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1、标签: 美国合同法杂谈分类: 法规公约条约诉讼仲裁公证 CONTENT目 录 (共十六章385条) Chapter 1 MEANING OF TERMS第一章 合同条款的含义Chapter 2 FORMATION OF CONTRATCTS-PARTIES AND CAPACITY第二章 合同的订立当事人及其缔约能力Chapter 3 FORMATION OF CONTRACTS-MUTUAL ASSENT第三章 合同的订立意思表示一致CHAPTER 4 FORMATION OF CONTRACTSCONSIDERATION第四章 合同的订立约因CHAPTER 5 THE STATUTE OF
2、 FRAUDS第五章 防止欺诈条例CHAPTER 6 MISTAKE第六章 错误CHAPTER 7 MISREPRESENTATION, DURESS AND UNDUE INFLUENCE第七章 虚假的意思表示,胁迫以及不当影响CHAPTER 8 UNENFORCEABILITY ON GROUNDS OF PUBLIC POLICY第八章 合同因公共政策而不可执行CHAPTER 9 THE SCOPE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS第九章 合同义务的范围CHAPTER 10 PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE第十章 合同的履行与不履行CHA
3、PTER 11 IMPRACTICABILITY OF PERFORMANCE ANDFRUSTRATION OF PURPOSE第十一章 履行不能和履行目的落空CHAPTER 12 DISCHARGE BY ASSET OR ALTERATION第十二章 双方合意或变更合同以解除合同义务CHAPTER 13 JOINT AND SEVERAL PROMISORS AND PROMISEES第十三章 连带允诺人和受允诺人CHAPTER 14 CONTRACT BENEFICIARIES第十四章 合同受益人CHAPTER 15 ASSGINEMNT AND DELEGATON第十五章 合同权利的
4、转让与合同义务的转托CHAPTER 16.REMEDIES第十六章 违约救济Chapter 1 MEANING OF TERMS第一章 合同条款的含义1. CONTRACT DEFINED 合同定义A contract is a promise or a set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty.合同指的是一个允诺或一组允诺,如果违反此允诺,则法律给与救济;如果 其履行了允
5、诺,则法律以某种方式将其视为一项义务。2. PROMISE; PROMISOR; PROMISEE. 允诺;允诺人;受允诺人(1) A promise is a manifestation of intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way, so made as to justify a promisee in understanding that a commitment has been made.允诺就是以特定方式实施或禁止实施某种行为的意思表示,这种意思表示 使受允诺人正当地认为一个允诺已经作出。(2) The
6、person manifesting the intention is the promisor.作出该意思表示的人是允诺人(3) The person to whom the manifestation is addressed is the promisee.该意思表示所指向的人为受允诺人。(4) Where performance will benefits a person other than the promisee, that person is beneficiary.如果该允诺的履行使除受允诺人之外的他人获利,则该人为受益人。 3. AGREEMENT DEFINED; BA
7、RGAIN DEFINED协议的定义;An agreement is a manifestation of mutual assent on the part of two or more persons. A bargain is an agreement to exchange promises or to exchange a promise for a performance or to exchange performances.交易磋商约定的定义 一个协议就是两个或两个以上的人一致的意思表示。一个交易磋商约定是为允诺与允诺之间的交换,或为允诺与义务履行的交换,或为义务履行之间的交换
8、而达成的协议。4. How a Promise May Be Made 允诺如何作出A promise may be stated in words either oral or written, or may be inferred w holly or partly from conduct.一个允诺可以用口头言词或书面文字作出,也可以完全或部分地从行为中推断而得。5. Terms of Promise, Agreement, or Contract允诺,协议或合同的条件(1) A term of promise or agreement is that portion of the in
9、tention or assent manifested which relates to a particular matter.允诺或协议的条件就是当事人就特定的事项表示了部分的缔约意图或对缔约的赞同。(2) A term of contract is that portion of the legal relations resulting from the promise or set of promises which relates to a particular matter, whether or not the parties manifest an intention to
10、 create those relations.合同的条件就是由于当事人就特定事项作出了一个或一系列的允诺,由此引起他们之间部分法律关系的存在,不管当事人是否作出意思表示要建立这些 法律关系。6. Formal Contracts要式合同The following types of contracts are subject in some respects to special rules that depend on their formal characteristics and differ from those governing contracts in general:下列类型的
11、合同根据其形式上的特征,在某些方面受不同于一般合同规则的法律规则的调整:(1) Contracts under seal, 盖印合同 (2) Recognizances, 保证书(3) Negotiable instruments and documents,.可流通票据和单据(4)Letters of credit信用证7. Voidable contracts可撤消的合同A voidable contract is one where one or more parties have the power, by a manifestation of election to do so, t
12、o avoid the legal relations created by the contract, or by ratification of the contract to extinguish the power of avoidance.如果合同的一方或多方当事人有权通过意思表示,或通过订立一个取消撤消权的合同,撤消该合同已经建立的法律关系,则该合同为可撤消的合同。8. Unenforceable Contracts不能强制执行的合同An unenforceable contract is one for the breach of which neither the remedy
