英文合同的特点（一）.docx

英文合同的特点（一）
Contract 与 Agreement的有无区别
在英语中，合同一般称为Contract，协议一般称为Agreement.何谓Contract“？1999年中国《合同法》第二条对contract定义为：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. 依照这一定义，合同平等主体之间设立确实定民事权利和义务的协议。
Steven H. Gifts编著的Law Dictionary“中将contract 定义为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.“依照这一定义，合同是一种承诺，违背承诺能够得到法律救助，某种意义上法律将履行该承诺看做是一种补偿。
L.B Curzon 在其编撰的字典A Dictionary of Law“给contract的定义：Contract is a legally binding agreement“依照这一定义，合同确实是有法律约束力的协议。
综合起来，有一个一样点，确实是Contract is an agreement“，即可将事同说成是An agreement which binds the parties concerned“或者说成是An agreement which is enforceable by law“，也能够说：Contracts are promises that the law will enforce.何谓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.“依照这一定义，协议是对已经做或预备做的相关事宜，通过会谈、协商后获得一致意见，以口头或书面方式做出的商定。
Black Law Dictionary“有两个定义。一个是：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“依照这一定义，协议即双方或多方京某些过去或今后某些事实的相关权利、义务或相关权利、义务的履行而达成的一致理解和愿望。另一个是：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.依照这一定义，协议即两个或多个当事人，为了商定单方责任或互相责任，就财产权利、利益的转移获得的一致同意。
Contract（合同）和Agreement（协议）是不是能够互换呢？
合同的成立必须具备几个主要要素。它们（要约和承诺构成的）协议、约因、设立法律关系的愿望和缔约才能四大部分组成。L.B Curzon编著的A Diction of Law“提到Contract generally involves“1. offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance （要约和绝对接受）2.consensus ad idem （意思表示一致，也叫meeting of minds）3. intention to create legal relations （建立合同关系的意愿）4. genuineness of consent （同意的真实性）5. contractual capacity of the parties （合同当事人的缔约才能）6. legality of object（标的物的合法性）7.possibility of performance （履行的可能性）8. certainty of terms（条款确实定性）9. valuable consideration（等价有偿）Black Law Dictionary“ 中解释道：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“协议和“合同经常用作同义词，但“协议这一术语含义更广，例如协议可能缺乏合同的必备条款（essential clauses/provisions）实际使用当中，协议可不受必备条款的限制，而称为合同的文体确信少不了必备条款，有的合同将其单列，称为一般条款（General provisions）1999中国《合同法》第十二条规定了八项一般条款，分别是：1. title or name and domicile of the parities（当事人的名称或姓名和住址）2. contract object（标的）3. quantity（数量）4. quality（质量）5. price or remuneration（价款或者酬劳）6. time limit， place and method of performance （履行期限、地点和方式）7. liability for breach of contract（违约责任）8. methods to settle disputes （处理争议的方法）上述解释说明，contract（合同）和agreement（协议）的概念尽管接近，但使用范围不同，不能互换使用。合同是协议的重要组成部分，所有合同一定是协议，而协议不见得都是合同。能够说具备合同成立要求的具有强迫执行力的协议才是合同。
构造特点：合同类法律文件用以规定当事人的权利与义务，是预防与处理争议的依照。合同英语行文慎密而精确，历史悠久，深含法律文化底蕴。中文的合同开头一般先罗列当事人的名称、姓名、住所或营业场所，然后是合同正文，结尾是当事人印章、受权代表签字、职务及签字日期。而英语合同一般以下面这类句式为开头：
This agreement/contract is made and entered in to this ____ day of _____（month）， _______ （year） by and between Party A （hereinafter called ”Party A “）and Party B（hereinafter called ”Party B “）
下面列出新加坡、美国、香港和日本的合同格式。
A. 新加坡Agreement THIS AGREEMENT is made the 9th day of August， 2001 between LUCKY INTERNATIONAL LTD， a company incorporated in Singapore and having its registered office at Telek Blongar Rise， Singapore 19569 （hereinfater called The Company“） of the part and JACK Wong （NRIC No._________ /A） of 108 Orchar Road Singapore 01688 （hereinfater called The Mangager“） of the other part. WHEREAS：
1. The company is engaged in IT business and requires a person with the necessary qualifications and experience to manage its business. 2.;。
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows：
