英国法律概述

讨论一下法律在英文中的定义。Definition of Law:

首先，是一个合法的条文( A Legal rule / regulation),
其次，如果被打破，会被强制送上法庭(which if broken, can be enforced in the courts.)
再次，违反任意一个单独的条文，会引起民事责任和刑事责任。(Breach of a single legal rule can result in both civil and criminal liability. )

整体的句子就是：

Law is a legal rule (regulation) which if broken, can be enforced in the courts. Breach of a single legal rule can result in both civil and criminal liability.

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现在再来讨论一下法律的分类。(Classification of Law 或者 Divisions of Law)
法律的划分有很多种，比如：国内法和国际法；公众法和私人法； 实体法和程序法； 但是最重要的一种划分是：民事法和刑事法。

Law can be classified in many different ways,
e.g. into national law & international law;
into public law & provide law;
into substantive law & procedural law,
but the most important division is into civil law & criminal law.

国内法VS 国际法
国内法——是某一国的法律；
国际法——是由相关合法条文组成的用以解决国家之间或者州之间争端的法律。
National law is the law of a particular country.
International law is made up of legal rules to settle disputes between different countries or states.

公众法VS 私人法
公众法——包括刑法，宪法，国际法等；
私人法——包括对于合同、民事侵权行为、财产继承等方面的法律。
Public law includes criminal law, constitutional law, international law etc.
Private law includes law of contract, tort, succession to property etc.

实体法VS 程序法
实体法——有实际的合法条文组成；
程序法——是对于程序以及举证的规范的条文，通过程序法，合法条文以及权利得以执行实施。
Substantive law is made up of actual legal rules;
Procedural law are rules of procedure and evidence, by which legal rules and rights are enforced.

民法和刑法
民法——主要处理个人之间的法律争端；
刑法——处理个人同国家（或政府）之间的法律争端。
Civil law deals mainly with legal disputes between individuals;
Criminal law deals with legal disputes between an individual and the state (government).

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下一个环节，讨论民法和刑法的主要区别。Main differences between civil law and criminal law

一，目的 Object (Purpose)
民法的目的，是：赔偿申诉者（有人做错了），或者执行权利，或者恢复财产 (比如判给损害赔偿金)
刑法的目的，是：惩罚一个有罪的人，并改造该罪犯，并且阻止他人（比如关押、处以罚金、剥夺驾驶资格等）。
The main object of civil law is to compensate a claimant (Person wronged), or to enforce rights, or recover property e.g. by awarding damages;
However, the main purpose of criminal law is to punish a guilty person and also to reform the criminal and deter other person e.g. by imprisonment, fine, disqualification from driving etc.

二，法庭 Courts
民事案件和刑事案件一般都由不同的法庭处理。例如，一件民事案件常常由 一个地方法院 (County Court) 或者 高等法院 (the High Court)办理；而一个刑事案件则由 治安法院 (Magistrate’s Court) 或者 巡回刑事法庭(Crown Court)办理.
Civil & criminal cases are usually tried in different courts. E.g. a civil case is usually tried in a County Court or the High Court, but a criminal case is tried in the Magistrate’s Court or Crown Court.

三，语言 Language
民法的语言不同于刑法。在一个民事案件中，申请者(claimant) 起诉(sues) 被告(a defendant), 但是在一个刑事案件中，原告(the prosecution) 检举起诉(prosecutes) 被告(an accused) —— 如果发现有罪，被告将受处罚。
The language of civil law is different from criminal law. In a civil case, the claimant sues a defendant, but in a criminal law, the prosecution prosecutes an accused - if found guilty, the accused is punished.

四，证据Evidence
证据的符合及标准不一样。例如，在一个民事案件中，申请人必须在平衡考虑可能性的基础上证明他的案件, 但是在刑事案件中，原告必须在排除合理的怀疑基础上证明该案件。
The burden and standard of proof is different e.g. in a civil case the claimant must prove his case on the balance of probabilities, but in a criminal case, the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

五，解决争端的途径 Settlement of disputes
民事案件通常可以在法庭外解决 （比如，在审理前，甚至在审理中，或者庭外和解），而在大部分刑事案件中， 这个并不能申请。
Civil cases can always be settled out of court i.e. either before trial, or even during trial, or by an out of court settlement). This does not apply in most criminal cases.