越权原则在英国的命运

越权原则是英国行政法的基本原则,曾在司法审查中对行政机关的控制和监督方面发挥着十分重要的作用。但近年来随着英国行政法的迅速发展,越权原则表现出不少缺陷,一些学者和法官对它提出了质疑,主张废弃该原则;但持正统理论者则坚持捍卫越权原则,认为摒弃它将产生不良后果。由此在英国引发了一场关于越权原则的争论。这场争论是本世纪英国行政法迅速发展之后对有关行政法理论的深刻反思,它不仅关系到法院对行政行为审查的理论基础,而且根本上关系到英国行政法的宪法基础。

Fate of Ultra Vires Doctrine in Britain

Ultra vires doctrine, the basic principle of British administrative law, once contributed greatly to the control and supervision of administrative agencies by judicial review. But in recent years, with the rapid development of British administrative law, the ultra vires doctrine displayed quite a few limitations. Some scholars and judges queried it, and they maintained that the doctrine should be abolished;but those who hold orthodox ideas insisted to defend the ultra vires doctrine,and they believed that abandoning it would result in undesirable consequences. Therefore, a debate on the ultra Vires doctrine was evoked in Britain. This debate was a profound reflection of the theory of administrative law after the rapid development of British administrative law.It not only affected the theoretical basis of the judicial review of administrative activities, but also affected fundamentally the constitutional basis of British administrative law.