AmericanLegalSystem法律英语市公开课一等奖省赛课微课金奖课件

GeneralFeaturesofAmericanLegalSystem

1/33FoundingoftheAmericanlegalsystemTheAmericanConstitutionImportantfeaturesofAmericanlegalsystem

2/33WeallknowthatConstitutionisusuallyregardedasthemostimportantandfundamentallawofacountry.WhataboutAmericanConstitution?InwhatwaydoyouthinkAmericanConstitutionisimportantintheconstructionofAmericanlegalsystem?

KeywordsforyourreferenceThefirstcompleteconstitutionAlllawsconsistentwiththeconstitutionHardtomend3/33Thehistoryanddevelopmentofanationinfluencetheshape,focus,andscopeofitslegalsystem.Forexample,theUnitedStates,Canada,andGreatBritainoncesharedthesamesystem,butsincetheAmericanWarofIndependence(1775-1783)thatcommonsystemhassplitintothreedistinctsystems.TheUnitedStateshasonerelativelybriefdocumentthatisknownasthefirstcompleteConstitutionofthecapitalistworld;allotherlawsintheUS,whetherstateorfederal,mustbeconsistentwithit.Becauseofitsimportance,theConstitutionisverydifficulttoamend[change].InCanada,however,therearemanydocumentsthattogetherformthatcountry’sconstitution.TheUK,ontheotherhand,hasnospecialdocuments,andParliamentmaychangethelawatanytime.4/33Newwordsandexpressionsamend:Toalter(alegislativemeasure,forexample)formallybyadding,deleting,orrephrasing修正，修订e.g.OnlytheCongresshasthepowertoamendtheConstitution.Amendment:Formalrevisionof,additionto,orchange,asinabilloraconstitution.修正案，修正条款：对法案、宪法正式修改、增补或改变e.g.The19thAmendmenttotheConstitutiongavewomentherighttovote.5/33TheearlyconstitutionTopicsfordiscussion:HowmuchdoyouknowaboutthefirstConstitutionofAmerica?Howdiditdefinethepowersofthecentralgovernment?ReadTheArticlesofConfederationandtellmewhatitismainlyabout.KeywordsforyourreferenceTheArticlesofConfederationfederalcourtspresidentsinglechamberofCongress6/33InordertounderstandUSlaw,wemustlookatthefoundingoftheUSandtheunitingoftheindividualcoloniesintoasinglenation.TheAmericanWarofIndependencebroughttheoriginalthirteencoloniestogethertofightacommonfoe,theBritish.Thecolonies,declaringthemselvesindependentstates,originallyagreedtoaveryweakconfederationinordertodefeattheircommonenemy.ThisfirstfederalconstitutionoftheUS,“TheArticlesofConfederation,”waswrittenin1777andwasfinallyratified[approved]bythestatesin1781.

ThefirstconstitutionoftheUnitedStates,passedbyThesecondContinentalCongressin1787,butnotratifieduntil1781,replacedbythepresentconstitutionin1789duetolackofgovernmentalpowers.

7/33InthisfirstformofAmericangovernment,therewereneitherfederalcourtsnorapresidentandthesinglechamberofCongresshadnowaytoenforceitslaws.Theindividualstatescouldanddidignorefederallawswithimpunity.ItquicklybecameclearthattheUSwouldnotremainunitedlongunlesstheroleofthefederalgovernmentwasstrengthened.8/33Newwordsandexpressions1.Confederation:Theactofformingintoorbecomingpartofaconfederacy.联邦,结盟2.ratify:Toapproveandgiveformalsanctionto;confirm.同意,认可e.g.“Amendments...shallbevalid...whenratifiedbytheLegislaturesofthreefourthsoftheseveralStates”(U.S.Constitution,ArticleV).“修正案…当为四分之三州立法机构赞同时…将生效”

（美国宪法，第五条）ratification3.withimpunity:withoutfearofconsequences不受处罚地9/33Constitutionof1787Topicsfordiscussion:Forwhatreasonwastheconstitutionalconventionheldin1787?WhatpowersdidthefederalgovernmenthaveaccordingtothenewConstitution?Howwasthegovernmentinstituted?10/33Keywordsforyourreferenceformationofastrongunionstrongercentralgovernmentbroaderfederalpowersoverindividualstateslimitedpowersrighttoimposecertainfederaltaxeswagewarregulateinterstateandforeigncommercemaketreatieswithforeigngovernmentsornationsafederalsystemofcourtsexecutivebranchheadedbythepresidentbicamerallegislativebranch

11/33In1787,aconstitutionalconvention(制宪会议)wasconvenedtoformastronger,moredurableunion.Theprimaryconcernoftheparticipantswastheformationofastrongunionwithoutthedisappearanceofthestatesasindividualpowersinthesystem.Theinevitablecompromiseamongthedelegatesledthemawayfromtheearlierlooseconfederationofsovereignstatestowardastrongercentralgovernment.Intheendthismovementresultedinacentralgovernment,stillprotectiveofstates’rights,butwithbroaderfederalpowersoverindividuals.12/33

