英語合同的特點(diǎn)分析
- Contract 與 Agreement的有無區(qū)別
在英語中，合同一般稱為Contract，協(xié)議一般稱為Agreement，
英語合同的特點(diǎn)分析
。何謂“Contract”?
1999年中國《合同法》第二條對contract定義為：A contact in t his Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is ,between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations. 根據(jù)這一定義，合同平等主體之間設(shè)立的確定民事權(quán)利和義務(wù)的協(xié)議。
Steven H. Gifts編著的“Law Dictionary”中將contract 定義為“contract is a promise, or a set of promises, for breach of which the law gives remedy, or the performance of the which the law in some way recognize as a duty.”根據(jù)這一定義，合同是一種承諾，違反承諾可以得到法律救助，某種意義上法律將履行該承諾看做是一種補(bǔ)償。
L.B Curzon 在其編撰的字典“A Dictionary of Law”給contract的定義：“Contract is a legally binding agreement”根據(jù)這一定義，合同就是有法律約束力的協(xié)議。
綜合起來，有一個(gè)相同點(diǎn)，就是“Contract is an agreement”，即可將事同說成是“An agreement which binds the parties concerned”或者說成是“An agreement which is enforceable by law”，也可以說：Contracts are promises that the law will enforce。
何謂“Agreement”?
L.B “A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.”根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議是對已經(jīng)做或準(zhǔn)備做的相關(guān)事宜，經(jīng)過談判、協(xié)商后取得一致意見，以口頭或書面形式做出的約定。
Black “Law Dictionary”有兩個(gè)定義。一個(gè)是：“A concord of understanding and intention between two or more parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties, of certain past or future facts or performance”根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議即雙方或多方京某些過去或?qū)砟承┦聦?shí)的相關(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)或相關(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)的履行而達(dá)成的一致理解和愿望。
另一個(gè)是：The consent of two or more persons concurring respecting the transmission of some property, right or benefits, with the view of contacting an obligation, a mutual obligation.根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議即兩個(gè)或多個(gè)當(dāng)事人，為了約定單方責(zé)任或相互責(zé)任，就財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)利、利益的轉(zhuǎn)移取得的一致同意，
資料共享平臺
《英語合同的特點(diǎn)分析》(http://www.lotusphilosophies.com)。
Contract(合同)和Agreement(協(xié)議)是不是可以互換呢？
合同的成立必須具備幾個(gè)主要因素。它們（要約和承諾構(gòu)成的）協(xié)議、約因、設(shè)立法律關(guān)系的愿望和締約能力四大部分組成。
L.B Curzon編著的“A Diction of Law”提到“Contract generally involves”
1. offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance (要約和絕對接受)
2. consensus ad idem (意思表示一致，也叫meeting of minds)
3. intention to create legal relations (建立合同關(guān)系的意愿)
4. genuineness of consent (同意的真實(shí)性)
5. contractual capacity of the parties (合同當(dāng)事人的締約能力)
6. legality of object(標(biāo)的物的合法性)
7. possibility of performance (履行的.可能性)
8. certainty of terms(條款的確定性)
9. valuable consideration(等價(jià)有償)
Black “Law Dictionary” 中解釋道：Although often used as synonyms with "contract", agreement is a broader term, e.g. an agreement might lack an essential element of a contact." 即“協(xié)議”和“合同”經(jīng)常用作同義詞，但“協(xié)議”這一術(shù)語含義更廣，例如協(xié)議可能缺乏合同的必備條款（essential clauses/provisions）。
實(shí)際使用當(dāng)中，協(xié)議可不受必備條款的限制，而稱為合同的文體肯定少不了必備條款，有的合同將其單列，稱為一般條款（General provisions）。
1999中國《合同法》第十二條規(guī)定了八項(xiàng)一般條款，分別是：
1. title or name and domicile of the parities(當(dāng)事人的名稱或姓名和住址)
2. contract object(標(biāo)的)
3. quantity(數(shù)量)
4. quality(質(zhì)量)
5. price or remuneration(價(jià)款或者報(bào)酬)
6. time limit, place and method of performance (履行期限、地點(diǎn)和方式)
7. liability for breach of contract(違約責(zé)任)