The German Legal System is based on civil law, primarily derived from written statutes and codes. The most important legal document is the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), which serves as the constitution. The system emphasizes the role of judges, who interpret and apply the law, rather than relying heavily on case law. Germany has a hierarchical court structure, with the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) at the top, ensuring laws comply with the constitution. Other key courts include Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte) and Local Courts (Amtsgerichte), which handle various civil and criminal cases, maintaining a balance between legal certainty and individual rights.