法律英语综合缩印版

法律英语

cause of action 案由Bring an action against 向某人提起诉讼

A coercive apparatus 强制机关

Substantive law 实体法Procedural law 程序法

To resolve disputes 解决纠纷Be entitled to damages 得到损失赔偿金

Private law 私法Constitutional law 宪法Administrative law 行政法Criminal law 刑法

The law of contract 合同法The law of tort 侵权法Sources of law 法源

The civil law system 大陆法系

The common law system 普通法系

a binding precedent 有约束力的先例

Judicial decision 司法决定Provide for 规定

Enforce 实施强制执行Breach 违反

Litigate 诉讼

Adjudicate 判决宣判Enacted 制定颁布通过Overlap 重叠

Choice of law question 法律选择问题

Multi-state transaction 跨洲交易

Substantive rights 实体权利Choice of law rules 法律选择规则

Choice of forum 法院的选择The state court system 州法院系统

Trial court of limited jurisdiction 拥有有限管辖权的初审法院

Inferior court 下级法院Superior court 高级法院Supreme court 最高法院Court of common pleas 普通法院

Trial court 初审法院

Courts of limited jurisdiction 有限管辖权法院

Courts of general jurisdiction 一般管辖权法院Court of limited subject matter jurisdiction

District court 区法院Diversity jurisdiction 多元管辖权

Federal question jurisdiction 对联邦问题的管辖权

The court of appeals for district of columbia 哥伦比亚特区上诉法院

The supreme court of the united state 美国最高法院Amount in controversy 争议金额

The United states courts of appeals 美国上诉法院

The intermediate appellate courts 中级上诉法院

The courts of appeals for the federal circuit 联邦巡回上诉法院Circuit court 巡回法院（上诉

法院）the court of appeals

Judicial process 司法程序

Regulatory legislation 规范

性法规

The adversary system 抗辩

制

Trial procedure 审判程序

The inquisitorial system 纠问

制

The pre-trial investigation 审

前调查

Mode of trial 审判模式

Style of presentation 陈述形

式

Settlement offer 调解方案

Testimony 证词

Direct examination 直接质

证

Cross examination 交叉质证

Procedural safeguard 程序

保障

Due process 正当司法程序

Resort to law 诉诸法律

Resort to force 诉诸武力

Interested parties 有利害关

系的当事人

Affirmative function 积极职

能

Impartial in investigation 公

正调查

Jurisdiction over the subject

matter 对事管辖权

Personal jurisdiction 对人管

辖权

Service of process 送达

Minimum contacts 最低限度

联系

Pleading-in-answer 答辩状

Affirmative defense 积极抗

辩

Penalty of default 缺席判决

Legal relief 法律救济

On one's part 就某人而言

Be subject to 服从于

File with 把……登记备案

Give notice to 通知

Under penalty of 以……惩

治

In essence 实质上

Seek a court order 申请法院

令

Pending action 待讼案件

Pre-trial discovery审前取证

Summary judgment 简易判

决

Decide In favor of

somebody 作出有利于……

的判决

A fact of life 不可否认的事实

Take depositions of 录

取……的证词

Question sb. Under oath 经

宣誓后质问某人

Lay a basis of 为……打基础

Set the case for trial 将案件

提交庭审

Merits 实体问题

Impanel the jury 组建陪审团

Peremptory challenges 绝

对异议权

Present his own case 陈述

他自己对案件的意见

Directed verdict 指令性裁决

Find in his favor 做出有利于

他的判决

Nonmoving party 非动议方

Charge to the jury 对陪审团

的命令

Preponderance of the

evidence 有分量的证据

General verdict 一般性裁决

Legal effect 法律后果

Judgment notwithstanding

the verdict （a judgment

n.o.v.) 推翻陪审团的裁决另作

判决

Challenge for cause 相对异

议

Burden of proof 举证责任

Object to 反对

