The Inquisitorial system is characteristic of which family?

• A. Civil Law systems (Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy)
• B. Common law systems
• C. Adversarial system
• D. Dossier-driven system

Answer: (A)

Inquisitorial procedures center on the court taking an active role in finding the truth. Judges oversee investigations, supervise evidence gathering, question witnesses, and build the case file or dossier that guides the outcome. This approach aligns with Civil Law traditions, found in countries like Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, where legal codes dictate procedures and the judiciary is central to fact-finding.

In contrast, adversarial (common law) systems rely more on the parties presenting evidence and arguments, with the judge acting as a neutral referee rather than driving the investigation. That difference in how truth is sought and how the proceedings are structured is what makes the inquisitorial setup characteristic of civil law families.