Legal System

Vanuatu is a civil law country meaning that the organization of the legal system is derived from the French Napoleonic Code rather than English common 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. There are a number of civil codes besides the Napoleonic code.

Latest news

• Carmel Williams: Crusade against blindness goes on - New Zealand Herald

  Google News - Vanuatu, 17-February-2008

  
  Carmel Williams: Crusade against blindness goes on
  New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 6 hours ago
  ... the PNG government spends about $25, East Timor $35, Fiji $85 and Vanuatu $50. It's hard to run functional health systems on so little money, ...

  [full story]

• College Financial Aid Help - WMBB-TV

  Google News - Panama, 17-February-2008

  
  College Financial Aid Help
  WMBB-TV, FL - 19 hours ago
  By Tuquyen Mach Panama City, FL -- The cost of a college education keeps going up, so the folks at Gulf Coast Community College are seeking to help students ...

  [full story]

• Survivor Host On Show’s Success, Future And Micronesia - Reality TV Magazine

  Google News - Vanuatu, 16-February-2008

  
  Survivor Host On Show’s Success, Future And Micronesia
  Reality TV Magazine, AZ - 14 hours ago
  In fact we almost put her on Vanuatu. She didn’t make the cut so we kind of had her kind of floating around and she’s crazy to the point of being so whacky ...

  [full story]

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