Final answer:
The legal system known as common law is predominant in the United States, England, Canada, and other former English colonies. It is based on judicial precedents and is different from civil law systems. International law governs international systems based on state sovereignty, and courts in the U.S. can hear both civil and criminal matters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal system primarily found in the United States, England, Canada, and other countries that were once under English influence is known as common law. This legal system is characterized by the doctrine of legal precedent, where judges refer to decisions of prior cases (stare decisis) as guidelines for deciding similar new cases. Unlike civil law systems, which are prevalent in continental Europe and rely heavily on written statutes and codes, common law systems give a significant part in the judicial process to court-made law, making the study of judicial decisions crucial.
In terms of international law, it refers to a set of formal and informal rules that loosely govern the international system. It rests on the principle of state sovereignty, acknowledging that states have the right to govern themselves free of external interference. Both state and federal courts in the United States can hear matters involving both civil and criminal law. Finally, when a physical law is described as universal, it typically means that the law applies everywhere in the universe and is applicable to all physical phenomena.