Out of the hearing of

在……听不到的地方

Jury's verdict 陪审图的裁决

Writ of execution 执行力

Judgment creditor 判决债权

人

Judgment debtor 判决债务

人

Set aside 推翻撤销驳回

Writ of certiorari 调取卷宗令

Reverse the judgment 推翻

判决

Written briefs 书面摘要

Affirm ·reverse ·modify the

judgment of the trial court

维持·推翻·修改原判

Concurring and dissenting

opinions 配合意见和反对意见

Res judicata 已决事件

Render a judgment on

default 作出缺席判决

Criminal procedure 刑事程

序

No crime without a law 法

无明文规定不为罪

Preponderance of

evidence 优势证据

Double jeopardy 因一罪两

次受罚

Summary arrest 即行逮捕

Stand trial 接受庭审

Arraignment 传讯

Nolo contendere 不争辩，不

提异议

On probation 监外执行期内

Plead guilty 服罪

Plea bargaining 认罪辩诉协

议

Find sb guilty 认定某人有罪

Pursuant to 遵循

Advise sb of 告知某人

House of representative 众

议院

Supremacy of constitution

宪法至高无上性

Presidential 总统制民主

Federal ministries

(department) 联邦各部

Regulatory agencies 调控机

构

Interstate commerce

commission 州际商务委员会

Federal trade commission

联邦贸易委员会

Federal securities and

exchange commission 联邦

证券交易委员会

Civil aeronautics board 民

用航空委员会

Constitutional prerequisites

宪法性先决条件

Maritime law 海商法

Interstate commerce

clause洲际商务条款

Necessary and proper

clause 必要及适当条款

Express legislative powers

明示的立法权

Code of military 军事法典

Simple majority 简单多数通

过

Two-thirds majority 2/3多

数

Enter into force 生效

Original jurisdiction 初审管

辖权

Appellate jurisdiction 上诉

管辖权

Federal legislation 联邦立法

Separation of powers 三权

分立

Checks and balances 相互

制衡

Presidential veto 总统否决

Presidential congressional

judicial 总统国会司法控制

Null and void 无效的

In defiance of 违抗无视

Judicial review 司法复审

Rule of law 法治

Constitutional traditional 宪

法传统

Emergency measures 紧急

措施

Legislative power 立法权

Unconstitutional exercise of

legislative power 违反宪法

行使立法权

Watergate scandal 水门丑

闻

Executive privilege 行政特

权

Judgment of

constitutionality 合宪判断

At odds with 与……不和谐

Of necessity 势必无法避免

的

Majoritarian premise 少数服

从多数原则

Democratic system 民主制

On the grounds of 以……为

理由

Lesson One

1.法律是一组规则，违反这些规则将引起案由，可在法院起诉。Law is a set of rules. Violation of these rules may give rise to a cause of action in a court.

2.一种流行的观点认为法律不仅仅是一组规则，而且还是为使人们遵守规则而采取的行动。One popular view of law holds that law is not only a set of rules, but also actions for the purpose of adherence to these rules.

3.不管怎样界定法律，法律离不开一个强制性机构，这个机构通过强制人们遵守社会规范而保持控制。

No matter how law is defined, it is dependent on a coercive apparatus which maintains control through enforcement of social norms.

4.有时法律被划分为实体法和程序法。实体法被直接用于解决纠纷，而程序法规定法庭处理案件的程序。程序法也可能影响案件的结果。

Sometimes law is classified into substantive law and procedural law. Substantive law is used to directly resolve the disputes, and procedural law provides for the procedure by which the court handles a case. Procedural law may also affect the outcome of a lawsuit.

5.西方社会法律的发展因循了两条不同的道路，形成了两个不同的体系。

Law in Western societies has developed along two different lines and into two different systems.

