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Summary All material for the subject of Common Law including all jurisprudence. Figure: 9
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Lecture notes - Introduction to Common Law
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Summary Introduction to Common Law (RUG)
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INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW,Inhoud
Intro...........................................................................................................................................................................4
England Common Law between 1050-1500.........................................................................................................4
1066 ‘William the Conqueror”..........................................................................................................................4
until 1150...........................................................................................................................................................4
1215 ‘Magna Carta’...........................................................................................................................................4
Problems Common Law & Equity............................................................................................................................5
Reforms 19th century.................................................................................................................................................5
Judicature Acts 1873-1875....................................................................................................................................6
Statutory law..............................................................................................................................................................7
Construction Statutes.............................................................................................................................................7
Relation Statutory Law with Common Law and Judges.......................................................................................8
Common Law....................................................................................................................................................8
Judges................................................................................................................................................................8
Case Law...............................................................................................................................................................8
Until 1850..........................................................................................................................................................8
After 1850..........................................................................................................................................................8
Which courts are bound?...................................................................................................................................9
When is a precedent not binding?.......................................................................................................................10
Which part of the decision is binding?............................................................................................................10
United States............................................................................................................................................................11
History.................................................................................................................................................................11
From 1776.......................................................................................................................................................11
UK Constitutional Law...........................................................................................................................................12
Unitary principle..................................................................................................................................................12
Sources Constitutional LAw...............................................................................................................................12
Characteristics.................................................................................................................................................13
Constitutional principles......................................................................................................................................13
Parliamentary sovereignty...............................................................................................................................14
Separation of powers.......................................................................................................................................15
Judicial review.................................................................................................................................................15
Criminal Law...........................................................................................................................................................16
General requirements: Actus Reus Guilty act.....................................................................................................16
Positive act......................................................................................................................................................16
Voluntary.........................................................................................................................................................17
Causative.........................................................................................................................................................17
General Requirement: Mens Rea guilty mind.....................................................................................................18
specific offences......................................................................................................................................................20
homicide..............................................................................................................................................................20
VIOLENT OFFENCES WHICH ARE NOT FATAL........................................................................................21
theft......................................................................................................................................................................21
General defences.................................................................................................................................................22
, Trial by jury.........................................................................................................................................................24
Contract law............................................................................................................................................................24
Simple contracts..............................................................................................................................................25
Classification of contracts:..................................................................................................................................27
Making the contract.............................................................................................................................................28
Offer................................................................................................................................................................28
Invitation to treat.............................................................................................................................................28
Price indications..............................................................................................................................................29
The law of torts........................................................................................................................................................30
General principles................................................................................................................................................30
Duty of care.....................................................................................................................................................31
Punitive damages.............................................................................................................................................32
, INTRO
The word ‘common law’ is usually designated to the law system of the UK and USA and is in contrast with
‘civil law’. The UK, USA and Canada are pure common law systems, while several other countries (mainly
those which have been under British reign) can be viewed as mixed legal systems.
The nature of common law; Common law is founded on an account of local customary law, which transformed
into a kind of common customary law. Judges argued that they did not make the law, buw transferred the law of
the people (customary law) into law and applications of law (they find the law), this is called ‘declaratory
doctrine of common law’. The law changes if people start acting differently.
The characteristics of common law are:
- Limited jurisdiction, ubi remedium, ibi jus > you can only go to court if there is a writ that fits your
case.
- Importance of procedural law, if there is a remedy of law there is a use of law.
- Case law or stare decisis, which means that judges will try to follow previous decisions. The previous
decisions are not binding, but the goal is a red line/continuity between decisions.
- Division of labour, the judges focussed on the use of law while the jury focussed on the facts of the
case.
Common law was established during 1250-1500 in the sense of the development of a common legal
system. Common law includes for a large part case law (although not solely consists of case law) and is in
contrast with the local law system used before 1250 and the equity which came into existence after 1500.
ENGLAND COMMON LAW BETWEEN 1050-1500
1066 ‘W ILLIAM THE CONQUEROR”
William was of French nationality. He had a curia regis, his council: consisted of his most important nobles. He
was responsible for the introduction of the Lord Chancellor with large judicial and legislative power: Kings’s
Chaplain and Head of Parliament: Royal Chancery
UNTIL 1150
Local courts, local law. After 1150 the common law developed. Henry 2 started developing The General Eyre,
which consisted of circuit judges that travelled throughout the country and the courts of Assizes, which included
a jury to establish the facts. The Jury judges mainly dealt with most serious criminal cases. The judges travelled
through England and held a session four times a year. Small law suits were dealt with in local courts, while
‘bigger cases’ were brought before the curia regis in one place.
Why centralization of the law? In the UK there was feudal law system in place. The king was the owner of all
the real estate. There was a difference between being the owner, which was the king, and being in possession of
the real estate. It also made de tax and fee system more efficient. And the overall administration of justice was
faster and more clear.
1215 ‘M AGNA CARTA’
The Magna Carta was drafted in 1215, which entailed that the King’s court took residence in a certain place and
did not travel with the King anymore. This also meant that multiple courts were established, the Court of
Exchequer (taxes), Court of the King’s Bench (cases relevant to the king) and Court of Common Pleas (cases not
relevant to the king).
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