Which legal terminology is often referred to as 'code law'?

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The term "code law" is commonly associated with civil law systems, which are based on comprehensive written codes and statutes that cover various aspects of the law. Civil law relies on codified laws that are systematically organized, providing clear guidelines that judges and legal practitioners must follow. This is distinct from common law systems, where legal precedents established by courts play a central role in the interpretation and application of the law.

In civil law jurisdictions, legal provisions are gathered into collections or codes, such as the Civil Code or Criminal Code, which are intended to be clear and accessible. This allows for a more uniform application of the law, as judges have little discretion to interpret or create law beyond what is stated in the codes. As a result, the predictability and systematic nature of civil law are what earn it the nickname "code law."

Other legal terms, while important in their own right, do not embody the same characteristics of codification that define civil law. Common law relies on case law and judicial decisions, statutory law refers to laws enacted by legislative bodies but does not necessarily imply a full codification, and international law encompasses treaties and agreements between nations rather than a single codified legal framework.

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