13、 of damages nor the remedy of specific performance is available, but which is recognized in some other way as creating a duty of performance, though there has been no ratification.不可强制执行的合同是指这样一种合同,即违反该合同导致损害赔偿救济和强制履行救济均不可适用,但是却被认为是以其他方式创设了并没有获得认可的 履行义务。Chapter 2 FORMATION OF CONTRATCTS-PARTIES AND
14、CAPACITY第二章 合同的订立当事人及其缔约能力9. Parties Required合同当事人There must be at least two parties to a contract, a promisor and a promisee, but there may be any greater number.合同必须至少有两个当事人,即允诺人和受允诺人,但是也可以有两个以上更多的当事人。10. Multiple Promisors and Promisees of the Same Performance针对同一项履行的多个允诺人和受允诺人(1) Where there are
15、 more promisors than one in a contract, some or all of them may promise the same performance, whether or not there are also promises for separate performances.如果一个合同中有多个允诺人,则部分或全部的允诺人可以就同一项履行作出允诺,不管他们是否就个别的义务履行作出允诺。(2) Where there are more promises than one in a contract, a promise may be made to so
16、me or all of them as a unit, whether or not the same or another performance is separately promised to one or more of them.如果一个合同中不只有一个允诺,则部分或全部的允诺人可以一个单位作出允诺,不管相同或另外的履行义务是否被单独地对一个或一个以上的允诺人允诺。11. When a Person May Be Both Promisor and Promisee何时允诺人和受允诺人可以同为一人A contract may be formed between two or mo
17、re persons acting as a unit and one or more but fewer than all of these persons, acting either singly or with other persons. 在由两个或两个以上的人共同代表的一个单位和这些人中的一个或部分多数之间可以缔结合同,这些人可以单独地或者同他人一起行事。12. Capacity to Contract缔约能力(1) No one can be bound by contract who has not legal capacity to incur at least voidab
18、le contractual duties, Capacity to contract may be partial and its existence in respect of a particular transaction may depend upon the nature of the transaction or upon other circumstances.没有法律行为能力的缔约人所缔结的合同所产生的义务是可撤消的,该合同对缔约人并没有约束力。是否享有部分缔约能力以及是否就某一特定交易享有 缔约能力取决于该交易的本质或者其他一些情况。(2) A natural person
19、 who manifests assent to a transaction has full legal capacity to incur contractual duties thereby unless he is一个自然人如果就某项 交易作出同意的意思表示,则该自然人享有完全合法的创设合同义务的缔约能 力,除非该自然人是(a) under guardianship, or处于监护之中,或(b) an infant, or为成年人,或(c) mentally ill or defective, or有精神疾病或精神缺陷者,或(d) intoxicated. 醉酒者。13. Person
20、s Affected by Guardianship受监护的人 A person has no capacity to incur contractual duties if his property is under guardianship by reason of an adjudication of mental illness or defect. 如果一个人由于被判决存在精神疾病或精神缺陷,其财产处于监管之中,则该人没有创设合同义务的行为能力。14. Infants未成年人Unless a statute provides otherwise , a natual person h
21、as the capacity to incur only voidable contractual duties until the beginning of the day before the persons eighteenth birthday.除非法令另有规定,自然人在18 岁生日之前只具有创设可撤消合同义务的行为能力。15. Mental Illness or Defect有精神病或精神缺陷的人(1) A person incurs only voidable contractual duties by entering into a transaction if by reas
22、on of mental illness or defect在下列情况下,一个存在精神疾病或精神缺陷的人,在从事交易活动时所创设的合同义务是可以撤消的:(a) he is unable to understand in a reasonable manner the nature and consequences of the transaction, or他不能以正常方式理解此项交易的性质以及会产生的后果,或者(b) he is unable to act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction and the other
23、party has reson to know of his condition.他不能像正常人那样从事此项交易,并且交易的相对方有合理的理由知道这一事实。(2) Where the contract is made on fair terms and the other party is without knowledge of the mental illness or defect, the power of a voidance under Subsection (1) terminates to the extent that the contract has been so pre
24、formed in whole or in part or the circumstances have so changed that a voidance would be unjust. In such a case a court may grant relief as justice requires. 如果合同的缔结是基于公平的条款,并且他方当事人不知道该缔约人患有 精神疾病或存在精神缺陷,那么,如果该合同已经被全部或部分地履行或者情势变更,以至撤消该合同有失公平,则在(1)小节中所规定的撤消权不再适用。在这种情况下,法院可以依公平正义之需判决给与当事人救济。16. Intoxic
