📚 KS3 WJEC Law: Quick Guide to Key Legal Terms | KS3 WJEC 法律:核心法律词汇速记指南
Welcome to the world of law. Whether you are just starting your legal studies or preparing for a WJEC assessment, understanding the basic vocabulary is the first step to thinking like a lawyer. This guide breaks down the most important legal terms you will meet in Key Stage 3, from ‘crime’ and ‘civil wrong’ to ‘parliament’ and ‘precedent’. Each term is explained in clear English, followed by its Chinese equivalent, so you can build both your subject knowledge and your bilingual confidence. Use these bite-sized sections to revise quickly and remember the language of the law.
欢迎来到法律的世界。无论你刚刚开始学习法律,还是正在为 WJEC 评估做准备,理解基础法律词汇是像律师一样思考的第一步。本指南将 KS3 阶段最重要的法律术语进行拆解,从“犯罪”与“民事过错”到“议会”与“判例”。每个术语先用简单的英语解释,紧接着提供中文对照,帮助你同时建立学科知识和双语自信。通过这些小模块快速复习,牢牢记住法律的语言。
1. Law and Rules | 法律与规则
Law is a system of rules made by the state that everyone must follow. Laws are enforced by courts and the police. If you break a law, you may face a penalty such as a fine or imprisonment. Rules, on the other hand, are often set by smaller groups, like schools or families, and only apply within that group.
法律是由国家制定的、每个人都必须遵守的规则体系。法律由法院和警察来执行。如果你违反了法律,可能会面临罚款或监禁等处罚。而规则通常由较小的团体(如学校或家庭)制定,只在该团体内适用。
2. Criminal Law and Civil Law | 刑法与民法
Criminal law deals with actions that are harmful to society as a whole. The state prosecutes the person accused of a crime. Examples include theft, assault and murder. If found guilty, the defendant can be punished. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations. It aims to resolve conflicts and provide remedies, usually compensation. Examples include breach of contract, negligence and divorce.
刑法涉及对整个社会有害的行为。由国家起诉被指控犯罪的人。例子包括盗窃、袭击和谋杀。如果被判有罪,被告将受到惩罚。民法处理个人或组织之间的纠纷,旨在解决冲突并提供救济,通常是赔偿。例子包括违约、过失和离婚。
3. Crime, Offence and Defendant | 犯罪、罪行与被告
A crime is an act that breaks a law and is punishable by the state. The word ‘offence’ often means the same thing in legal language. A defendant is the person accused of committing a crime or being sued in a civil case. In criminal law, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
犯罪是指违反法律并受到国家惩罚的行为。在法律语言中,“罪行”一词通常与犯罪同义。被告是指被指控犯罪或者在民事案件中被起诉的人。在刑法中,被告被推定无罪,直到被证明有罪为止。
4. Prosecutor, Plaintiff and Claimant | 检察官、原告与索赔人
In a criminal case, the prosecutor is the lawyer who represents the state and tries to prove that the defendant is guilty. In a civil case, the person who brings the case to court is called the claimant (or plaintiff in older language). The claimant asks the court for a remedy, such as damages or an injunction.
在刑事案件中,检察官是代表国家并试图证明被告有罪的律师。在民事案件中,将案件提交法院的人称为索赔人(旧时称原告)。索赔人请求法院给予救济,例如损害赔偿或禁令。
5. Standard of Proof: Beyond Reasonable Doubt and Balance of Probabilities | 证明标准:排除合理怀疑与可能性权衡
In criminal law, the standard of proof is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. This means the jury or magistrates must be almost completely sure the defendant is guilty before they can convict. In civil law, the standard is lower: ‘on the balance of probabilities’. The court only has to believe it is more likely than not that the claim is true.
在刑法中,证明标准是“排除合理怀疑”。这意味着陪审团或治安法官在定罪前必须几乎完全确信被告有罪。在民法中,证明标准较低,是“基于可能性权衡”。法院只需要相信该主张更有可能为真即可。
6. Sources of Law: Parliament, Statute and Common Law | 法律渊源:议会、成文法与普通法
In England and Wales, law comes from two main sources. Statute law is made by Parliament. An Act of Parliament is called a statute. Common law is made by judges through decisions in court cases. These decisions create legal rules called precedents that lower courts must follow. This is known as the doctrine of precedent.
在英格兰和威尔士,法律有两个主要来源。成文法由议会制定,议会通过的法案称为成文法。普通法由法官通过法庭案件的判决创造。这些判决形成被称为判例的法律规则,下级法院必须遵守。这就是遵循先例原则。
7. Courts: Magistrates’, Crown and County Court | 法院:治安法院、刑事法院与郡法院
The Magistrates’ Court deals with less serious criminal cases and can send more serious ones to the Crown Court. Magistrates are often volunteers without formal legal training. The Crown Court hears serious criminal cases with a judge and jury. For civil cases, the County Court handles most smaller disputes, while the High Court deals with more complex or valuable claims.
治安法院处理不太严重的刑事案件,并可将更严重的案件移送刑事法院。治安法官通常是未经正式法律培训的志愿者。刑事法院由一名法官和陪审团审理严重刑事案件。在民事方面,郡法院处理大多数较小的纠纷,而高等法院处理更复杂或价值更高的索赔。
8. Jury, Judge and Barrister | 陪审团、法官与大律师
A jury is a group of 12 ordinary citizens who listen to the evidence in a Crown Court trial and decide whether the defendant is guilty. The judge manages the trial, explains the law to the jury and, if the defendant is found guilty, decides the sentence. A barrister is a type of lawyer who usually presents cases in court, often wearing a wig and gown.
陪审团是由 12 名普通公民组成的团体,他们在刑事法院的审判中听取证据并裁定被告是否有罪。法官主持审判,向陪审团解释法律,并在认定被告有罪后作出量刑。大律师是一种通常在法庭上代理案件的律师,经常穿戴假发和律师袍。
9. Human Rights and the Rule of Law | 人权与法治
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person. In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 allows courts to protect rights such as the right to life, freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial. The rule of law means that everyone, including the government, must follow the law. No one is above the law.
人权是属于每个人的基本权利和自由。在英国,1998 年《人权法案》允许法院保护诸如生命权、表达自由和获得公正审判的权利。法治意味着包括政府在内的每个人都必须遵守法律。没有人可以凌驾于法律之上。
10. Key Verbs: Sue, Prosecute, Convict and Acquit | 关键动词:起诉、公诉、定罪与宣告无罪
To sue means to start a civil case against someone, asking for a legal remedy. To prosecute is the state’s action of bringing a criminal case. To convict is when a court formally finds the defendant guilty of a crime. To acquit means the defendant is found not guilty and is free to go.
“Sue” 指对某人提起民事诉讼,寻求法律救济。“Prosecute” 是国家提起刑事诉讼的行为。“Convict” 指法院正式判定被告有罪。“Acquit” 表示被告被认定无罪,当庭释放。
Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com
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