CommonLaw——一般法Lawsthatdevelopthroughcasedecisionsbyjudges
Notenactedbylegislativebodies
commonlaw,systemoflawthatprevailsinEnglandandincountriescolonizedbyEngland
Thenameisderivedfromthemedievaltheorythatthelawadministeredbytheking’scourtsrepresentedthecommoncustomoftherealm,asopposedtothecustomoflocaljurisdictionthatwasappliedinlocalormanorialcourts
InitsearlydevelopmentcommonlawwaslargelyaproductofthreeEnglishcourtsKing’sBench,Exchequer,andtheCourtofCommonPleaswhichcompetedsuccessfullyagainstothercourtsforjurisdictionanddevelopedadistinctivebodyofdoctrine
Thetermcommonlaw“isalsousedtomeanthetraditional,precedent-basedelementinthelawofanycommon-lawjurisdiction,asopposedtoitsstatutorylaworlegislation,andalsotosignifythatpartofthelegalsystemthatdidnotdevelopoutofequity,maritimelaw,orothersp