zlacker

In most of the English-speaking world, the vast majority of law is not legislation. Regulations and common law precedents are vast, and make up much more of our law than does legislation.

This may not be true in other areas, I know that many countries (and Quebec) have civil law, where legislation is more extensive.

>>nickff+(OP)
Quebec and Louisiana both.

Common law is common in the English speaking world because it is derived from common law as practiced in England. However both Quebec and Louisiana were acquired from France and kept the French legal system. (OK, Quebec lost French law, and then was given it back so that they wouldn't rebel and become part of the USA.)

In Europe broadly, civil law is more common.