在政策与法理之间——美国溯及立法的界限

Between Policy and Jurisprudence——Comments on the Limits of Retroactive Legislation in America

美国最高法院通过判例形成了刑事法律以不溯及既往为原则、以溯及既往为例外的溯及许可界限;而民事法律的溯及许可的界限有较大的灵活性,原则上不受宪法第一条有关溯及立法规定的约束,总体上是以溯及既往为原则、不溯及既往为例外,受不同历史时期社会经济文化条件的影响,最高法院在政策考量与法理权衡中决定着溯及立法许可的界限。

The United States Supreme Court has established the limits of criminal retroactive legislation by judicial precedents： non - retroactivity is a general principle with retroactivity as an exception. However, the limits of retroactivity are the opposite on civil legislation with much flexibility and are non - binding in principle by Art. 1 of the Constitution pertaining to retroactive legislation. Influenced by diverse economic and cultural conditions in different periods, the Supreme Court makes decisions on retroactive limits between policy and jurisprudence.