1. The company shall employ the Manager and the Manager shall serve the Company as manager of the Company’s IT business for a period of two years commencing on 1st day of September 2.;。
IN WITNESS WHEREOF， the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO Duties of Manger 1. To manage， maintain and promote the business of the Company. SIGNED by Roger Tan For and on behalf of LUCKY INTERANTIONAL LTD In the presence of SIGNED by TERESA WONG In the presence of新加坡的通用合同分五部分：
第一部分：称为parties，主要介绍合同各方的姓名或名称，注册地国及地址、及各自由合同的简称。开头框架一般为：
THIS AGREEMENT is made the __________ day of _____ （month），____ （year） between A _______ （hereinafter called The Company“） of the part and B______， （hereinafter called The Manager“） of the other part.句子开头THIS AGREEMENT 或CONTRACT和当事人的姓名和名称，都应大写。当事人是自然人的，用of“和其后的住址相连；是法人或非法人单位的，用having its registered office at“和其后注册地址相连。
第二部分：称为recital.以WHEREAS开头，进入表达部分，用陈述正式说明当事人订立合同的缘故。
第三部分：称为habendum 详细商定当事人的权利和义务。正文部分的完毕段为：
IN WITNESS WHEREOF， the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written.这段作用相当于中文合同的双方签字盖章，特此为证“。
第四部分：称为schedule或addendum，附录。是对前述合同部分条款的必要补充。不是所有合同都有这一项。
第五部分：称为attestation，证明部分。当事人假如自然人，用SIGNED by __“；连接后填写见证姓名的表达部分In the presence of ____“；当事人是法人或非法人单位时，受权代表后接的是SIGNED for and on behalf _____ of____“，然后才是In the presence of _______.与中文合同的明显不同是签章处除当事人外，多了一个In the presence of _______供证人签字之处。另一不同的是合同订立日期没有放在合同最后，而是出如今开头段的当事人介绍部分。
第五部分在新加坡还有另一种表达As Witness our Hands this _____day of _____，in the year of our Lord Tow Thousand and One. Signed， sealed， and delivered by the above named In the presence of Signature Address Occupation上述合同的格式非常有代表性，其它英文格式与之相比大同大异，有的合同中不含附录。
B. 美国APPOINTMENT AS CONTRACT FULL-TIME SENIOR CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATOR AN AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES made the 1st day of September， 2000 between ______ of _____ （address）（hereinafter referred to as the Company“） as one part and Mr._______ of _______（address） （hereinafter referred to as the Contractor） of the other part. WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AND DECLARED AS FOLLOWS：
1. THAT the Company shall ;
2. This agreement shall commence on ;。
IN WITNESS WHEREOF， both parties set their hands on the date herein mentioned SIGNED BY Name ：
Designation ：
For and on behalf of ： （signature）
Contractor ：
Designation ：
For and on behalf of ： （signature）
本合同分为四个大部分（缺附录，schedule）与上一合同根本一样，但第一段没有谓语，不是个完好的句子。个别用词与前一合同有差异最后落款处还多了了职务“，即designation（有的合同还惯用position）
C. 香港CONTRACT CONTACT NO. SIGNING DATE/PLACE THE BUYER： Name Legal Address Contact THE SELLER： Name Legal Address Contact This contract is made by and between the Buyer and the Seller. Whereby the Buyer agrees o buy and the Seller agrees to sell the under-mentioned commodity according to the terms and conditions. 1. NAME OF COMMODITY AND SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT 2. PRICE 3. PAYMENT 4. PACKING IN WITHNESS WHEREOF， this contract has been executed effective as of the date first above written. THE BUYER THE SELLER ___________ ___________ By：__________ By：__________ Date：_________ Date：_________ THE END USER ___________ By： __________ Date： ____-_________比起前两个合同，该买卖合同的不同之处于在于，合同开头出现了合同编号和签署日期，当事人名称或姓名采纳简单列举式。证明部分用完成时被动态，最后落款处SIGNED BY工程，但增加了最终用户一项。