WethepeopleoftheUnitedStates,inordertoformamoreperfectunion,establishjustice,insuredomestictranquility,provideforthecommondefense,promotethegeneralwelfare,andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity,doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.我们，美利坚合众国人民，为了组织一个更完善联邦，树立正义，保障国内安宁，建立共同国防，促进全民福利和确保我们自己及我们后代能安享自由带来幸福，乃为美利坚合众国制订和确立这一部宪法。

13/33Broadenedpowers,however,didn’tmeanunlimitedpowers.The“FoundingFathers”(remember,womenwerenotallowedtovoteintheU.Suntilratificationofthe19thAmendmenttotheConstitutionin1920)designedthefederalgovernmentwithlimitedpowers,whichincludedtherighttoimposecertainfederaltaxes,towagewarinthenameofallthestates,toregulateinterstateandforeigncommerce,andtomaketreatieswithforeigngovernmentsornations.Theremainingpowersbelongedtothestates.14/33Thisnewconstitutionaddedtwobranchestothefederalgovernment:afederalsystemofcourtswiththeSupremeCourtasitsheadandtheexecutivebranchunderthecontrolofthenewlycreatedofficeofthepresident.Additionally,tohelpsolveamajorproblemofrepresentationbetweenthelargeandthesmallstates,thelegislativebranchwaschangedtoitspresentbicameral[twochamber]formtheHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenate,knowncollectivelyasCongress.15/33ArticleISection1.AlllegislativepowershereingrantedshallbevestedinaCongressoftheUnitedStates,whichshallconsistofaSenateandHouseofRepresentatives.第一条第一款：本宪法所要求立法权，全属合众国国会，国会由一个参议院和一个众议院组成。

16/33ArticleIISection1.TheexecutivepowershallbevestedinaPresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Heshallholdhisofficeduringthetermoffouryears,and,togetherwiththeVicePresident,chosenforthesameterm,beelected,asfollows:第二条

第一款：

行政权力赋予美利坚合众国总统。总统任期四年，总统和含有一样任期副总统，应照以下手续选举：

17/33ArticleIIISection1.ThejudicialpoweroftheUnitedStates,shallbevestedinoneSupremeCourt,andinsuchinferiorcourtsastheCongressmayfromtimetotimeordainandestablish.Thejudges,bothofthesupremeandinferiorcourts,shallholdtheirofficesduringgoodbehaviour,andshall,atstatedtimes,receivefortheirservices,acompensation,whichshallnotbediminishedduringtheircontinuanceinoffice.第三条

第一款：

合众国司法权属于一个最高法院以及由国会随时下令设置低级法院。最高法院和低级法院法官，假如尽忠职守，应继续任职，并按期接收俸给作为其服务之酬劳，在其继续任职期间，该项俸给不得削减。

18/33Newwordsandexpressions1.posterity:Futuregenerations后代e.g.“Everythinghewritesisconsignedtoposterity”(JoyceCarolOates)2.ordain:Toorderbyvirtueofsuperiorauthority;decreeorenact.颁布法令3.impose:Toestablishorapplyascompulsory;levy征收

e.g.imposeatax4.wage:Toengagein(awarorcampaign,forexample)发动5.bicameral:Composedoforbasedontwolegislativechambersorbranches两个议院,基于两个立法议院或立法部门e.g.abicamerallegislature.两院立法6.bevestedin:Toplace(authority,property,orrights,forexample)inthecontrolofapersonorgroup,especiallytogivesomeoneanimmediaterighttopresentorfuturepossessionorenjoymentof(anestate,forexample).授权：给某人或者群体权威、财产或者权利

19/33Topicsfordiscussion:Whatarechecksandbalances?ItseemsthattheConstitutiondidnotexplicitlygivethepowerofjudicialreviewtothenewlycreatedfederaljudiciary.Thenhowdidthepowerofjudicialreviewcomeintoexistence?

20/33KeywordsforyourreferencethreefederalbranchesmaintainawatchontheothertwonoonebranchbecomestoopowerfulfederalgovernmentnottoopowerfulMarburyV.MadisonChiefJusticeJohnMarshalllimitedpowersoftheCongressfederallegislationsubjecttojudicialreviewinthefederalcourtstheauthoritytojudgethevalidityofstatestatutes

21/33TheConstitutionestablishedaseriesofchecksandbalances(制衡机制)sothateachofthesethreefederalbranchescouldmaintainawatchontheothertwo.Thesechecksandbalancesensurethatnoonebranchofthefederalgovernmentbecomestoopowerful.Additionally,thestates,evermindfulofretainingtheirpowers,alsoprovideanexternalchecktoensurethatthefederalgovernmentasawholedoesn’tbecometoopowerful.

