法律英语随身听 2 立法+判例法 Flashcards
1、立法
legislation
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。
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.
判例法先例
case law precedent
先前的司法裁决
prior judicial decisions
一致
just as with
成文法
statutory law
1.1 美国宪法
The United States Constitution
（1）《美国宪法》是1787年订立的，此后修改过26次。
The Untied States Constitution was drafted in 1787 and amended 26 times ever since.
订立
draft
此后
ever since
修改
amend
（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。
The Constitution separates the government into the three coordinate branches.
（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。
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.
做了限制性规定
it sets limits on…
1.2 州宪法
State Constitution
（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。
Besides the United States Constitution, each of the 50 states has also adopted a constitution.
有
adopt
（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。
The state consitution sets out both the form and operation of government in that state and provides for and sets limits on its power.
set out
[词典]
- 动身; 出发; 启程;
- 开始; 着手;
- 安排;
- 摆放; 陈列;
- （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。
provide for
[词典]
- 赡养; 供养;
- 为…做准备; 为…事先安排妥当;
- （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。
1.3 立法机构的立法
Enactment of Legislative Bodies
立法机构
Legislative Bodies
（立法机构的）立法
enactment
（1）立法机构的立法包括《国会法》和州立法机构制定的法律。
This includes the Act of Congress and statutes of state legislatures.
《国会法》
the Act of Congress
state legislatures
州立法机构; 州议会
statute
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
legislature
[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
（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。
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.
。。。制定自己的法律
pass and enforce their own laws
在。。。范围内
without exceeding
。。。。规定的原则
principles established by 。。。
（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。
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.
各州法律有所不同
state law may be different from one to another
各州大相径庭
can vary dramatically from state to state
各州的规定也有很大的不同
how …… are defined also may vary significantly
诉讼时效法规
the statute of limitations
提起民事诉讼的时限【翻译：提起或不能提起的时限】
the length of time within which one must commence a civil lawsuit or be time-barred
在同一领域内
in the same fields
许多其他事项
various other matters
1.4 判例法
Case Law
（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。
In a common law country, case law plays a very important part in determining the law that applies to a particular set of facts.
在。。。。方面起着重要作用
play a very important part in 。。。
某一系列特定事实
a particular set of facts
确定
determine
法律适用
the law that applies to…
（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。
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.
在适用判例法时
In application of case law
在适用…时
In application of 。。。
判例产生地法庭
the court in which the precedent occured
影响力
the weight （that case law is given by。。。 ）
（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。
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.
最高法院
Supreme Court
巡回法院
circuit court
地区法院
district court
无疑最有约束力
obviously the most binding on …
巡回法院审理地区法院上诉案件时做出的裁决
decisions of the circuit court to which an appeal from a district ourt lies
其次是
followed by
最后才是
and finally
先前做出的裁决
prior decisions
某一特定争议
a particular issue
（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。
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.
在许多情况下
In many instances
会参照
will look to
相关州的法律
the law of the appropriate state
在就一个案件做出裁决时
while rendering a decision in a case
在做出裁决时
while rendering a decision
如果该案件属于优先适用州法律的情况
where issues of state law are of priority