6.在讲英语的国家中，法官常将已决的案例适用于手头案件的新事实，所以在某种程度上，已决的案件是有约束力的先例，是法律的一部分。

In the English-speaking countries, judges often apply decided cases to the new facts at hand. So, to a certain extent decided cases are binding precedents and they form part of the body of law. Lesson Two

1.美国的法律制度是双轨制，各

州有自己的宪法和法律。因此在

涉及跨州交易或事件的诉讼中

往往出现法律选择问题。

The American legal system is a

dual legal system. Each state has

its own constitution and its own

laws. So choice of law questions

often arise in lawsuits involving

multi-state transactions or

occurrences.

2.双轨制也使法院的选择成为

一个复杂的问题。

Duality also makes the choice of

forum a complicated question.

3.在大多数州，初审法院有两层：

低级管辖权法院和一般管辖权

法院。

There are two levels of trial

courts in most of the states:

courts of inferior jurisdiction and

courts of general jurisdiction.

4.在低级管辖权法院审理的案

子一般可到一般管辖权法院重

审。

Cases tried at a court of inferior

jurisdiction generally can be

retried at a court of general

jurisdiction.

5.所有州对一般管辖权法院的

判决都允许至少一次上诉。在有

中级上诉法院的州，一个判决可

以有两次复审。

All the states allow at least one

appeal from the decisions of a

court of general jurisdiction. In

states which have intermediate

appellate courts, there may be

two appellate reviews.

6.联邦区级法院对三种案子有

初审管辖权：当事人不是同一个

州的案子，涉及联邦法的案子，

以及美国政府（或其机构）为一

方当事人的案子。

Federal district courts have

original jurisdiction over three

types of cases: diversity cases,

federal questions cases, and cases

in which the United States

government (or its agency) is a

party.

Lesson Three

1.程序法指导法院在判案时的

操作。

The law of procedure guides the

operations of the court in

adjudicating cases.

2.一套好的程序制度应使法官

根据案件本身的是非曲直断案。

A good system of procedure

should allow the judge to decide

the case on the basis of the true

merits of the case.

3.抗辩制是普通法系国家审判

程序的特有形式，在这一制度下，

法官不积极参与取证，证据由当

事双方律师提供。

The adversary system is the

characteristic form of trial

procedure in common law

countries. Under this system the

judge does not actively

participate in the investigation,

and evidence is submitted by the

lawyers on behalf of the parties.

4.纠问制下的法官审判时通过

积极调查询问来认定事实和适

用法律。

Judges under the inquisitorial

system find the facts and apply

the law through active

investigation and inquire at the

trial.

5.在美国，当事方仍然控制着司

法程序的每一个阶段。

In America, the parties remain in

control of every phase of the

judicial process.

6.学习美国程序法时，我们不能

不加批判地接受所学知识。

In studying American legal

procedures, we should not absorb

uncritically what we learn.

Lesson Seven

1.在无陪审团审讯的案子中，判

决可以在法官认定事实并作出

适用法律的决定后作出。

In a non-jury case, judgment can

be rendered after the finding of

the facts and the conclusion of

law by the judge.

2.执行是强迫败诉方履行给付

判决的常用方法。

Execution is the common method

to force the losing party to satisfy

a money judgment.

3.判决债务人的工资和银行账

户可以被扣押，用以清偿判决债

务。

The wages and bank accounts

may be garnished to satisfy a

judgment debt.

4.最高级的法院是否复审某案

的决定不是基于案件事实，而是

基于案件法律争议的重要性。

The decision of the court at the

highest level as to whether or not

a case should be reviewed is not

based on the merits of the case,

but on the importance of its legal

issue.

5.必须牢记的一点是上诉法院

仅纠正影响判决的错误，它并不

作出它认为更公正的判决。

One thing to remember is that the

appellate court only corrects

errors that are prejudicial. It does

not render what it thinks a more

just judgment.

6.上诉法院只复审已向一审法

院提出并记录在案的异议。

The appellate court only

considers objections that were

presented to the trial court and

kept on record.

Lesson Four

1.送达的目的是通知被告，使他

有合理的机会辩护。

The purpose of service of process

is to give the defendant notice

and a reasonable opportunity to

defend.

