美国的法律家长主义理论与实践

The Theory and Practice of Legal Paternalism in the U.S.A.

在美国法上,法律家长主义是指法律为了当事人自身的利益而限制其自治。在理论上,对法律家长主义争论主要是从法律经济学和法律价值论两个维度进行的,对家长主义式的规定有无效率、法律是否应保持价值中立和自治这一价值在法律中的地位进行探讨。在实践中,法律家长主义在美国合同法、行政法和宪法中有着广泛的应用,对当事人的缔约自由、表达自由、平等权等进行限制,对市场经济和社会保障中的某些行为予以规制。

In the laws of the USA, Legal Paternalism means that the laws limit people＇s autonomy for their own interests. In theory, discussions on Legal Paternalism are from two aspects economic of law and axiology of law, which is mainly on whether paternalistic laws are efficient, whether laws should be value neutral and autonomy＇ s position in laws. In practice, Legal Paternalism is widely found in the practice of contract laws, administrative laws and constitutional laws in the U.S.A. It limits parties＇ freedom of contract, freedom of expression, right of equality, etc; it also regulates certain acts in the market economy and social security.