📚 SQA Year 7 Law Formula and Theorem Quick Reference Handbook | SQA 七年级法律公式定理速查手册
This quick reference handbook brings together the most important legal principles, maxims and ‘formulas’ you will need as a Year 7 SQA Law student. While law does not contain mathematical equations, it does rely on clear tests, Latin phrases and logical structures that work like formulas. Knowing these building blocks will help you understand how laws are made, applied and interpreted. Keep this guide close when you revise or tackle problem questions.
本速查手册汇集了SQA七年级法律课程中最重要的法律原则、格言和“公式”。法律虽然没有数学方程式，但它有清晰的检验标准、拉丁术语和逻辑结构，这些就像公式一样帮助人们应用法律。掌握这些基础构件，你就能更好地理解法律是如何制定、适用和解释的。复习或处理案例分析时，记得随时查阅本手册。
1. The Rule of Law | 法治原则
The Rule of Law – no one is above the law, and all are subject to the same laws.
The Rule of Law is the foundation of any fair legal system. It means that every person, institution and even the government must follow the law. Laws should be clear, publicised, applied evenly and protect fundamental rights. No one can be punished unless they have broken a law that existed at the time of their action. This principle prevents arbitrary power and ensures justice is predictable.
法治原则是任何公正法律体系的基石。它意味着每一个人、每一个机构，甚至政府都必须遵守法律。法律应当明确、公开、平等适用，并保护基本权利。除非一个人违反了行为时已经存在的法律，否则不应受到惩罚。这一原则防止了权力的任意行使，确保正义是可预期的。
2. Presumption of Innocence | 无罪推定
Innocent until proven guilty – the starting point in every criminal case.
The presumption of innocence places the burden on the prosecution to prove the accused’s guilt. A defendant does not have to prove their innocence; they must simply raise a reasonable doubt. This presumption is a key protection for individuals against the power of the state and is recognised in human rights law. Until the required standard of proof is met, the accused is treated as if they are not guilty.
无罪推定将证明被告有罪的责任交给了控方。被告无需证明自己清白，只需提出合理怀疑即可。该推定是保护个人免受国家权力侵害的关键机制，并得到人权法的认可。在达到所需证明标准之前，被告应被视为无罪。
3. Burden and Standard of Proof | 举证责任与证明标准
Burden of proof – who must prove the case? Standard of proof – to what level must they prove it?
In criminal cases, the burden of proof generally lies with the prosecution. The standard required is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’, meaning the magistrates or jury must be sure of guilt. In civil cases, the burden is usually on the person making the claim, and the standard is ‘on the balance of probabilities’ – more likely than not. These formulas determine who wins when evidence is evenly balanced.
在刑事案件中，举证责任通常由控方承担。证明标准是“排除合理怀疑”，即法官或陪审团必须确信被告有罪。在民事案件中，举证责任一般在提出主张的一方，标准为“盖然性权衡”——哪一方的说法更有可能。这些“公式”决定了在证据势均力敌时谁会胜诉。
4. Actus Reus (Guilty Act) | 犯罪行为 (Actus Reus)
Actus reus – the physical element of a crime, which can be an act, omission or state of affairs.
A person cannot be guilty of a crime based on thoughts alone. There must be an actus reus: a voluntary act or, in some circumstances, a failure to act when the law imposes a duty. For example, theft requires taking someone else’s property. For assault, there must be an application of unlawful force. The actus reus must be proved together with the required mental element.
一个人不能仅凭思想而被定罪，必须存在犯罪行为（actus reus）：即自愿的作为，或在法律规定了义务时的特定不作为。例如，盗窃要求取走他人财产；袭击要求施加非法暴力。犯罪行为必须与相应的心理要素一同得到证明。
5. Mens Rea (Guilty Mind) | 犯罪意图 (Mens Rea)
Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea – the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty.
Mens rea refers to the mental state required for a particular crime. It ranges from intention (purposefully causing a result) to recklessness (foreseeing a risk and taking it anyway) and, for some offences, negligence. For example, murder requires an intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. If the required mens rea is missing, a person cannot be convicted of that offence, even if harm occurred.
