📚 KS3 WJEC Law: Summer Preparation and Transition Course | KS3 WJEC 法律：暑期预习与衔接课程
Welcome to the KS3 WJEC Law summer preparation and transition course. This resource is designed to help you explore the fascinating world of law before you begin formal study. You will learn what law is, where it comes from, how courts work, and why legal rules matter in everyday life. By reading and reflecting on these themes, you will build a strong foundation for your future law lessons and be ready to discuss legal issues with confidence. Each section introduces a key topic, followed by a Chinese translation so you can strengthen both your legal English and your understanding of core concepts.
欢迎参加 KS3 WJEC 法律暑期预习与衔接课程。本资源旨在帮助你在正式开始学习之前探索迷人的法律世界。你将了解什么是法律，法律从何而来，法院如何运作，以及为什么法律规则在日常生活中如此重要。通过阅读和思考这些主题，你将为未来的法律课打下坚实的基础，并能够自信地讨论法律问题。每个部分都会介绍一个关键主题，并附上中文翻译，这样你既能提升法律英语，又能加深对核心概念的理解。
1. What is Law? | 什么是法律？
Law is a set of rules made by the state that everyone in society must follow. These rules are enforced by courts and the police. Without law, there would be chaos and uncertainty, because people would not know what behaviour is acceptable. Laws tell us what we can and cannot do, and they protect our rights and freedoms. For example, criminal law makes stealing and violence illegal, while contract law makes sure people keep their promises in business.
法律是由国家制定的一套规则，社会中的每个人都必须遵守。这些规则由法院和警察来执行。如果没有法律，社会将陷入混乱和不确定之中，因为人们不知道哪些行为是可以接受的。法律告诉我们能做什么和不能做什么，并保护我们的权利和自由。例如，刑法规定偷窃和暴力是非法的，而合同法则确保人们在商业活动中信守承诺。
Law is different from simple rules like those at home or at school, because breaking the law can lead to serious consequences such as fines, community service, or even prison. The idea that no one is above the law is central to a fair society.
法律不同于家庭或学校的简单规则，因为违反法律可能导致严重后果，如罚款、社区服务甚至监禁。没有人可以凌驾于法律之上这一观念是公平社会的核心。
2. The Rule of Law | 法治
The rule of law is a foundational principle in the United Kingdom. It means that everyone, including the government, must obey the law. Laws should be clear, publicised, and applied equally to all people. This principle prevents those in power from using their authority in an arbitrary way. A famous constitutional thinker, A.V. Dicey, described the rule of law as the absolute supremacy of regular law over arbitrary power.
法治是英国的一项基本原则。它意味着每个人，包括政府，都必须遵守法律。法律应当明确、公开，并平等地适用于所有人。这一原则防止当权者任意使用权力。著名宪法思想家A.V.戴西将法治描述为普通法律相对于专断权力的绝对至高无上。
Under the rule of law, citizens can challenge decisions made by public bodies through judicial review if they believe those decisions are unlawful. The rule of law also guarantees access to justice, meaning that people should be able to bring disputes to an independent court. Without the rule of law, basic rights would be at risk and democracy could not function properly.
在法治之下，如果公民认为公共机构的决定不合法，他们可以通过司法审查来提出挑战。法治也保障诉诸司法的权利，这意味着人们应该能够将纠纷提交给独立的法院。没有法治，基本权利就会面临风险，民主也无法正常运作。
3. Sources of Law in England and Wales | 英格兰与威尔士的法律渊源
In England and Wales, law comes from several main sources. The most important source today is statute law, which is law made by Parliament. Another significant source is common law, developed by judges through decisions in courts over many centuries. Equity is a body of rules that grew alongside the common law to provide fair outcomes when the strict application of common law would be too harsh.
在英格兰和威尔士，法律有几个主要渊源。今天最重要的渊源是成文法，这是由议会制定的法律。另一个重要渊源是普通法，由法官在几个世纪中通过法院判决发展而来。衡平法是与普通法并行发展的一套规则，当严格适用普通法会过于严苛时，用以提供公平的结果。
European Union law used to be a major source, but after Brexit it no longer takes precedence over domestic law, although some retained EU law still has effect. International treaties and conventions, such as the European Convention on Human Rights, also influence domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1998. Understanding these sources helps us see that law is not just a list of rules but a living system that changes over time.
