法律英语随身听 2 立法+判例法

Question 1

1、立法

Answer 1

legislation

Question 2

美国的法律包括判例法（先前的司法裁决），这一点同英国法律制度一致，此外，还有联邦政府和各州制定的成文法。

Answer 2

Law in the United States is composed of case law precedent (prior judicial decisions), just as with the British system, as well as statutory law created by both the federal government and the states.

Question 3

判例法先例

Answer 3

case law precedent

Question 4

先前的司法裁决

Answer 4

prior judicial decisions

Question 5

一致

Answer 5

just as with

Question 6

成文法

Answer 6

statutory law

Question 7

1.1 美国宪法

Answer 7

The United States Constitution

Question 8

（1）《美国宪法》是1787年订立的，此后修改过26次。

Answer 8

The Untied States Constitution was drafted in 1787 and amended 26 times ever since.

Question 9

订立

Answer 9

draft

Question 10

此后

Answer 10

ever since

Question 11

修改

Answer 11

amend

Question 12

（2）美国宪法将政府分为三个相互协调、相互制约的权力机构。

Answer 12

The Constitution separates the government into the three coordinate branches.

Question 13

（3）宪法除赋予三个权力机构以及州政府特定的权力之外，还对联邦和各州政府的权力做了限制性规定。

Answer 13

The Constitution provides for powers to each of the three branches, as well as the states. In addition, it sets limits on the powers of federal and state government.

Question 14

做了限制性规定

Answer 14

it sets limits on…

Question 15

1.2 州宪法

Answer 15

State Constitution

Question 16

（1）除了《美国宪法》以外，美国50个州中的每一个州都有一部州宪法。

Answer 16

Besides the United States Constitution, each of the 50 states has also adopted a constitution.

Question 17

有

Answer 17

adopt

Question 18

（2）州宪法规定了本州政府的形式和运作，并规定了对州政府权力的限制。

Answer 18

The state consitution sets out both the form and operation of government in that state and provides for and sets limits on its power.

Question 19

set out

Answer 19

[词典]

1. 动身; 出发; 启程;
2. 开始; 着手;
3. 安排;
4. 摆放; 陈列;
5. （清晰而有条理地） 陈述，阐述，说明;

[例句]When setting out on a long walk, always wear suitable boots.
每次出发远行，都要穿合适的鞋子。

Question 20

provide for

Answer 20

[词典]

1. 赡养; 供养;
2. 为…做准备; 为…事先安排妥当;
3. （法律、条约） 规定，允许

[例句] Elaine wouldn’t let him provide for her.
伊莱恩不愿让他养活自己。

Question 21

1.3 立法机构的立法

Answer 21

Enactment of Legislative Bodies

Question 22

立法机构

Answer 22

Legislative Bodies

Question 23

（立法机构的）立法

Answer 23

enactment

Question 24

（1）立法机构的立法包括《国会法》和州立法机构制定的法律。

Answer 24

This includes the Act of Congress and statutes of state legislatures.

Question 25

《国会法》

Answer 25

the Act of Congress

Question 26

state legislatures

Answer 26

州立法机构; 州议会

Question 27

statute

Answer 27

n. 成文法; 法令; 法规; 章程; 条例; 规程; [例句]The new statute covers the care for, bringing up and protection of children. 新法令涵盖了儿童保育、养育和保护的相关内容。 [其他] 复数：statutes

Question 28

legislature

Answer 28

[ˈledʒɪsleɪtʃər] n. 立法机关 [例句] The proposals before the legislature include the creation of two special courts to deal exclusively with violent crimes.. 呈交立法机关的提案内容包括成立两个专门审理暴力犯罪的特别法庭。 [其他] 复数：legislatures

Question 29

（2）在美国，每一个州的立法机构都可以在《美国宪法》和国会规定的原则范围内制定自己的法律。

Answer 29

The legislatures of each of the 50 states may pass and enforce their own laws without exceeding the principles established by the United States Constitution and the United States Congress.

