Substantive rules of argumentation for value judgment in civil law: In the context of academic practice of civil law in China

Value judgment is at the core of civil law. This paper explores how scholars of civil law reach mutual understanding and consensus on specific value judgment by rational discussion in the context of multiple value orientation. Based on a brief evaluation of the theory of legal argument and with the basic value consensus of Chinese civil law scholars as the premise, this paper proposes two substantive rules of argumentation for scholars of civil law to discuss value judgment: First, a strong of equal treatment should be carried out in the absence of sufficient and justified reasons or otherwise; Second, the freedom of civil subject should not be restrained in the absence of sufficient and justified reasons or otherwise. To reach mutual understanding, and on the basis of that to reach new consensus on specific value judgment further, scholars of civil law should base their discussions on substantive rules of argumentation for value judgment, follow rules and forms of argumentation as procedural techniques, and apply proper methods of argumentation. This paper also explores the application of substantive rules of argumentation on two specific value judgment issues of civil law scholars.     

Humanising Imprisonment: A European project?

This paper focuses on the continued significance of human rights in the movement to develop a more comprehensive European framework to improve prison conditions. It identifies the immediate factors that underlie the movement as the successful implementation of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment; the growing number of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights applying the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to prison matters; the expansion of the number of member states of the Council of Europe; and the increased political interest at European level in penological matters. Attention is also paid to the wider ideological role that a concern for human rights plays in European criminal justice politics. The paper illustrates the reform movement by focussing on recent recommendations of the Council of Europe on various aspects of imprisonment, including the new European Prison Rules. The possible emergence of an international instrument of treaty status that would deal directly with substantive conditions of imprisonment is noted and its potential impact considered. An argument is made for the systemisation of European prison law and for further reform initiatives.     

英美陪审制的法理探析

陪审制起源于古希腊、古罗马时期,但是具有现代意义的陪审制度则发生于12世纪的英国。英美陪审制度的产生及发展与英美人的处世哲学有着千丝万缕的联系,同时英美陪审制度本身蕴含着民主、自由、正义等现代政治伦理观念,而且在英美陪审制的实施过程中又体现着法律与道德之间的一种妥协。这些因素综合起来驱使着英美人为坚持他们的制度而引以自豪。     

非法证据排除规则的实证研究——以法院处理刑讯逼供辩护为例

中国三个地区法院处理刑讯逼供辩护案件处理情况的调研结果表明,非法证据排除规则在司法实践中处于尴尬境地。其中有立法技术方面的原因,也有司法制度和价值观念层面的原因,因此,在完善非法证据排除规则上,不能仅限于证据规则层面的努力,而应该在更广阔的视野中进行改革,以推动相关配套制度的完善。     

WTO规则下跨国公司行为规制方式分析

主权国家与跨国公司是影响当今社会的两大力量,其权力行使互为消长。WTO在为其成员国家设定义务、限制其管理权的同时,却没有对跨国公司的行为进行规制。国际社会一直在寻求对跨国公司行为进行统一的法律调整,但由于各国利益上的差异,在短期内很难出现具有约束力的国际统一立法。跨国公司行为的规制基本上依靠国内法进行。但由于东道国政府行为是受到WTO规则的限制的,因而,其权力的行使只能是在法定的框架下进行并受到严格的约束,东道国对跨国公司行为的管制方式需要从硬性的限制转向刚柔相济,更具有弹性的方式上来。     

诉讼法典要不要规定基本原则——以现行《民事诉讼法》为分析对象

从各主要国家的立法例考察,直接在法典中设专章或专门条文规定基本原则的不是主流做法。由于受苏联法律的影响,在法典的卷首规定基本原则成了新中国立法的定式,但事实上这是过高甚至误解了基本原则的功能。基本原则只具有指导立法的功能,不能承载规制诉讼主体的行为准则和司法准则的功能。同时,诉讼法典规定基本原则,与程序法定主义和严格规则主义相冲突;加大了立法成本和将来修改法典的难度;为最高司法机关制定司法解释提供了所谓的法律依据和空间;也把目前学界在基本原则上的重大分歧带进法典中去。因此,在利弊权衡之下,我国可以考虑将基本原则从法典中撤出作为其立法体例的另一种思路。     

论用人单位劳动规章的法律效力

近几年劳动争议案件大量增加,用人单位单方制定的劳动规章是否具有法律效力,往往成为解决 争议的焦点。探讨用人单位制定劳动规章的法律依据,合法有效的劳动规章应当具备的法律要 件,用人单位劳动规章与劳动合同和集体合同的法律关系等诸方面问题。     

事态犯罪论要——实现持有型犯罪的科学归位

时代的发展 ,治安形势的变化 ,促成了犯罪个体智能程度的提高 ,社会整体生存风险的加大 ,由此赋予了持有特定物这种静止状态即可构成犯罪的必要性与合理性。这种全新的构罪机理所带来的是刑法中行为基本价值与面貌的变迁。传统的危害行为针对的是行为人的身体动静行止 ,持有针对的是人对物的控制支配这种特殊事态。至此 ,刑法中的危害行为外延包括行为性危害行为和事态性危害行为两大类。前者违反刑法的行为性规范 :其中违反禁止性规范的是作为 ,违反命令性规范的是不作为 ;后者违反刑法的事态性规范 ,即法典以“非法持有”罪状表述、实质是就行为人与特定物所处的某种事态本身予以刑罚处罚 ,形成犯罪的另一类——事态犯罪。     

公司章程性质辨析

公司章程在公司法中占有重要地位 ,它是按自治原则所达成的契约性协议与带有法律强制性的自治规则的结合。