2.诉讼是解决法律争端的最终

办法，但它不一定是最好的办法。

其他方法，如仲裁和调解，也许

更可取。

Litigation is the ultimate way of

solving a legal dispute, but it

may not necessarily be the best

way. Other means, such as

arbitration and settlement, may

be more desirable.

3.诉讼的副本必须与传票一起

送达被告。

A copy of the complaint must be

served on the defendant together

with the summons.

4.法院要判案，必须既有对该案

的对事管辖权，又有对被告的对

人管辖权。

In order to be able to adjudicate a

case, the court must have both

subject matter jurisdiction over

the case and personal jurisdiction

over the defendant.

5.反诉的实质是被告的起诉，因

此原告必须对其作出反应。

A counterclaim is in essence the

complaint of the defendant, to

which the plaintiff must respond.

6.被告对诉状的反应可以是多

种多样的。被告可以递交答辩状，

承认或否认原告的各项指控，也

可对法院的管辖权或诉状的法

律充分性提出异议，或不作任何

反应。

The defendant may respond to

the plaintiff’s complaint in a

variety of ways. The defendant

may file a pleading-in-answer, in

which he will admit or deny each

of the allegations of the plaintiff.

He may also challenge the

jurisdiction of the court or the

legal sufficiency of the complaint.

Or he may choose to make no

response.

Lesson Five

1.录取证词是取证的一个重要手段。在录取证词的过程中，证人或当事人在宣誓后回答双方律师的直接和交叉质证。Deposing is a major technique of discovery. In this procedure the parties and witnesses are questioned under oath by lawyers of both parties through direct and cross examination.

2.书面问题一般只能向当事方提出，由当事方在律师的帮助下回答这些问题。

Written interrogatories are usually addressed to a party, who answers them with counsel’s aid.

3.美国的取证程序允许各方了解与案件内容相关的各项事宜，只要这些事宜不是受保护的信息。

American discovery procedures allow parties to learn anything relevant to the subject matter of the case, as long as it is not privileged.

4.如果一方滥用取证程序或不配合取证，另一方可向法院提出动议，令违规方遵守取证规则。If one party abuses discovery rules or does not respond reasonably to discovery requests, the other party may make a motion for the court to order the violating party to obey discovery rules.

5.宽松的取证程序使各方更好地准备庭审，并确保诉讼的结果更公正。

A liberal procedure of discovery enables the parties to better prepare for trial, and ensures a more just outcome of the lawsuit.

6.在取证时，如果一方发现某一争议并不真正存在，他可以提出即决判决的动议。

In the course of discovery, if one party finds that an issue does not really exist, it may make a motion for summary judgment. Lesson Six

1.陪审团审讯是宪法赋予当事

人的权利。因此在大多数民事案

件中，如一方主张这项权利，该

案将由陪审团参加审讯。

Jury trial is a constitutional right

of the parties to a case. Therefore

in most civil cases, if a party

asserts this right, the case has to

be tried before a jury.

2.在有陪审团参加的审讯中，陪

审团审讯事实，法官适用法律。

In jury trials, the jury finds the

facts and the judge applies the

law.

3.法官不直接参加质证，他只在

质证的时间和方向上维持某种

控制。

The judge takes no part in the

examination of witnesses and

parties. He only maintains some

control over the length and tenor

of the examination.

5.指令裁决的动议要求法官裁

定有举证责任的一方未能提供

足够证据，并作出有利于动议方

的判决。

A motion for a directed verdict

asks the judge to rule that the

party with the burden of proof

has failed to introduce enough

evidence, and to decide in favor

of the moving party.

6.在向陪审团交代法律时，法官

要总结案件的事实和争议，说明

每个争议适用的法律，指出对各

个争议谁有举证责任，并交代判

断证人可信度的一般知识。

In the jury instruction, the judge

should summarize the facts and

issues of the case, tell about the

applicable law on each issue,

state who has burden of proof on

each issue, and give general

information about determining

the creditability of witnesses.

