【法律概述】法律英语术语.doc

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1、此资料由网络收集而来，如有侵权请告知上传者立即删除。资料共分享，我们负责传递知识。【法律概述】法律英语术语　　Criminallaw：anoverview　　Criminallawinvolvesprosecutionbythegovernmentofapersonforanactthathasbeenclassifiedasacrime.Civilcases，ontheotherhand，involveindividualsandorganizationsseekingtoresolvelegaldisputes.Inacriminalcasethestate，

2、throughaprosecutor，initiatesthesuit，whileinacivilcasethevictimbringsthesuit.Personsconvictedofacrimemaybeincarcerated，fined，orboth.However，personsfoundliableinacivilcasemayonlyhavetogiveuppropertyorpaymoney，butarenotincarcerated.　　A“crime”isanyactoromission（ofanact）inviolationofapubli

3、clawforbiddingorcommandingit.Thoughtherearesomecommonlawcrimes，mostcrimesintheUnitedStatesareestablishedbylocal，state，andfederalgovernments.Criminallawsvarysignificantlyfromstatetostate.Thereis，however，aModelPenalCode（MPC）whichservesasagoodstartingplacetogainanunderstandingofthebasics

4、tructureofcriminalliability.　　Crimesincludebothfelonies（moreseriousoffenses——2此资料由网络收集而来，如有侵权请告知上传者立即删除。资料共分享，我们负责传递知识。likemurderorrape）andmisdemeanors（lessseriousoffenses——likepettytheftorjaywalking）。Feloniesareusuallycrimespunishablebyimprisonmentofayearormore，whilemisdemeanorsarecr

5、imespunishablebylessthanayear.However，noactisacrimeifithasnotbeenpreviouslyestablishedassucheitherbystatuteorcommonlaw.Recently，thelistofFederalcrimes，dealingwithactivitiesextendingbeyondstateboundariesorhavingspecialimpactonfederaloperations，hasgrown.　　Allstatutesdescribingcriminalbe

6、haviorcanbebrokendownintotheirvariouselements.Mostcrimes（withtheexceptionofstrict-liabilitycrimes）consistoftwoelements：anact，or“actusreus，”andamentalstate，or“mensrea.”Prosecutorshavetoproveeachandeveryelementofthecrimetoyieldaconviction.Furthermore，theprosecutormustpersuadethejuryorju

7、dge“beyondareasonabledoubt”ofeveryfactnecessarytoconstitutethecrimecharged.Incivilcases，theplaintiffneedstoshowadefendantisliableonlybya“preponderanceoftheevidence，”ormorethan50%.2