📚 Year 9 AQA Law: Quick Vocabulary Memorisation Guide | Year 9 AQA 法律：词汇术语速记指南
Legal language can feel like a secret code when you first encounter it. This guide breaks down the essential terminology in the Year 9 AQA Law syllabus, grouping related terms together and offering simple memory hooks. By linking each English definition with its Chinese equivalent, you will build a solid foundation for reading cases, understanding legal news, and tackling exam questions with confidence.
初次接触法律语言时，它就像一套密码。这份指南将 Year 9 AQA 法律课程中的核心术语拆解开来，把相关词汇归类，并提供简单的记忆技巧。通过将每个英文定义与其对应的中文解释配对，你将打下扎实的基础，能够轻松阅读判例、理解法律新闻，并自信地应对考试题目。
1. Core Legal Concepts | 核心法律概念
The term law refers to a system of rules created and enforced by the state to regulate behaviour. Laws are binding on everyone in a society and carry penalties if broken.
法律（law）指由国家制定并强制实施的一套规则体系，用以规范人们的行为。法律对社会中每一个人都具有约束力，违反法律会受到惩罚。
Justice means fairness in the way people are treated. The legal system aims to deliver justice by applying the law equally and protecting individual rights.
正义（justice）意味着人们受到公平对待。法律体系的目标是通过平等地适用法律并保护个人权利来实现正义。
Morality is a set of personal or societal beliefs about right and wrong. While law and morality often overlap, not everything immoral is illegal, and vice versa.
道德（morality）是个人或社会关于是非对错的信念。法律与道德常常重叠，但并非所有不道德的行为都违法，反之亦然。
An offence is an act that breaks the law and is punishable by the state. Offences are divided into criminal and civil wrongs.
违法行为（offence）指违反法律并会受到国家惩罚的行为。违法行为分为刑事犯罪和民事过错。
2. Sources of Law | 法律的渊源
Statute law (also called legislation) is law made by Parliament. An Act of Parliament is a written law that has been approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and received Royal Assent.
成文法（statute law）（也称制定法）是由议会制定的法律。议会法案（Act of Parliament）是指经下议院和上议院通过并获得御准的书面法律。
Common law (or case law) is law developed by judges through decisions in individual cases. When a judge makes a ruling, that decision can become a precedent – a legal principle that must be followed by lower courts in future similar cases.
普通法（common law）（或称判例法）是法官通过对个案的判决发展出来的法律。法官作出裁决后，该裁决可以成为先例（precedent）——即下级法院在将来的类似案件中必须遵循的法律原则。
EU law and international law also influence the UK legal system, although the UK's departure from the European Union has changed the way EU law applies domestically.
欧盟法（EU law）和国际法（international law）也影响着英国的法律体系，尽管英国脱离欧盟后，欧盟法在英国的适用方式已经改变。
A green paper is a consultation document published by the government to propose a new law and gather public feedback. A white paper then sets out firm proposals before a Bill is introduced to Parliament.
绿皮书（green paper）是政府发布的咨询文件，用于提出新法律并征求公众意见。随后发布的白皮书（white paper）则提出确定性的提议，之后法案才会被提交至议会。
3. The Court System | 法院体系
The English legal system has a clear hierarchy. Criminal cases start in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court, while civil disputes are heard in the County Court or the High Court.
英格兰的法律体系有明确的层级。刑事案件始于治安法院（Magistrates' Court）或刑事法院（Crown Court），民事纠纷则在郡法院（County Court）或高等法院（High Court）审理。
The Court of Appeal hears appeals from lower courts, and the Supreme Court is the highest court in the UK. Its decisions bind all lower courts.
上诉法院（Court of Appeal）审理来自下级法院的上诉，而最高法院（Supreme Court）是英国的最高法院，其判决对所有下级法院具有约束力。
A tribunal is a specialist body that resolves disputes in specific areas such as employment, immigration, or mental health, often in a less formal setting than a court.
裁判庭（tribunal）是处理特定领域纠纷（如雇佣、移民或精神健康）的专门机构，其程序通常比法院更为非正式。
4. Legal Personnel | 法律从业人员
A solicitor is a qualified lawyer who gives legal advice, prepares documents, and may represent clients in lower courts. Solicitors are usually the first point of contact for clients.