欧盟法律曾是一个主要渊源，但在英国脱欧后，它不再优先于国内法，尽管一些保留的欧盟法律仍然有效。国际条约和公约，例如《欧洲人权公约》，也通过1998年《人权法案》影响着国内法。理解这些渊源有助于我们看到，法律不仅仅是一张规则清单，而是一个随时间变化的活生生的体系。
4. Parliament and Statute Law | 议会与成文法
Parliament is the supreme law-making body in the United Kingdom. It consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch. Statute law, also called legislation or Acts of Parliament, begins as a proposal known as a bill. If a bill is approved by both Houses and receives Royal Assent, it becomes an Act and is enforced as law. The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament can make or unmake any law, and no other body can override its legislation.
议会是联合王国的最高立法机构。它由上议院、下议院和君主组成。成文法，也称为立法或议会法案，最初是被称为法案的提案。如果法案在两院都获得通过并获得御准，它就成为法令并作为法律执行。议会主权原则意味着议会可以制定或废除任何法律，其他任何机构都不能推翻其立法。
Parliament frequently passes statutes on a wide range of matters, from education and health to criminal justice and the environment. Every year, thousands of pages of new law are created. Because Parliament cannot regulate every detail itself, it often gives ministers powers to make secondary legislation under the authority of an Act, which allows the law to be updated more quickly.
议会经常就广泛的事项通过法律，从教育和健康到刑事司法和环境。每年都会制定数千页的新法律。由于议会不可能亲自规范每一个细节，它常常授权部长们根据法令制定二级立法，这使得法律能够更快速地更新。
5. The Court System | 法院体系
The court system in England and Wales has a hierarchical structure. At the bottom are the Magistrates’ Courts, which deal with less serious criminal cases, and the County Court, which handles most civil disputes. More serious criminal cases go to the Crown Court, while complex civil cases may be heard in the High Court. Above these are the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which is the final court of appeal for all UK civil cases and for criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
英格兰和威尔士的法院体系有一个等级结构。最底层是治安法院，处理较轻的刑事案件，以及郡法院，处理大多数民事纠纷。更严重的刑事案件由刑事法院审理，而复杂的民事案件可能由高等法院审理。在这些法院之上是上诉法院和最高法院，最高法院是所有英国民事案件以及英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰刑事案件的终审法院。
Judges in the higher courts can set precedents, which means their decisions become part of the common law and must be followed by lower courts. This is known as the doctrine of precedent or stare decisis. Tribunals also exist alongside courts to handle specific matters, like immigration and employment disputes, offering a less formal and often quicker process.
上级法院的法官可以设立先例，这意味着他们的判决成为普通法的一部分，下级法院必须遵循。这就是所谓的先例原则或遵循先例。法庭（审裁处）与法院并存，处理特定事项，如移民和就业争议，提供一种不那么正式且通常更快的程序。
6. Criminal vs Civil Law | 刑法与民法
Law is broadly divided into criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with conduct that the state considers harmful to society as a whole. When a person commits a crime, such as theft or assault, the state prosecutes them and a court may impose punishment. The standard of proof in criminal cases is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, which is a very high threshold because the consequences can involve loss of liberty.
法律大致分为刑法和民法。刑法涉及国家认为对整个社会有害的行为。当一个人犯罪，比如盗窃或袭击，国家会对其提起公诉，法院可以施加惩罚。刑事案件的证明标准是“排除合理怀疑”，这是一个非常高的门槛，因为后果可能涉及失去自由。
Civil law, on the other hand, deals with disputes between individuals or organisations. Typical civil cases include claims for breach of contract, negligence, and family matters. The aim is usually to obtain compensation or an injunction rather than to punish. The standard of proof in civil law is ‘on the balance of probabilities’, meaning it is more likely than not that the claim is true. Understanding this distinction is fundamental to the study of law.