25、ate Persons醉酒的人A person incurs only voidable contractual duties by entering into a transaction if the other party has reason to know that by reason of intoxication如果缔约他方当事人有合理的理由知道一方当事人由于醉酒存在下列情况,则该当事人在从事交易活动时所创设的合同义务是可以撤消的。(a) he is unable to understand in a reasonable manner the nature and consequ
26、ences of the transaction, or他不能以正常方式理解此项交易的性质以及会产生的后果,或者(b) he is unable to act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction, 他不能像正常人那样从事此项交易。Chapter 3 FORMATION OF CONTRACTS-MUTUAL ASSENT第三章 合同的订立意思表示一致TOPIC 1. IN GENRERAL主题一 一般规定17. Requirement of a Bargain交易磋商的条件(1) Except as stated in S
27、ubsection (2), the formation of a contract requires a bargain in which there is a manifestation of mutual assent to the exchange an d a consideration.除(2)小节的规定外,合同的订立要求当事人就允诺与允诺、允诺与义务履行、以及义务履行之间的交换和约因意思表示一致。(2) Whether or not there is a bargain a contract may be formed under special rules applicable
28、 to formal contracts or under the rules stated in 82-94.合同可以依据适用于正式合同中的特殊规则或依据82-94 中的规则订立,不管有没有交易磋商。TOPIC 2, MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT IN GERNERAL主题二 意思表示的一般条款18. Manifestation of Mutual Assent意思表示一致Manifestation of mutual assent to an exchange requires that each party make a promise or begin or rend
29、er a performance. 对一个交换作出一致的意思表示要求各方当事人作出允诺或开始或实施一项义务履行。19. Conduct as Manifestation of Assent依意思表示实施的行为(1) The manifestation of assent may be made wholly or partly by written or spoken words or by other acts or by failure to act.意思表示可以完全或部分地通过书面或口头、或其他作为或不作为作出。(2) The conduct of a party is not effe
30、ctive as a manifestation of his assent unless he intends to engage in the conduct and knows or has reason to know that the other party may infer from his conduct that he assents.一方当事人以行为作出的意思表示是无效的,除非他有意实施这一行为,并且知道或有理由知道他方当事人可以从他的行为中推断出他有此缔约意思。(3) The conduct of a party may manifest assent even thou
31、gh he does not in fact assent. In such cases a resulting contract may be voidable because of fraud, mistake, or other invalidation cause.一方当事人的行为可以作为意思表示,虽然事实上他并没有此缔约意思。在这种情况下所缔结的合同可以基于欺诈、错误或其他无效的理由被撤消。20. EFFECT OF MISUNDERSTANDING误解的效力 (1) There is no manifestation of mutual assent to an exchange
32、if the parties attach materially different meanings to their manifestations and如果当事人就他们的意思表示赋予了实质上不同的理解,并且有如下情况存在时,则表明他们就磋商的交换没有达成一致:(a) neither party knows or has reason to know the meaning attached by the other; or双方当事人任一方都不知道或没有理由知道对方的意思表示所赋予的含义;或(b) each party knows or each party has reason to k
33、now the meaning attached by the other.任一当事方知道或有理由知道对方的意思表示所赋予的含义。(2) The manifestations of the parties are operative in accordance with the meaning attached to them by one of the parties if一方当事人可以依据该意思表示所指的含义执行该意思表示,如果(a) that party does not know of any different meaning attached by the other, and t
34、he other knows the meaning attached by the first party; or该当事人不知道另一方当事人所指的不同含义,而另一方当事人知道第一方 当事人所指的含义。(b) that party has no reason to know of any different meaning attached by the other, and the other has reason to know the meaning attached by the first party.该当事人没有理由知道另一方当事人所指的不同含义, 而另一方当事人有理由知道第一方当
35、事人所指的含义。21. INTENTION TO BE LEGALLY BOUND具有法律拘束力的意图Neither real nor apparent intention that a promise be legally binding is essential to the formation of a contract, but a manifestation of intention that a promise shall not affect legal relations may prevent the formation of a contract.当事人有关允诺具有法律拘束