事务律师（solicitor）是具备资质的律师，负责提供法律咨询、准备文件，并可在下级法院代理客户。事务律师通常是客户接触的第一位法律人士。
A barrister is a specialist advocate who represents clients in higher courts and provides expert opinions on complex legal matters. Most barristers are self-employed and work in chambers.
出庭律师（barrister）是专门在高等法院出庭辩护的律师，同时也为复杂的法律事务提供专家意见。大多数出庭律师是自雇人士，在律师事务所内办公。
The judge presides over the court, ensures a fair trial, and decides the outcome in a case (or directs the jury on points of law). A jury is a group of ordinary citizens who decide the facts in serious criminal cases in the Crown Court.
法官（judge）主持庭审，确保审判公正，决定案件结果（或在法律问题上指导陪审团）。陪审团（jury）是一群普通公民，在刑事法院的重大案件中负责判定事实问题。
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides whether to charge a suspect and conducts the prosecution in criminal cases. A magistrate is an unpaid volunteer who hears minor criminal cases and some civil matters in the Magistrates’ Court.
皇家检察署（CPS）决定是否起诉嫌疑人，并在刑事案件中代表国家进行公诉。治安法官（magistrate）是无薪志愿者，在治安法院审理轻微刑事案件和部分民事事务。
5. Criminal Law versus Civil Law | 刑法与民法的对比
Criminal law deals with offences against the state or society as a whole. The state prosecutes the defendant, and the outcome can be a fine, community sentence, or imprisonment. The burden of proof is 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
刑法（criminal law）处理针对国家或整体社会的犯罪行为。由国家起诉被告人，处罚可以是罚款、社区服务或监禁。刑事案件的证明标准是“排除合理怀疑”。
Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations. The person bringing the case is the claimant (previously called the plaintiff), and the person defending is the defendant. Remedies usually involve compensation (damages) or an injunction. The standard of proof is 'on the balance of probabilities'.
民法（civil law）处理个人或组织之间的纠纷。提起诉讼的一方是原告（claimant，旧称plaintiff），应诉的一方是被告（defendant）。救济方式通常是赔偿金（damages）或禁制令。民事案件的证明标准是“盖然性权衡”。
A tort is a civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another person, leading to legal liability. Common torts include negligence, trespass, and defamation.
侵权行为（tort）是给他人造成损害或损失的民事过错，会导致法律责任。常见的侵权行为包括过失（negligence）、非法侵入和诽谤。
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. When one party fails to fulfil their obligations, it is called a breach of contract.
合同（contract）是两方或多方之间具有法律约束力的协议。当一方未能履行其义务时，就构成违约（breach of contract）。
6. Key Constitutional Principles | 核心宪制原则
The rule of law means that everyone – including the government – is subject to the law. Laws must be clear, publicised, and applied equally. No one is above the law.
法治（rule of law）意味着包括政府在内的每一个人都要服从法律。法律必须明确、公开，并被平等地适用。没有人凌驾于法律之上。
The separation of powers divides the state into three branches: the legislature (Parliament, which makes law), the executive (government, which implements law), and the judiciary (courts, which interpret and enforce law). This prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful.
权力分立（separation of powers）将国家权力分为三个分支：立法机关（legislature，议会负责制定法律）、行政机关（executive，政府负责执行法律）和司法机关（judiciary，法院负责解释和执行法律）。这防止了任何一个分支变得过于强大。
Parliamentary sovereignty is the principle that Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK. It can make or repeal any law, and no other body can override its legislation.
议会主权（parliamentary sovereignty）是指议会在英国具有最高法律权威的原则。议会可以制定或废除任何法律，其他机构都不能推翻其立法。
7. Human Rights and Freedoms | 人权与自由
The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. It sets out rights such as the right to life, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of expression.
《1998年人权法》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入英国法律。该法规定了生命权、获得公正审判的权利以及表达自由等权利。
Civil liberties are basic freedoms that protect individuals from excessive state interference, such as the right to privacy and freedom of assembly. These liberties are upheld both by common law and by statute.
公民自由（civil liberties）是保护个人免受国家过度干预的基本自由，例如隐私权和集会自由。这些自由既受普通法保护，也受成文法保护。
Discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic such as race, gender, or disability. UK equality law makes direct and indirect discrimination unlawful.
