Euro

Currency code: EUR

Abbreviation: €

Exchange rate: free floating/flexible

Official users: Austria, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland,

Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, and Vatican City.

Unofficial users: Andorra, Kosovo, and Montenegro

Pegged by: BAM, BGN, CVE, KMF, XPF, XOF, XAF, EEK, LTL, LVL, MTL

Subdivided into: cents

Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cent, €1, €2

Notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500

Central bank: European Central Bank

Website: www.ecb.eu

Current exchange rates:

• http://finance.yahoo.com/currency,

• http://www.xe.com and

• http://www.oanda.com