legal-concepts comparative-law
What different legal systems are there?
<p>What legal systems are there in the world and are they directly related to political structure?</p>

<p>I guess something like:</p>

<ol>
<li>You're wrong until proven right</li>
<li>You're right until proven wrong</li>
</ol>

<p>Also what is the proper terminology for a law system?</p>

<p>I can't do much better than the opening to Wikipedia's <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_legal_systems#/search" rel="nofollow">article</a> on this: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The contemporary legal systems of the world are generally based on one of four basic systems: <strong>civil law, common law, statutory law, religious law or combinations of these.</strong> However, the legal system of each country is shaped by its unique history and so incorporates individual variations.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I believe that there are about 196 sovereign nations in the world so that gives 196 national systems. Many of these have sub-national jurisdictions (e.g. The USA with 50 states plus military law) so this total is at least several hundred and may run up to 1000. In addition there are systems of supra-national law such as maritime law, war crimes law and supra-national jurisdictions like the EU.</p>

<p>So, short answer: <strong>lots</strong>.</p>

<p>The correct terminology for a system of law is a <strong>jurisdiction</strong>. Note that many activities will be subject to multiple jurisdictions.</p>

<p>I assume you mean innocent until proven guilty and guilty until proven innocent.</p>
<p>In which case there is: you are guilty (there is no burden of proof on either side), and guilty even though proven innocent (the no smoke without fire argument and although not a legal system it is a societal one).</p>
