📚 Legal Vocabulary Quick Reference Guide for Year 8 AQA Law | AQA法律词汇速记指南（Year 8）
Building a strong legal vocabulary is the first step towards mastering AQA Law at Year 8. This guide brings together the essential terms you will meet when studying the legal system, court structures, criminal and civil law, and the fundamental principles that uphold justice in England and Wales. Each term is explained clearly, with Chinese translations designed to help you memorise and use the language of the law with confidence.
掌握法律核心词汇是学好 Year 8 AQA 法律课程的第一步。本速记指南汇集了你在学习法律体系、法院结构、刑法与民法，以及维护英格兰与威尔士司法公正的基本原则时必需的关键术语。每个术语均附有清晰解释和中文翻译，帮助你高效记忆并自信运用法律语言。
1. Types of Law: Criminal and Civil | 法律类型：刑法与民法
English law divides into two main branches. Criminal law deals with conduct that the state considers harmful to society, such as theft or assault. Civil law, by contrast, resolves disputes between individuals or organisations, often involving rights, contracts or personal injury.
英格兰法律划分为两大分支。刑法处理国家认为危害社会的行为，例如盗窃或袭击。相比之下，民法解决个人或组织之间的纠纷，通常涉及权利、合同或人身伤害等问题。
A key difference is the purpose of each case: criminal cases aim to punish the offender, while civil cases aim to provide a remedy, usually financial compensation, to the wronged party.
两者一个关键区别在于案件目的：刑事案件旨在惩罚犯罪者，而民事案件旨在向受害方提供救济，通常为经济赔偿。
| English Term | 中文术语 |
|---|---|
| Criminal law | 刑法 |
| Civil law | 民法 |
| Prosecution | 公诉方 / 控方 |
| Claimant | 原告 |
| Defendant | 被告 |
2. Sources of Law: Statute and Common Law | 法律渊源：成文法与普通法
Our law comes from two main sources. Statute law is made by Parliament in the form of Acts. Common law is developed by judges through decisions in previous cases, following the doctrine of precedent. Together they create a flexible and evolving legal system.
我们的法律有两大渊源。成文法由议会以法案形式制定。普通法由法官通过先前案件的判决发展而来，遵循先例原则。二者共同构建了灵活且不断演进的法律体系。
Equity is a historical body of rules that developed alongside the common law to provide fairness when strict legal rules caused injustice. Today equity still influences remedies such as injunctions.
衡平法是与普通法并行发展起来的一套历史规则，旨在严格法律规则导致不公时提供公平救济。如今衡平法仍影响着禁令等救济方式。
| English Term | 中文术语 |
|---|---|
| Statute / Act of Parliament | 成文法 / 议会法案 |
| Common law | 普通法 |
| Precedent | 判例 / 先例 |
| Equity | 衡平法 |
3. The Court System | 法院体系
The court structure in England and Wales is hierarchical, with lower courts hearing less serious matters and higher courts dealing with more complex cases and appeals. Magistrates’ courts handle most criminal cases initially, while the Crown Court hears serious offences. The civil courts range from the County Court to the High Court.
英格兰和威尔士的法院体系呈层级结构，下级法院审理轻微事项，上级法院处理复杂案件和上诉。治安法院最初处理大多数刑事案件，刑事法院则审理严重罪行。民事法院从郡法院延伸至高等法院。
The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal for all UK civil cases and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its decisions set binding precedents for all lower courts.
最高法院是英国所有民事案件以及英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰刑事案件的终审上诉法院。其判决对所有下级法院具有约束力。
| English Court | 中文名称 |
|---|---|
| Magistrates' Court | 治安法院 |
| Crown Court | 刑事法院 |
| County Court | 郡法院 |
| High Court | 高等法院 |
| Court of Appeal | 上诉法院 |
| Supreme Court | 最高法院 |
4. Key Roles in the Legal System | 法律体系中的关键角色
Several distinct roles keep the justice system running smoothly. Solicitors typically provide initial legal advice and prepare cases, while barristers represent clients in court. Judges preside over court proceedings, ensuring fairness, and magistrates are volunteer members of the community who hear minor cases.
若干不同角色保障司法体系顺畅运行。事务律师通常提供初步法律建议并准备案件，而出庭律师在法庭上代表客户。法官主持法庭程序，确保公正，治安法官则是审理轻微案件的社区志愿人士。
In criminal cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides whether to charge a suspect and conducts the prosecution in court. Juries, made up of ordinary citizens, decide the facts in serious criminal trials.
在刑事案件中，皇家检察署决定是否起诉嫌疑人并在法庭上进行公诉。陪审团由普通公民组成，在严重刑事审判中负责裁定事实。
| English Role | 中文角色 |
|---|---|
| Solicitor | 事务律师 |
| Barrister | 出庭律师 |
| Magistrate | 治安法官 |
| Judge | 法官 |
| Jury | 陪审团 |
| Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) | 皇家检察署 |
5. Criminal Law Terms: Offences and Procedures | 刑法术语：罪名与程序
Criminal offences are categorised by seriousness. Summary offences are minor, such as motoring offences, and are tried in the Magistrates' Court. Indictable offences, like murder or robbery, must be tried in the Crown Court. Either-way offences can be heard in either court.