Question 30

。。。制定自己的法律

Answer 30

pass and enforce their own laws

Question 31

在。。。范围内

Answer 31

without exceeding

Question 32

。。。。规定的原则

Answer 32

principles established by 。。。

Question 33

（3）因此，各州的法律即使在同一领域内也会有所不同。例如，诉讼时效法规中的关于提起民事诉讼的时限，各州也大相径庭。而且许多其他事项，如商业秘密和侵权，各州的规定也有很大的不同。

Answer 33

Their results in the fact that the state law in the same fields may be different from one to another. For instance, the length of time within which one must commence a civil lawsuit or be time-barred, referred to as the statute of limitations, can vary dramatically from state to state; and various other matters such as how trade secrets or torts are defined also may vary significantly.

Question 34

各州法律有所不同

Answer 34

state law may be different from one to another

Question 35

各州大相径庭

Answer 35

can vary dramatically from state to state

Question 36

各州的规定也有很大的不同

Answer 36

how ...... are defined also may vary significantly

Question 37

诉讼时效法规

Answer 37

the statute of limitations

Question 38

提起民事诉讼的时限【翻译：提起或不能提起的时限】

Answer 38

the length of time within which one must commence a civil lawsuit or be time-barred

Question 39

在同一领域内

Answer 39

in the same fields

Question 40

许多其他事项

Answer 40

various other matters

Question 41

1.4 判例法

Answer 41

Case Law

Question 42

（1）作为普通法国家，判例法在确定某一系列特定事实的法律适用方面起着重要作用。

Answer 42

In a common law country, case law plays a very important part in determining the law that applies to a particular set of facts.

Question 43

在。。。。方面起着重要作用

Answer 43

play a very important part in 。。。

Question 44

某一系列特定事实

Answer 44

a particular set of facts

Question 45

确定

Answer 45

determine

Question 46

法律适用

Answer 46

the law that applies to...

Question 47

（2）在适用判例法时，判例产生地法庭的地位在很大程度上决定着这一判例在特定案件中被适用时的影响力。

Answer 47

In application of case law, the weight that case law is given by a particular court in the United States depends significantly upon the court in which the precedent occured.

Question 48

在适用判例法时

Answer 48

In application of case law

Question 49

在适用...时

Answer 49

In application of 。。。

Question 50

判例产生地法庭

Answer 50

the court in which the precedent occured

Question 51

影响力

Answer 51

the weight （that case law is given by。。。 ）

Question 52

（3）例如，当一个案件被起诉到联邦法院时，最高法院对某一特定争议的裁决无疑最有约束力。其次是巡回法院审理地区法院上诉案件时做出的裁决。最后才是地区法院自己先前做出的裁决。

Answer 52

For example, when a case is brought in a federal court, decisions of the Supreme Court are obviously the most binding on a particular issue, followed by decisions of the circuit court to which an appeal from a district ourt lies, and finally, prior decisions of the district court itself.

Question 53

最高法院

Answer 53

Supreme Court

Question 54

巡回法院

Answer 54

circuit court

Question 55

地区法院

Answer 55

district court

Question 56

无疑最有约束力

Answer 56

obviously the most binding on ...

Question 57

巡回法院审理地区法院上诉案件时做出的裁决

Answer 57

decisions of the circuit court to which an appeal from a district ourt lies

Question 58

其次是

Answer 58

followed by

Question 59

最后才是

Answer 59

and finally

Question 60

先前做出的裁决

Answer 60

prior decisions

Question 61

某一特定争议

Answer 61

a particular issue

Question 62

（4）在许多情况下，地区法院在就一个案件做出裁决时，如果该案件属于优先适用州法律的情况，地区法院也会参照相关州的法律。

Answer 62

In many instances, a district court will look to the law of the appropriate state while rendering a decision in a case where issues of state law are of priority.

Question 63

在许多情况下

Answer 63

In many instances

Question 64

会参照

Answer 64

will look to

Question 65

相关州的法律

Answer 65

the law of the appropriate state

Question 66

在就一个案件做出裁决时

Answer 66

while rendering a decision in a case

Question 67

在做出裁决时

Answer 67

while rendering a decision

Question 68

如果该案件属于优先适用州法律的情况

Answer 68

where issues of state law are of priority