歧视（discrimination）是指某人因种族、性别或残疾等受保护特征而受到不公平对待。英国的平等法律将直接歧视和间接歧视都规定为非法。
8. Stages of a Legal Case | 法律案件的流程
A criminal case begins when a suspect is arrested and taken into police custody. The police then investigate and may charge the suspect with an offence. The first court appearance is called the first hearing.
刑事案件始于嫌疑人被逮捕（arrested）并被警方拘留。警方随后展开调查，并可能起诉（charge）嫌疑人。第一次出庭称为首次聆讯（first hearing）。
The defendant enters a plea – 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. If the plea is not guilty, the case proceeds to trial, where the prosecution must prove the case. After all evidence is heard, the court delivers a verdict. If found guilty, the court then imposes a sentence.
被告人进行答辩（plea）——“认罪”或“不认罪”。如果是不认罪，案件将进入审判（trial）阶段，由控方负责证明其所指控的犯罪事实。全部证据审理完毕后，法庭作出裁决（verdict）。如果被判有罪，法庭将判处刑罚（sentence）。
Either party may appeal against the decision if they believe there has been an error of law or fact. An appeal is heard by a higher court, which may uphold, reverse, or vary the original decision.
任何一方如果认为存在法律或事实上的错误，都可以对判决提出上诉（appeal）。上诉由上级法院审理，上级法院可以维持、推翻或变更原判。
A settlement in a civil case occurs when the parties agree to resolve their dispute without going to trial. Many civil cases settle before a final hearing to save time and costs.
民事案件中的和解（settlement）是指双方当事人在不开庭的情况下协商解决纠纷。许多民事案件会在最终庭审前和解，以节省时间和费用。
9. Legal Liability and Fault | 法律责任与过错
Liability means being legally responsible for something. In criminal law, criminal liability requires both a guilty act (actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens rea), unless the offence is one of strict liability.
法律责任（liability）意味着对某事负有法律上的责任。在刑法中，刑事责任（criminal liability）通常要求同时具备犯罪行为（actus reus）和犯罪意图（mens rea），除非该罪行属于严格责任犯罪。
Strict liability offences do not require proof of mens rea; simply committing the act is enough to establish guilt. Examples include speeding and selling food past its use-by date.
严格责任（strict liability）罪行不需要证明犯罪意图，仅仅实施该行为就足以定罪。超速驾驶和出售超过保质期的食品都属于严格责任犯罪。
In civil law, negligence is a key tort. To prove negligence, the claimant must show that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused damage that was not too remote.
在民法中，过失（negligence）是重要的侵权行为。要证明过失，原告必须证明被告负有注意义务（duty of care）、违反了该义务，并造成了并非过于遥远的损害。
Vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee carried out in the course of employment. This ensures that victims can be compensated by the party with deeper resources.
替代责任（vicarious liability）使雇主对雇员在工作过程中实施的错误行为承担责任。这确保了受害者可以从财力更雄厚的一方获得赔偿。
10. Useful Latin Terms in Law | 法律中的常用拉丁术语
Actus reus – the physical act of committing a crime (the guilty act). Mens rea – the mental element or intention (the guilty mind). Together they form the basis of criminal liability.
Actus reus（犯罪行为）指实施犯罪的客观外在行为；mens rea（犯罪意图）指主观上的故意或意图。两者相结合构成刑事责任的基础。
Stare decisis – 'to stand by things decided'. This is the doctrine of precedent, meaning that courts should follow earlier decisions to ensure consistency.
Stare decisis——“遵循先例”。这是判例法原则，要求法院遵循先前的判决，以保证法律的统一性。
Obiter dicta – 'things said by the way'. These are remarks made by a judge in a judgment that are not essential to the decision and are not binding, but can be persuasive.
Obiter dicta（附随意见）——法官在判决中发表的并非达成判决所必需的评论。这些意见不具有约束力，但可能具有说服力。
Ratio decidendi – 'the reason for deciding'. It is the legal principle on which the final decision is based, and it forms the binding part of a precedent.
Ratio decidendi（判决理由）——作出最终判决所依据的法律原则，它是先例中具有约束力的部分。
Habeas corpus – 'you shall have the body'. A legal action requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a court to ensure their detention is lawful.
Habeas corpus（人身保护令）——一种法律救济措施，要求将被捕者带至法庭，以审查对其的拘留是否合法。
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