另一方面，民法处理个人或组织之间的纠纷。典型的民事案件包括违约索赔、过失和家庭事务。其目的通常是获得赔偿或禁令，而不是惩罚。民法的证明标准是“或然性权衡”，意味着主张为真的可能性大于其不为真。理解这一区别是学习法律的基础。
7. How a Bill Becomes Law | 法案如何成为法律
A bill must pass through several stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it can become an Act of Parliament. The process starts with the First Reading, where the bill is introduced. At the Second Reading, MPs debate its main principles. The Committee Stage then involves detailed examination and possible amendments, followed by the Report Stage and Third Reading. If a bill passes one House, it goes to the other, and may go back and forth until both agree on the final text.
一个法案必须在下议院和上议院都经过几个阶段，才能成为议会法令。过程从一读开始，这时法案被提交。在二读阶段，议员们对其主要原则进行辩论。随后委员会阶段涉及详细审查和可能的修正，接着是报告阶段和三读。如果法案在一个议院通过，它就会进入另一个议院，并可能反反复复，直到双方就最终文本达成一致。
Once both Houses approve the bill, it is sent to the Monarch for Royal Assent, which is now a formality. After Royal Assent, the bill becomes an Act and is part of the law. Sometimes bills can be started in the Lords, but most government bills begin in the Commons. This legislative process ensures that new laws are carefully scrutinised by elected representatives and subject to public debate.
一旦两院都批准了法案，它会被送交君主以获得御准，这现在是一种形式。御准之后，法案成为法令，成为法律的一部分。有时法案可以从上议院开始，但大多数政府法案始于下议院。这一立法程序确保新的法律受到民选代表的仔细审议，并接受公众辩论。
8. The Jury System | 陪审团制度
The jury is a group of ordinary citizens brought into court to decide the facts of a case. In criminal trials at the Crown Court, a jury of twelve members listens to the evidence and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The judge gives directions on the law, but the verdict is for the jury alone. Juries are randomly selected from the electoral register, and most people aged 18 to 70 can be called for jury service.
陪审团是由普通公民组成，被传召到法庭来决定案件事实的团体。在刑事法院的刑事审判中，由十二名成员组成的陪审团听取证据，并决定被告有罪还是无罪。法官就法律问题给出指示，但裁决权完全属于陪审团。陪审员从选民登记册中随机选出，大多数18岁至70岁的人都可以被征召担任陪审员。
The jury system is often described as a cornerstone of democratic justice because it involves the community in the legal process. However, there are debates about whether jurors always understand complex cases and whether the system causes delays. Jurors deliberate in secret, and their discussions cannot be disclosed. Serving on a jury is both a right and a civic duty, giving ordinary people a direct role in the administration of justice.
陪审团制度常被描述为民主司法的基石，因为它让社区参与到法律程序中。然而，关于陪审员是否总能理解复杂案件以及该制度是否导致延误，一直存在争论。陪审员们秘密评议，其讨论内容不得披露。担任陪审员既是一种权利，也是一种公民义务，使普通人在司法中发挥直接作用。
9. The Role of the Police | 警察的角色
The police are responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and detecting crime, and protecting individuals and property. In England and Wales, police officers are not above the law but must operate within the powers given to them by statutes such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. They can stop and search individuals, arrest suspects, and enter premises under certain conditions, but these powers are subject to strict rules and oversight.
警察负责维护公共秩序、预防和侦查犯罪，并保护个人和财产。在英格兰和威尔士，警察不能凌驾于法律之上，必须在诸如1984年《警察与刑事证据法》等法律赋予的权力范围内行动。他们可以截停和搜查个人、逮捕嫌疑人，并在某些条件下进入场所，但这些权力受到严格规则和监督的约束。
The relationship between the police and the public is based on the principle of policing by consent, which means the police rely on the cooperation and trust of the community. Police forces are locally accountable, and an independent body called the Independent Office for Police Conduct handles serious complaints against officers. A fair and restrained police service is essential to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights.
警察与公众之间的关系基于“同意警务”原则，这意味着警察依赖于社区的合作与信任。警察部队在地方上负有问责责任，一个名为“警察行为独立办公室”的独立机构负责处理对警察的严重投诉。一支公正克制的警察队伍对于维护法治和保护公民权利至关重要。
10. Law and Morality | 法律与道德
Law and morality are closely linked but are not the same. Morality refers to society’s beliefs about right and wrong, which can be based on religion, culture, or philosophical ideas. Not all immoral acts are illegal (for example, telling a lie may be unethical but not usually a crime), and not all illegal acts are generally regarded as immoral (for example, breaking a speed limit on an empty road). The relationship between law and morality raises important questions about the extent to which the state should enforce moral standards.