刑事犯罪按严重程度分类。简易程序罪行情节轻微，如交通违规，在治安法院审理。可公诉罪行，例如谋杀或抢劫，必须在刑事法院审理。两可罪行则可在任一法院审理。
Every criminal offence requires proof of both the guilty act (actus reus) and the guilty mind (mens rea). The prosecution must prove these elements beyond reasonable doubt to secure a conviction.
每项刑事犯罪都要求同时证明犯罪行为（actus reus）和犯罪意图（mens rea）。控方必须以排除合理怀疑的标准证明这些要素，才能定罪。
| English Term | 中文术语 |
|---|---|
| Summary offence | 简易程序罪行 |
| Indictable offence | 可公诉罪行 |
| Either-way offence | 两可罪行 |
| Actus reus | 犯罪行为 |
| Mens rea | 犯罪意图 |
| Beyond reasonable doubt | 排除合理怀疑 |
6. Civil Law Terms: Torts and Contracts | 民法术语：侵权与合同
In civil law, a tort is a wrongful act that causes harm to another person, leading to legal liability. The most common tort is negligence—a failure to take reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury. Successful claimants often receive damages, a sum of money awarded as compensation.
在民法中，侵权行为指对他人造成损害的不法行为，因而导致法律责任。最常见的是过失侵权——未能采取合理注意，导致损害或伤害。胜诉的原告通常获得损害赔偿金，即作为赔偿而判付的金额。
Contract law deals with legally enforceable agreements. When one party breaks a contract, the other can sue for breach of contract and seek remedies such as damages or specific performance.
合同法处理具有法律强制力的协议。若一方违反合同，另一方可就违约提起诉讼，寻求损害赔偿或特定履行等救济。
| English Term | 中文术语 |
|---|---|
| Tort | 侵权行为 |
| Negligence | 过失侵权 |
| Damages | 损害赔偿金 |
| Breach of contract | 违约 |
| Injunction | 禁令 |
| Liability | 法律责任 |
7. The Trial Process | 审判流程
Before a trial, there is a pre-trial stage where both sides disclose evidence. In criminal cases, the defendant may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Trials then follow strict procedures: opening statements, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and closing arguments.
审判前有一个预审阶段，双方披露证据。在刑事案件中，被告可作出有罪或无罪答辩。随后审判遵循严格程序：开庭陈述、对证人的主询问与交叉询问，以及结案陈词。
The burden of proof in criminal trials lies with the prosecution; in civil trials, it is on the claimant. The standard of proof is higher in criminal cases—beyond reasonable doubt—whereas civil cases use the balance of probabilities.
刑事审判中举证责任在控方；民事审判则由原告承担。刑事案件证明标准更高——须排除合理怀疑，而民事案件采用盖然性权衡标准。
8. The Jury and Verdicts | 陪审团与裁决
Juries play a central role in serious criminal trials. Twelve randomly selected citizens hear evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Their verdict must be unanimous or, in some circumstances, accepted by a majority after careful deliberation.
陪审团在严重刑事审判中发挥核心作用。随机选出的十二名公民听取证据，并决定被告有罪或无罪。其裁决须一致通过，或在某些情况下经审慎评议后以多数意见接受。
If the jury cannot reach a verdict, a hung jury results, and the judge may discharge them, potentially leading to a retrial. In civil trials, juries are rare, and the judge usually decides both facts and law.
若陪审团无法达成裁决，则形成悬空陪审团，法官可予以解散，可能导致重审。在民事审判中，陪审团十分少见，通常由法官同时裁定事实与法律问题。
9. Appeals and Judicial Review | 上诉与司法审查
A party dissatisfied with a court decision may appeal to a higher court on points of law or, in some cases, fact. The Court of Appeal hears most appeals, and the Supreme Court hears cases of general public importance.
对法院判决不满的一方可以就法律问题或在某些情况下就事实问题向上级法院上诉。上诉法院审理大多数上诉案件，最高法院则审理具有普遍公共重要性的案件。
Judicial review is a separate process used to challenge the lawfulness of decisions made by public bodies, not the merits of the decision itself. It ensures that government and other authorities act within their legal powers.
司法审查是一个独立程序，用于挑战公共机构决定的合法性，而非决定本身的是非优劣。它确保政府及其他当局在法律权限内行使职权。
10. Human Rights and the Rule of Law | 人权与法治
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates most of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. It requires public authorities to respect fundamental rights such as the right to life, a fair trial, and freedom of expression.
《1998年人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》的大部分内容纳入英国国内法。该法要求公共机构尊重基本权利，如生命权、获得公正审判的权利以及言论自由权。
The rule of law is a core constitutional principle: no person is above the law, all are equally subject to the law, and legal processes must be fair and accessible. Together, these principles protect individual freedoms and maintain public trust in the justice system.
法治是一项核心宪法原则：无人凌驾于法律之上，人人平等受法律约束，法律程序必须公正且可获得。这些原则共同保护个人自由，并维护公众对司法体系的信任。
| English Term | 中文术语 |
|---|---|
| Human Rights Act 1998 | 《1998年人权法案》 |
| European Convention on Human Rights | 《欧洲人权公约》 |
| Rule of law | 法治 |
| Fundamental rights | 基本权利 |
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