Besides European continental legal systems, common law legal systems represent one of the two major global legal systems. Common law legal systems are based on English common law, which developed in England and later on in the English colonies. One of the major distinguishing features of common law legal systems is the specific role of judicial decision-making. Besides issuing judgements in specific cases, judges in common law legal systems also issue precedential decisions, which form binding legal rules, which have to be followed in future cases along with statutory law. Judicial decision-making in common law system is also heavily influenced by the role of decisions made by laypersons. Cases are often decided by lay judges, and when they are not present, their role is filled by a jury, which represents one of the most recognizable features of the common law legal systems. Judicial decision-making in common law system is also heavily influenced by the mixing of different legal cultures and legal systems, due to which the common law legal systems and European continental legal systems are being drawn closer together and are increasingly similar.
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