《法律英语阅读与翻译教程》课文英文版摘录__精品.doc

Legal English : A Coursebook on Reading and Translation Lesson 1 Law and Classification of Law 1，General Introduction Law is a system of rules and guidelines,usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics,economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading on financial derivatives markets. Property law defines rights and obligations related to the transfer and title of personal and real property. Trust law applies to assets held for investment and financial security, while tort law allows to claims for compensation if a person’s rights or property are harmed. If the harm is criminalized in legislation. Criminal law offers means by which state can prosecute the perpetrator. Constitutional law provides a framework for the creation of law, the protection of human rights and the election of political representatives. Administrative law is used to review the decisions of government agencies, while international law governs affairs between sovereign states in activities ranging from trade to environment regulation or military action. Writing in 350 BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle declared,” The rule of law is better than any rule of individual.” Law raises important and complex issues concerning equality,fairness and justness,”In its majestic equality”,said the author Anatole France in 1894,”the law forbids the rich and poor alike to sleep under the bridge, beg in the street and steal loaves of bread.” In a typical democracy, the central institution for interpreting and creating law are the three main branches of government, namely an impartial judiciary, a democratic legislature, and an accountable executive. To implement and enforce the law and provide services for the public, a government’s bureaucracy, the military and police are vital. While all these organs of the state are creatures created and bound by law, an independen