<P> After the French Revolution, lawmakers stopped interpretation of law by judges, and the legislature was the only body permitted to interpret the law; this prohibition was later overturned by the Napoleonic Code . </P> <P> In civil law jurisdictions at present, judges interpret the law to about the same extent as in common law jurisdictions--however it is different from the common law tradition which directly recognizes the limited power to make law . For instance, in France, the jurisprudence constante of the Court of Cassation or the Council of State is equivalent in practice with case law . However, the Louisiana Supreme Court notes the principal difference between the two legal doctrines: a single court decision can provide sufficient foundation for the common law doctrine of stare decisis, however, "a series of adjudicated cases, all in accord, form the basis for jurisprudence constante ." Moreover, the Louisiana Court of Appeals has explicitly noted that jurisprudence constante is merely a secondary source of law, which cannot be authoritative and does not rise to the level of stare decisis . </P> <Ul> <Li> In common law jurisdictions, courts interpret law; this includes constitutions, statutes, and regulations . They also make law (but in a limited sense, limited to the facts of particular cases) based upon prior case law in areas where the legislature has not made law . For instance, the tort of negligence is not derived from statute law in most common law jurisdictions . The term common law refers to this kind of law . </Li> <Li> In civil law jurisdictions, courts interpret the law, but are prohibited from creating law, and thus do not issue rulings more general than the actual case to be judged . Jurisprudence plays a similar role to case law . </Li> <Li> In the United States court system, the Supreme Court is the final authority on the interpretation of the federal Constitution and all statutes and regulations created pursuant to it, as well as the constitutionality of the various state laws; in the US federal court system, federal cases are tried in trial courts, known as the US district courts, followed by appellate courts and then the Supreme Court . State courts, which try 98% of litigation, may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea", appellate courts "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts". The judicial system, whether state or federal, begins with a court of first instance, is appealed to an appellate court, and then ends at the court of last resort . </Li> <Li> In France, the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the Council of State for administrative cases, and the Court of Cassation for civil and criminal cases . </Li> <Li> In the People's Republic of China, the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the National People's Congress . </Li> <Li> Other countries such as Argentina have mixed systems that include lower courts, appeals courts, a cassation court (for criminal law) and a Supreme Court . In this system the Supreme Court is always the final authority, but criminal cases have four stages, one more than civil law does . On the court sits a total of nine justices . This number has been changed several times . </Li> </Ul> <Li> In common law jurisdictions, courts interpret law; this includes constitutions, statutes, and regulations . They also make law (but in a limited sense, limited to the facts of particular cases) based upon prior case law in areas where the legislature has not made law . For instance, the tort of negligence is not derived from statute law in most common law jurisdictions . The term common law refers to this kind of law . </Li>

Who has the final authority under the federal system