Contract 与 Agreement的区别 # o1 d# s. m# ?' L+ s- Z4 j5 @
在英语中,合同一般称为Contract,协议一般称为Agreement。 中 华 考 试 网; ]( c7 H& b$ K* ^) X
何谓“contract”?
1 w* e8 D& \9 N$ L0 l 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”。根据这一定义,合同平等主体之间设立的确定民事权利和义务的协议。
) r8 Y+ V3 H0 n* j" N 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.”根据这一定义,合同是一种承诺,违反承诺可以得到法律救助,某种意义上法律将履行该承诺看做是一种补偿。
; h* m0 a& l) Z7 \ F 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”根据这一定义,合同就是有法律约束力的协议。
* s* k! W2 E2 d9 z+ A' O 综合起来,有一个相同点,就是“Contract is an agreement”,即可将事同说成是“An agreement which binds the parties concerned”或者氢说合同说成是“An agreement which is enforceable by law”, 也可以说:Contracts are promises that the law will enforce。
( a& j- e/ i; Y8 T3 H 何谓“Agreement”? 8 B2 s1 a7 I$ p. ?, w0 X
L.B “A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.” 根据这一定义,协议是对已经做或准备做的相关事宜,经过谈判、协商后取得一致意见,以口头或书面形式做出的约定。 ! X L# @) ~ G$ a `
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”根据这一定义,协议即双方或多方京某些过去或将来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。 / \" o4 p( C) W; J! v7 z9 X+ ^
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.”根据这一定义,协议即两个或多个当事人,为了约定单方责任或相互责任,就财产权利、利益的转移取得的一致同意。
V/ M( b! ^3 y: ?3 ] Contract(合同)和Agreement(协议)是不是可以互换呢? 5 `1 T3 K) {$ p! O# |6 a3 ]2 w
合同的成立必须具备几个主要因素。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能力四大部分组成。 6 M, S/ J# X. Z7 L, i- m
L.B Curzon编著的“A Diction of Law”提到:“Contract generally involves”
& b" \# h" h+ M8 F1. offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance (要约和绝对接受) ; C: o2 m' G. ^& |9 p- N+ C* u
2. consensus ad idem (意思表示一致, 也叫meeting of minds)
# H" y# u9 g, I2 c3. intention to create legal relations (建立合同关系的意愿) # I5 s, h% d6 g+ O- d5 }0 H0 B X0 ?0 M( e
4. genuineness of consent (同意的真实性)
& V3 G1 R! F% l' O5. contractual capacity of the parties (合同当事人的缔约能力) + y( f7 k7 b" N/ |; u' m, @
6. legality of object(标的物的合法性)
3 G' e4 ?5 G4 T7. possibility of performance (履行的可能性) % u( g/ Z( l: T% S
8. certainty of terms(条款的确定性)
$ n+ q0 W$ e; z( _& I5 p9 e! p9. valuable consideration(等价有偿)
$ `- J/ R- l8 m 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)。
3 U9 t; o+ U/ s" Y& A 实际使用当中,协议可不受必备条款的限制,而称为合同的文体肯定少不了必备条款,有的合同将其单列,称为一般条款(General provisions)。
6 ]9 ]1 y9 U& |1 r/ N 1999中国《合同法》第十二条规定了八项一般条款,分别是: # _4 Y W8 A ~$ y# ^) ]
1. title or name and domicile of the parities(当事人的名称或姓名和住址) 转自:考试网 - [Examw.Com]) m# _, t, L& E4 w6 T6 f' V! y. ]
2. contract object(标的) 7 T$ `8 H5 _# J" t0 e* F% }7 I7 M
3. quantity(数量) & L* A" \6 F, b; D1 i2 z
4. quality(质量)
6 H E. n: g$ {8 n3 O! o' p9 z# \5. price or remuneration(价款或者报酬)
6 Y0 y9 I6 y6 a6. time limit, place and method of performance (履行期限、地点和方式) + ^$ J' c) j `( \- Q6 U
7. liability for breach of contract(违约责任) : q' {5 Z* I9 ?1 w$ j. y
8. methods to settle disputes (解决争议的方法)
. ~4 v* ~3 y% I% A$ k+ M) v 上述解释说明,contract(合同)和agreement(协议)的概念虽然接近,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。可以说具备合同成立要求的具有强制执行力的协议才是合同。 |