Ukraine is a Civil law country. Legal system of Ukraine belongs to the Romano-Germanic legal family or the continental law system. Legal system of Ukraine is based on a pandect system where the main legislation sources are codified laws. Laws are written down, the application of customary law is the exception and the role of case law is small in theory although in practice it is impossible to understand the law in many fields without also taking into account the relevant case law. The Ukrainian system of law is based on the French Code Civil with influences from Roman Law and traditional Ukrainian customary law. The new civil law books (which went into force in 2004) were heavily influenced by the German Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch. The primary law making body is formed by the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada). It is commonly referred to as the legislature (Ukrainian: zakonodavtsi'). The power to make sub laws can be delegated to lower governments or specific organs of the State,but only for a prescribed purpose.