法的渊源:一种新的分类法及其在中国语境中的运用

Sources of Law:A New Classification and its Application in the Chinese Context

法的渊源的既有分类法的共同问题在于,它们无法有效区分法的渊源与法律实践(法律适用)中可能运用到的其他规范材料,也没有说明不同法源类型之间的关系。新的分类法将法的渊源区分为法的效力渊源与认知渊源两类:前者提供了独立而完整的裁判依据,是裁判依据之效力来源和内容来源的合一;后者只提供了裁判依据的内容来源,需要获得效力渊源的认可并须与之相结合才能发挥作用。两者之间是不对等的,其中效力渊源居于主导地位。以此为据进行分析将发现,在当代中国,属于法的效力渊源的只有立法行为及其产物制定法,属于法的认知渊源的有国际条约、外国法、司法解释、指导性案例、国家政策、习惯和法律行为,以及合宪性审查活动中的党的政策和党内领导法规。其余所有的所谓"渊源",基本只能扮演裁判理由的角色。

The given various classifications about sources of law have tow common defaults,i.e.,they can not distinguish sources of law from other normative materials which may be used in legal practice(legal application)efficiently,and they provide no explanation of the inner relationship between different sources of law.A new classification divides the sources of law into source of validity and source of cognition:while the former provides an independent and complete ground of adjudication,and symbolizes the unity of the sources of validity and content,the latter solely provides the source of content,which functions on premise of being recognized by and combined with source of validity.The two sources seem an uneven match,among which the source of validity occupies a dominant position.Our analysis based on the above viewpoints reveals that,in modern China,the legal source of validity contains only legislative actions and statutory laws as their products,and the legal source of cognition includes International treaties,foreign laws,judicial interpretations,guiding cases,national policies,customs and legal acts,and policies and leadership regulations of CCP in constitutional review activities.All the other so-called"sources"can play a role of reason for judging at best.