法律英语考试之美国法基础.doc

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1、此资料由网络收集而来，如有侵权请告知上传者立即删除。资料共分享，我们负责传递知识。法律英语考试之美国法基础　　AFEDERALLEGALSYSTEM：Overview　　TheAmericanlegalsystemhasseverallayers，morepossiblythaninmostothernations.Onereasonisthedivisionbetweenfederalandstatelaw.Tounderstandthis，ithelpstorecallthattheUnitedStateswasfoundedn

2、otasonenation，butasaunionof13colonies，eachclaimingindependencefromtheBritishCrown.TheDeclarationofIndependence（1776）thusspokeof“thegoodPeopleoftheseColonies”butalsopronouncedthat“theseUnitedColoniesare，andofRightoughttobe，FREEANDINDEPENDENTSTATES.”Thetensionbetweenonep

3、eopleandseveralstatesisaperennialthemeinAmericanlegalhistory.Asexplainedbelow，theU.S.Constitution（adopted1787，ratified1788）beganagradualandattimeshotlycontestedshiftofpowerandlegalauthorityawayfromthestatesandtowardthefederalgovernment.Still，eventodaystatesretainsubsta

4、ntialauthority.AnystudentoftheAmericanlegalsystemmustunderstandhowjurisdictionisapportionedbetweenthefederalgovernmentandthestates.　　TheConstitutionfixedmanyoftheboundariesbetween2此资料由网络收集而来，如有侵权请告知上传者立即删除。资料共分享，我们负责传递知识。federalandstatelaw.Italsodividedfederalpoweramon

5、glegislative，executive，andjudicialbranchesofgovernment（thuscreatinga“separationofpowers”　　betweeneachbranchandenshriningasystemof“checks-and-balances”　　topreventanyonebranchfromoverwhelmingtheothers），eachofwhichcontributesdistinctivelytothelegalsystem.Withinthatsystem，

6、theConstitutiondelineatedthekindsoflawsthatCongressmightpass.　　Asifthiswerenotsufficientlycomplex，U.S.lawismorethanthestatutespassedbyCongress.Insomeareas，Congressauthorizesadministrativeagenciestoadoptrulesthatadddetailtostatutoryrequirements.Andtheentiresystemrestsup

7、onthetraditionallegalprinciplesfoundinEnglishCommonLaw.AlthoughboththeConstitutionandstatutorylawsupersedecommonlaw，courtscontinuetoapplyunwrittencommonlawprinciplestofillinthegapswheretheConstitutionissilentandCongresshasnotlegislated.2