我国《企业破产法(试行)》存在的几个问题

<正> 随着我国经济体制改革向纵深发展,《企业破产法》有如下几个方面的不足和缺陷。 一、关于企业破产时间问题 《企业破产法》第3条规定,“企业因经营管理不善造成严重亏损,不能清偿到期债务的,依照本法规定,宣告破产。”也就是说,在我国,“不能清偿到期债务”即“清偿不能”是企业法定的破产原因,所谓“清偿不能”不是指债务人主观上不愿清偿或暂时因资金不足等原因未清偿,而是指债务人客观上没有能力清偿到期债务。对此,理伦界、立法及司法部门都有很明确的阐述,并基本上达成共识。但稍显不足的是《企业破产法》对企业破产的时间却没有明确的界定,即没有规定企业负债多少或负债多长时间后应强制申请破产。依据《企业破产     

具体行政行为研究的创新与突破——评方世荣的新著《论具体行政行为》

<正> 具体行政行为是我国行政法学理论研究的一个重要范畴。对具体行政行为性质、地位范围的界定和阐释不仅涉及到行政行为的一般理论,而且关联到行政法的基本原理。自1989年我国《行政诉讼法》对具体行政行为加以明文规定以来,其内涵和外延在行政执法和行政诉讼中更有“牵一发而动全身”之势。然而,对于这样一个重要理论范畴,无论是在行政法学学术界中,还是在行政执法、行政审判的实务界中,都尚未予以足够的重视和加以充分、系统的研究。因此,方世荣教授的新作《论具体行政行为》可以认为是行政法学这一领域内的一部开拓性的著作。 该书以具体行政行为作为思考行政法理论的全新视角,通过这一视角,作者关注和反思行政行为的基本理论以及行政执法与行政审判中诸多重大、疑难问题,提出了一系列独到的见解,新论纷呈。     

The distribution of ethanol in postmortem blood specimens.

Ethanol was determined by gas chromatography in a variety of tissues and body fluids secured at autopsy in 61 cases. The specimens tested included right and left heart blood, femoral blood, pericardial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor, urine, stomach contents, and brain. Statistical analysis of the cases revealed no significant differences among the various blood sites tested. However, the variations in blood ethanol concentrations among the various sampling sites within each case were as follows: 40 cases showed differences of less than 25%; 16 cases revealed variability between 25% and 50%, 4 cases had differences exceeding 50%. In one case, satisfactory blood analyses could not be accomplished. The larger variances occurred especially in those instances in which stomach alcohol concentration was 0.50% or greater. In one case, the variability amongst the different blood sites exceeded 400% (femoral blood--0.043%, right atrium--0.070%, root of aorta--0.156%); the brain was 0.050%, and the stomach contents was 1.2%. For all 61 cases, variances in blood alcohol content among the different sampling sites in a single cadaver ranged from 1.8 to 428%.     

SENTENCING AND UNWARRANTED DISPARITY: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES IN MINNESOTA*

Using an interrupted time-series design, this research note analyzes the long-term effect of Minnesota's sentencing guidelines on reducing unwarranted disparity in sentencing outcomes that fall within their scope of authority. Unwarranted disparity is defined as residual variation not attributable to legally mandated sentencing factors. Findings suggest that although the sentencing guidelines initially reduced disparity for the no prison/prison sentencing decision, inequality began to revert to preguideline levels as time passed. Further analysis revealed that the guidelines had a permanent impact on reducing disparities in decisions on the length of prison sentence. Overall we observed an 18% decline in disparity for the no prison/prison outcome and a 60% reduction in inequality for the judicial decision as to length of prison sentence. Two explanations for the reversionary trend in the no prison/prison series are highlighted.     

西方国家的证券立法

<正> 以1640年英国资产阶级革命为开端,西方各国先后步入了资本主义时代。伴随着西方资本主义经济的发展,各国的证券市场随之发展起来。各国对证券市场管理采用了不同的体制,有的偏重于立法管理,有的偏重于自律管理,但从各国证券市场管理的实践来看,都有着大致相同的发展过程。     

Threatening and otherwise inappropriate letters to members of the United States Congress

The authors examine the characteristics of threatening and otherwise inappropriate communications sent to members of the U.S. Congress by a sample of 86 subjects, 20 of whom threatened assassination. We quote excerpts from these letters and provide quantitative data on such variables as the volume, duration, form, and appearance of such communications; the enclosures; the subjects' perceived relationships to the recipients; the thematic content of the communications; and the messages and threats communicated. Comparisons between 43 subjects who pursued encounters with members of Congress and 43 who did not revealed 17 factors associated with such pursuit. In this population, threateners were significantly less likely to pursue an encounter than inappropriate letter writers who did not threaten, regardless of the type of threat or the harm threatened. Inappropriate letters to members of Congress are compared with those directed to Hollywood celebrities. Mentally disordered persons writing to public figures often mention and sometimes threaten public figures other than those to whom the letters are addressed, which raises important issues regarding notification of endangered third parties and the sharing of information among protective agencies.