7.在联邦法院审理的民事案件

中，只要双方同意，非一致通过

的陪审团裁决也是有效的。

In the federal courts, by consent

of both parties, a non-unanimous

jury verdict may stand in a civil

case.

Lesson Eight

1.只有在有法条明确把被告的

行为定为罪行时，法院才能判案。

Only when there is a statute

specifically making the

defendant’s act a crime can a

court adjudicate the case.

2.刑事诉讼起始于警察逮捕疑

犯。紧接着就是入册。然后被捕

者被带到执法官处，并被告知被

指控的罪名和他的权利。此时疑

犯可以取保候审。

A criminal action begins with the

arrest of the suspect by the police.

Booking follows the arrest

immediately. After that the

arrested person will be taken

before a magistrate and advised

of the charges and his rights. At

this point the suspect may be

released on bail until the trial.

3.大陪审团是一个附加的审查

机构，检查公诉人是否确立了合

理依据。

The grand jury acts as an

additional screening device and

examines whether the prosecutor

has established probable cause.

4.在达成认罪辩诉协议时，被告

承认一个较轻的罪，以换取对其

指控的减少和较轻的判决。

In a plea bargain, the defendant

pleads guilty of a lesser crime in

return for a reduction of the

charges and a lighter sentence.

5.审判前被告可以提出一些动

议，其中包括不得使用非法获取

的证据的动议，对公诉书的充分

性的异议，以先前已因同一罪名

受过惩罚或大陪审团程序不当

为由要求撤销指控的动议等。

A number of motions are

available to the defendant before

trial. They include the motion to

suppress illegally obtained

evidence, the motion to challenge

the sufficiency of indictment, the

motion to dismiss the charges

because of prior jeopardy or

improper procedures of the grand

jury.

Lesson Nine

1.在马伯里诉麦迪逊一案中，首

席法官马歇尔对宪法的至高无

上性作了阐述。

In Marbury v. Madison Chief

Justice Marshall expounded on

the supremacy of the

constitution.

2.美国宪法是世界上历史最悠

久并仍然行之有效的宪法。

The United States Constitution is

the oldest operative constitution

in the world.

3.美国总统是世界上权力最大

的总统之一。他既是国家元首又

是政府首脑。他还是武装部队的

总司令。

The United States President is

one of the most powerful

presidents in the world. He is

both head of state and chief of

government. He is also the

commander-in-chief of the armed

forces.

4.提案经国会两院简单多数通

过并经总统签署后成为法律。

Bills become statutes after being

adopted by simple majority of

both houses of Congress and

signed by the President.

5.参议员的人数取决于州的数

目，而众议员的人数随人口增加

而变化。

The number of senators depends

on the number of the states,

while the number of

Congressmen change as

population grows.

6.联邦最高法院的初审管辖权

是宪法界定的，不能由立法改变。

The original jurisdiction of the

Supreme Court is defined by the

Constitution and cannot be

changed by legislation.

Lesson Ten

1.彻底的分权和彻底的集权一

样会妨碍政府有效地履行其职

责。

Total separation of powers, like

total merge of powers, will

impair the effective performance

of the government’s business.

2.美国政府的行政和立法机构

相互独立又相互制约。

The executive and legislative

branches of the US government

are independent from each other,

but they also exercise a mutual

check on each other.

3.司法复审并没有被写进美国

宪法，它是由首席大法官马歇尔

在马伯里诉麦迪逊一案中确立

的。

Judicial review is not written into

the United States Constitution. It

is established by Chief Justice

Marshall in Marbury v. Madison.

4.马歇尔认为，适用规则的人必

须有权阐述并解释规则。

Marshall held that those who

apply the rule must be given the

power to expound and interpret

the rule.

5.司法复审使分权原则成了一

个可诉讼的权利，以使大家遵守

法治。

Judicial review makes the

principle of separation of powers

an actionable claim for the

observance of rule of law.

6.直到1952年法院才有机会行

使其对总统行为的复审权。

It was not until 1952 that the

court had an opportunity to

exercise its review over a

presidential act.