犯罪意图（mens rea）指的是某一特定犯罪所要求的心理状态。其形式包括故意（有意造成结果）、轻率（预见到风险仍然行事）以及某些罪行中的过失。例如，谋杀要求有杀人或造成严重身体伤害的意图。如果缺乏所要求的犯罪意图，即使发生了损害，也不能判处该人有罪。
6. Stare Decisis (Judicial Precedent) | 遵循先例 (Stare Decisis)
Stare decisis et non quieta movere – stand by decisions and do not disturb settled points.
Judicial precedent is the principle by which courts are bound by earlier decisions of higher courts or their own previous judgments. The binding part of a judgment is called the ‘ratio decidendi’ – the legal reason for the decision. Other remarks are ‘obiter dicta’ and are persuasive only. This system promotes consistency, predictability and fairness, much like a formula that is applied until a higher court changes it.
司法先例原则是指法院受上级法院先前判决或自身先前判决约束。判决中具有约束力的部分称为“判决理由”（ratio decidendi），即作出裁决的法律依据。其他言论为“附带意见”（obiter dicta），仅具有说服力。这一体系像公式一样被运用，直到上级法院予以改变，从而促进了法律的一致性、可预测性和公正性。
7. Natural Justice | 自然正义
Audi alteram partem – hear the other side. Nemo judex in causa sua – no one should be a judge in their own cause.
Natural justice consists of two core rules that guarantee procedural fairness. The first is the right to a fair hearing (‘audi alteram partem’), meaning a person affected by a decision must be given notice and a chance to present their case. The second is the rule against bias (‘nemo judex in causa sua’), which prevents a decision-maker from having any personal interest in the outcome. These principles apply to courts, tribunals and public bodies.
自然正义包含两个保证程序公平的核心规则。其一是获得公正审讯的权利（“听取另一方陈述”），即受决定影响的人必须得到通知并有机会陈述意见。其二是反偏私规则（“任何人不得审理自己的案件”），它禁止裁决者对案件结果有任何个人利害关系。这些原则适用于法院、裁判所和公共机构。
8. Equality Before the Law | 法律面前人人平等
All persons shall be equal before the courts and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
Equality before the law means that no individual or group receives special treatment. Legal rights and duties apply equally regardless of status, wealth, gender, race or belief. This principle is a cornerstone of the rule of law and is enshrined in human rights instruments. It ensures that access to justice is not blocked by discrimination and that similar cases are treated similarly.
法律面前人人平等意味着任何个人或群体都不享有特殊待遇。法律权利与义务平等适用于所有身份、财富、性别、种族或信仰的人。这一原则是法治的基石，并被载入各项人权文书中。它确保人们获得司法救济的机会不受歧视阻碍，并保证类似案件得到类似处理。
9. The Mischief Rule (Statutory Interpretation) | 弊端规则（法律解释）
The mischief rule looks at what gap in the law Parliament intended to fill.
When a court interprets a statute, it sometimes uses the mischief rule. This asks: what was the common law before the Act? What problem (mischief) was the law trying to fix? And what was the remedy Parliament provided? The judge then interprets the words to suppress the mischief and advance the remedy. This approach gives effect to Parliament’s purpose and acts like a formula for resolving ambiguity.
当法院解释制定法时，有时会使用弊端规则。它考察：该法律通过前的普通法是什么？法律试图解决什么问题（弊端）？议会提供了怎样的补救？法官据此解释条文以抑制弊端、推进补救。这一方法使议会的目的得以实现，就像一套解决歧义的公式。
10. Habeas Corpus | 人身保护令
Habeas corpus – ‘you shall have the body’, a remedy against unlawful detention.
Habeas corpus is a historic legal safeguard that allows a person who is detained to challenge the legality of that detention before a court. If the detention cannot be justified in law, the court can order release. It is a swift and powerful remedy that prevents the state from holding individuals without trial. This principle reinforces that liberty cannot be taken away without legal authority.
人身保护令是一项历史悠久的法律保障，允许被拘禁者向法院质疑拘禁的合法性。如果拘禁在法律上无法证明合理，法院可下令释放。这是一种迅速而有力的救济，防止国家不经审判即关押个人。这一原则强化了未经法律授权不得剥夺自由的基本理念。
Published by TutorHao | SQA Year 7 Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
屏轩国际教育cambridge primary/secondary checkpoint, cat4, ukiset,ukcat,igcse,alevel,PAT,STEP,MAT, ibdp,ap,ssat,sat,sat2课程辅导，国外大学本科硕士研究生博士课程论文辅导Cancel reply