法律与道德密切相关，但并非同一回事。道德指的是社会对于对错的信念，这些信念可能基于宗教、文化或哲学观念。并非所有不道德的行为都是非法的（例如，说谎可能不道德，但通常不是犯罪），也并非所有非法行为都被普遍认为是不道德的（例如，在空旷道路上超速）。法律与道德的关系引发了一些重要问题，即国家应在多大程度上强制执行道德标准。
The debate between legal positivism and natural law theory reflects these tensions. Legal positivists argue that a law is valid if it is created by the proper authority, regardless of its moral content, whereas natural law theorists believe that law must meet higher moral principles to be legitimate. When you study law, you will encounter many cases where judges have to balance legal rules with concepts of fairness and justice.
法律实证主义与自然法理论之间的争论反映了这些紧张关系。法律实证主义者认为，如果一项法律是由适当权威制定的，那么它就是有效的，不论其道德内容如何；而自然法理论家则认为，法律必须符合更高的道德原则才是合法的。学习法律时，你会遇到许多案例，法官必须在法律规则与公平正义观念之间取得平衡。
11. Youth Justice | 青少年司法
The youth justice system in England and Wales deals with young people aged 10 to 17 who commit offences. The age of criminal responsibility is 10, which means children below that age cannot be charged with a crime. For young offenders, the law aims to prevent re-offending by addressing the causes of crime and providing rehabilitation rather than just punishment. Youth courts are less formal than adult courts, and the proceedings are not open to the general public.
英格兰和威尔士的青少年司法系统处理10岁至17岁青少年犯罪的问题。刑事责任年龄是10岁，这意味着低于该年龄的儿童不能被指控犯罪。对于青少年罪犯，法律旨在通过解决犯罪原因和提供改造，而不仅仅是惩罚，来防止重新犯罪。青少年法庭不如成人法庭正式，其诉讼程序不对公众开放。
A range of community sentences, such as referral orders and youth rehabilitation orders, are available to young people who plead guilty. Custodial sentences are used only as a last resort for the most serious offences. The youth justice system involves many agencies, including youth offending teams, social workers, and education providers, all working together to support the young person and protect the public.
一系列社区刑罚，例如转介令和青少年改造令，适用于认罪的青少年。监禁刑罚仅作为处理最严重犯罪的最后手段。青少年司法系统涉及众多机构，包括青少年犯罪工作组、社会工作者和教育提供者，各方共同努力支持青少年并保护公众。
12. Why Study Law? | 为什么学习法律？
Studying law at KS3 level introduces you to skills that are valuable in many areas of life. You will learn to think logically, analyse facts, construct arguments, and communicate clearly. Law is not just for future lawyers; it is relevant to anyone who wants to understand how society works and how rights are protected. When you study law, you explore real-life problems and see how legal principles apply to everyday situations, from consumer rights to freedom of speech.
在 KS3 阶段学习法律，能让你掌握在许多生活领域中都很宝贵的技能。你将学会逻辑思考、分析事实、构建论点并进行清晰沟通。法律不仅仅是为未来的律师准备的；它与任何想要了解社会如何运作、权利如何受到保护的人都息息相关。学习法律时，你会探索现实生活中的问题，并看到法律原则如何适用于日常情境，从消费者权利到言论自由。
Moreover, law provides a window into history, politics, and ethics. Through studying famous cases and statutes, you will understand how society’s values have evolved. Whether you are interested in human rights, business, or public service, a grounding in law will help you become a more informed and active citizen. We hope this summer transition course sparks your curiosity and prepares you for a rewarding learning journey.
此外，法律是了解历史、政治和伦理的一扇窗。通过研究著名的案例和法规，你会理解社会的价值观如何演变。无论你对人权、商业还是公共服务感兴趣，法律基础都将帮助你成为一个更知情、更积极的公民。我们希望这个暑期衔接课程能激发你的好奇心，为一段富有收获的学习之旅做好准备。
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