Which describes a legal tradition based on a written code of laws?

• A. Common Law
• B. Civil Law
• C. Islamic Law
• D. Tribal Law

Answer: (B)

A written code of laws points to Civil Law. In Civil Law traditions, the legal system is organized around comprehensive statutes that cover broad areas of law. Judges apply these codified rules directly, interpreting the code rather than relying primarily on past court decisions. This emphasis on a systematized, accessible set of laws aims for consistency across cases and regions.

By contrast, Common Law bases much of its authority on judge-made precedent and evolving case outcomes; Islamic Law rests on religious texts and scholarly interpretation, even where codification exists; and Tribal Law centers on customary practices within a community, which may be unwritten. The key idea here is that Civil Law is defined by its codified statutes, making it the best description.