The
law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
of
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
is one of the most unified in the world. All countries but
Guyana can be said to follow civil law systems, although recent developments in the
law of Brazil
The law of Brazil is based on statutes and, partly and more recently, a mechanism called ''súmulas vinculantes''. It derives mainly from the civil law systems of European countries, particularly Portugal, the Napoleonic Code and the Germanic la ...
suggest a move towards the ''
stare decisis'' doctrine.
Supranational agreements
*
Andean Community
The Andean Community ( es, Comunidad Andina, CAN) is a free trade area with the objective of creating a customs union comprising the South American countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The trade bloc was called the Andean Pact ...
*
Mercosur
The Southern Common Market, commonly known by Spanish abbreviation Mercosur, and Portuguese Mercosul, is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994. Its full members are Arge ...
*
Union of South American Nations
The Union of South American Nations (USAN; es, links=no, Unión de Naciones Suramericanas, UNASUR; pt, links=no, União de Nações Sul-Americanas, UNASUL; nl, links=no, Unie van Zuid-Amerikaanse Naties, UZAN; French: ''Union des nations s ...
Countries
*
Law of Argentina
The Legal system of Argentina is a Civil law legal system. The pillar of the Civil system is the Constitution of Argentina (1853).
The Argentine Constitution of 1853 was an attempt to unite the unstable and young country of the United Provinces ...
*
Law of Bolivia
*
Law of Brazil
The law of Brazil is based on statutes and, partly and more recently, a mechanism called ''súmulas vinculantes''. It derives mainly from the civil law systems of European countries, particularly Portugal, the Napoleonic Code and the Germanic la ...
*
Law of Chile The legal system of Chile belongs to the Continental Law tradition.
The basis for its public law is the 1980 Constitution, reformed in 1989 and 2005. According to it Chile is a ''democratic republic''. There is a clear separation of functions, bet ...
*
Law of Colombia
*
Law of Ecuador
*
Law of Guyana
The politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a representative democratic assembly-independent republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Preside ...
*
Law of Panama
*
Law of Paraguay
*
Law of Peru
*
Law of Suriname
*
Law of Trinidad and Tobago
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
*
Law of Uruguay
The legal system of Uruguay belongs to the Continental Law tradition.
The basis for its public law is the 1967 Constitution, amended in 1989, 1994, 1996, and 2004. According to it, Uruguay is a ''democratic republic''. There is a clear separati ...
*
Law of Venezuela
Territories
*
Law of Aruba
*
Law of Falkland Islands
*
Law of French Guiana
*
Law of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
See also
*
Legal systems of the world
The contemporary national legal systems are generally based on one of four basic systems: civil law, common law, statutory law, religious law or combinations of these. However, the legal system of each country is shaped by its unique history and ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Law Of South America
Legal systems