法律的定义

• The law is also frequently classified into areas of public and private law. Public law includes laws that affect the public generally. It can be further divided into constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. Private law deals with the relationship between individuals in an organized society. It covers contracts, torts and property, each of which can be subdivided into several aspects. • 法律也经常分为公法和私法。公法包括涉及公众 的各项法律，公法可以细分为宪法，行政法和刑 法。私法涉及有组织的社会中个人之间的关系， 具体包括合同法，侵权法和财产法，这三方面又 可以细分出许多分支。
• Laws can be classified in many ways too. Laws are sometimes referred to as substantive or procedural. Substantive law defines rights, and procedural law established the procedures by which rights are protected and enforced. • 法律有多种分类。法律可以分为实体法 和程序法。实体法规定了公民的权利， 而程序法规定了保护和享有这些权利的 各项程序。
• This concept of decided cases or precedents as a source of law is known as the “Common Law” system, which must be contrasted with the continental law system developed in continental Europe. • … is known as X • … is called X • … is referred to as X • 下定义句型：Ｘ指的是．．．．．． • 英美法系，有别于欧洲的大陆法系，把已判 决的案例作为法的一个渊源．
Reorganize
• How we define law depends on how we look at its purposes or functions. A basic purpose of law in our society is to maintain order and to resolve disputes. In this connection we must bear in mind that law is not simply a set of rules of conduct. It is also the means to 百度文库mpose responsibility and to enforce social justice. Law has also been defined as a command from a superior to an inferior. The tax law fits in well with this concept of law. • 对法律的定义取决于我们如何理解它的目的或作 用。法律在我们社会中的一个基本作用就是维持 秩序，解决争端。从这个意义上讲，我们必须牢 记：法律不仅仅是一系列的行为准则，更是强调 责任和保证社会公正的途径。法律也可以定义为 上级对下级的命令，税法就是这样一种法律。
• The phrase “sources of law ” is often used to describe methods and procedures by which law is created and developed. American law comes from four basic sources: constitution, legislation, judicial decisions, and administrative rules and regulations. • “法律渊源”这个短语经常用来描述立法 和完善法律体系的各种方法和程序。美 国的法律有四个渊源：宪法，国会立法， 司法决定和行政法律法规。
What is law ?
Language Points
• Substantive law defines rights, and procedural law established the procedures by which rights are protected and enforced. • define 界定，规定 • substantive justice 实体正义 • procedural justice 程序正义
• Judicial decisions as part of law is unique characteristic of British and American law. This concept of decided cases or precedents as a source of law is known as the “Common Law” system, which must be contrasted with the continental law system developed in continental Europe. The continental law countries have codified their law so that the main source of law in those countries is to be found in the statutes rather than in the cases. Under the common law system, statutes and precedents are both sources of law.
• 英国和美国法律的一个独特特征是把司法 决定划为法律范畴。英美法系，有别于欧 洲的大陆法系，把已判决的案例作为法的 一个渊源。使用大陆法系的国家中，主要 的法律渊源来自法典中的条文，各种案例 并不能成为法律依据。然而在英美法系中， 法律条文和已定案例都可以作为法律渊源。
法律的定义
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substantive law 实体法 procedural law 程序法 administrative law 行政法 sources of law 法律渊源 precedent 判例 common law system 英美法系或普通法系 continental law system 大陆法系 statute 法律条文 case 案例