For this assignment, we examine the United States legal system, which is often described as a common law legal system. However, the United States legal system may incorporate principles of other legal systems. This module will examine the unique system that has developed in the United States. This assignment hones your research and writing and sharpens your analytical skills by requiring you to research primary source founding documents, identify which legal system they fall into and justify that identification, and also identify similarities between two legal traditions that seem vastly different.

Instructions

The United States has developed a unique combination of both civil and common law. For this essay, read the founding documents of the United States assigned for this Module: Week: Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Then, read and review the United States courts website. This essay will address the following:

• Compare the format of the United States federal court system to the court system of 1 state of your choosing. Compare the structure described on the federal website to the structure described on the website of 1 state. You may choose the state in which you live or a state you would like to visit. However, make sure to provide citations to the websites from which you learned the information.