Therearealtogether27amendmentstotheAmericanConstitution.ThefirsttenarecalledBillofRights.The19thAmendmenttotheConstitutiongavewomentherighttovote.22/33InhisdecisioninthelandmarkcaseMarburyV.Madison,5U.S(1Cranch)137,2L.Ed.60(1803),thefamousChiefJusticeJohnMarshallestablishedthatfederallegislationwassubjecttojudicialreviewinthefederalcourts.Inthiscase,theSupremeCourtrefusedtogiveeffecttoasectionofafederalstatute.TheChiefJusticearguedtheConstitutionhadgrantedlimitedpowerstotheCongress.Therefore,itwasthejobofthefederalcourtstodecideifCongresshadadheredtotherulesintheConstitution,whichinthiscasetheCourtdecidedCongresshadnotdone.Consequently,itwasacceptedbyallbranchedofthefederalgovernmentthattheroleofthejudiciarywastodetermineifCongresshadoversteppeditspowersand,ifithad,todeclarethelegislationunconstitutional.

23/33Notlongafterthedecision,theSupremeCourtsuccessfullyheldthatthefederalConstitution(remember,eachofthestateshasitsownstateconstitution)gavetheCourttheauthoritytojudgethevalidityofstatestatutesiftheyseemedinconflictwiththefederalConstitution.ThisjudicialreviewofthestatestatuteshasbecomeoneofthemajorunifyingforcesintheU.S.Inretrospect,itlooksasthoughtheSupremeCourtcarveditspowersfromtheintentionallyvaguelanguageoftheConstitution.ThepowerstheSupremeCourtgaveitselfandthefederaljudiciaryhavebeencrucialinthedevelopmentofAmericanlaw.

24/33Newwordsandexpressions1.overstepitspowers:Togobeyond(alimit);exceeditspowers2.Unconstitutional:Notinaccordwiththeprinciplessetforthintheconstitutionofanationorstate.违宪3.Valid:Havinglegalforce;effectiveorbinding正当,有效或有约束力Validity:有效性,正当性25/33FeaturesofAmericanlegalsystemTopicfordiscussion:WhatarethefeaturesofAmericanlegalsystem?Keywordsforyourreference:supremacyoflaw(法律至上)precedent(遵照先例)theideaofthetrialasacontest(反抗式审判)complexity26/33Eventhroughthenineteenthcentury,U.Sjudges,attorneys,andlegalscholarsreliedonBritishlaw.Today,however,Britishlawisnolongerasinfluentialasitoncewas.ThereareafewBritishcasesthatarestillmentionedinAmericanlawschoolstoday,butfarmoreimportantly,therearefundamentalconceptsinheritedfromtheEnglishtraditionthatarestillflourishingandcontinuetoseparatetheEnglishandAmericansystemsfromotherlegalsystems,suchasthecivillawsystemsofGermanyandFrance.ThreeofthemostimportantconceptsthatwehaveinheritedfromtheEnglisharesupremacyoflaw,precedent,andtheideaofthetrialasacontest.

27/331.

Thefactthatboththeexecutive[thepresident]andlegislative[theCongress]branchesofthegovernmentarerequiredtofollowthelawassetdownintheU.SConstitutionisanindicatorofthesupremacyoflawintheU.S.2.

Precedentisthetraditionthatrequiresthatcourtsfollowthelawasstatedindecisionsbyearliercourts.

28/333.Finally,Americantrialisanadversarialproceeding(contest),likechess,inwhichtheopposingattorneysseemtobemoreconcernedwithwinningthatwitharrivingatthetruth.Actually,intheU.S.90%ofthecasesdonotproceedtotrialbutaresettledoutofcourtinsettlementsthataresatisfactorytobothsides.Inotherwords,inmostcasesallsidesworktogethertoarriveatthetruth.29/33TheAmericanlegalsystemfeaturesacomplexityresultingfromAmericanfederalism.Withinthefederalstructure,eachstateretainsasubstantialdegreeofautonomy.Eachhasitsownconstitution,statutesmadebyitsownlegislature,andabodyofcaselawcreatedbyitsowncourts.Soitcanbesaidthatinsteadofoneuniformlegalsystem,Americahasfiftyoneasystemforeachstateplusthefederallegalsystem.Eachstatehasitsownsetofcourtsandatleastonefederaldistrictcourtexercisinglimitedfederaljurisdiction(管辖权)withinthatstate.Thus,beforeaplaintiff(原告)commencesalawsuit,hemustdecideuponachoiceoffederalcourtorstatecourt.

30/33Ifadisputearisesoutofaseriesofactivitiesindifferentstates,andthesubstantiverightsatissue(indispute)aredefineddifferentlyinthesestates,thechoiceofapplicablelawbecomesacrucialquestionandfurthercomplicatesthelegalsituation.Lookatthefollowingexample:Acontractisconcludedinonestate,performedinanother