36、力的意图无论是真实的还是表面的,对于合同的缔结并不重要,但是如果当事人作出允诺并不影响当事人法律关系的意思表示,则当事人之间的合同并不成立。22. Mode of Assent: Offer and Acceptance合意的模式: 要约与承诺(1) The manifestation of mutual assent to an exchange ordinarily takes the form of an offer or proposal by one party followed by an acceptance by the other party or parties.双方当事人
37、就交换达成合意的意思表示通常是由一方当事人提出要约或提议,然后由另一方当事人或另一方多数当事人作出承诺。(2) A manifestation of mutual assent may be made even though neither offer nor acceptance can be identified and even though the moment of formation cannot be determined. 即使要约和承诺都无法被识别,并且合同成立的时间也无法确定,双方当事人也可以作出合意的意思表示。23. Necessity That Manifestatio
38、n Have Reference to Each Other作出意思表示应相互参考的必要性It is essential to a bargain that each party manifest assent with reference to the manifestation of the other.任何当事人作出意思表示都应参考对方的意思表示,这一点对交易磋商很重要。TOPIC 3. MAKING OF OFFERS 主题三 要约的发出24. Offer Defined要约的定义An offer is the manifestation of willingness to enter
39、 into a bargain, so made a s to justify another person in understanding that his assent to that bargain is invited and will conclude it. 要约就是以交易磋商为目的而为意思表示,使得他人合理地认为该意思表示被邀请并且该交易将要进行。25. Option Contracts选择权合同An option contract is a promise which meets the requirements for the formation of a contract
40、 and limits the promisors power to revoke an offer.如果一个允诺符合了订立合同的条件,并且限制允诺人撤回要约,则该允诺即构成选择权合同。26. Preliminary Negotiations订约前之商议A manifestation of willingness to enter into a bargain is not an offer if the person to whom it is addressed knows or has reason to know that the person making it does not i
41、ntend to conclude a bargain until he has made a further manifestation of assent.如果意思表示所指向的人知道或有理由知道作出意思表示的当事人在作出进一步的意思表示之前并没有意图达成交易,则该以缔结合同为目的的意思表示并不属于要约。27.Existence of Contract Where Memorial is contemplated在意图制作记录情况下合同的存在Manifestations of assent that are in themselves sufficient to conclude a con
42、tract will not be prevented from so operating by the fact that the parties also manifest an intention to prepare an adopt a written thereof; but the circumstances may show that the agreements are preliminary negotiations. 双方当事人作出意思表示要采用书面 方式缔结合同这一事实,并不影响当事人已经作出的足以导致合同缔结的意思 表示的执行;但是这种情况表明这些合意仍然属于订约前之
43、商议。28.Auctions拍卖(1) At an auction, unless a contrary intention is manifested,在拍卖时,除非有相反的意思表示,(a) the auctioneer invites offers from successive bidders which he may accept or reject;拍卖人向所有连续的出价人发出要约邀请,出价人可以承诺或拒绝;(b) when goods are put up without reserve, the auctioneer makes an offer to sell at any p
44、rice bid by the highest bidder, and after the auctioneer calls for id the goods cannot be withdrawn unless no bid is made within a reasonable time;如果拍卖标的实行无保留低价拍卖,则拍卖人应发出要约,将拍卖标的以任何价格卖给出价最高者,在拍卖人将标的拍卖后,拍卖人不得撤回其无保留 低价之拍卖标的,除非在合理的时间内无人竞买;(c) whether or not the auction is without reserve, a bidder may
45、withdraw his bid until the auctioneers announcement of completion of the sale, but a bidders retraction does not revieve any previous bid.不管该拍卖是否是无保留低价之拍卖,竞买人可以在拍卖人宣布成交之前可以撤回竞价,但是竞买人撤回竞价的行为不得使先前的出价生效。(2) Unless a contrary intention is manifested, bids at an auction embody terms made known by adverti
46、sement, posting or other publication of which bidders are or should be aware, as modified by announcement made by the auctioneer when the goods are put up.除非有相反的意思表示,在拍卖标的时,竞买人的出价包含了竞买人知道或应该知道的广告、海报或其他出版物所公布的条款,拍卖人在拍卖标的时可以 通过公告的方式对这些条款加以修改。 29. To Whom an Offer is Addressed要约所指向的对象(1) The manifested
47、 intention of the offeror determines the person or persons in whom is created a power of acceptance.要约人的意思表示决定了有权作出承诺的人。(2) An offer may create a power of acceptance in a specified person or in one or more of a specified group or class of persons, acting separately or together, or in anyone or every one who makes a specified promise or renders a specified performance.要约可以在一个明确的人或一个或