达特茅斯学院案与美国私立大学章程

On Dartmouth College Case and American Private University Charter

达特茅斯学院案是美国法转型与美国高等教育发展过程中具有里程碑作用的历史事件。通过联邦最高法院的判决,私立大学章程在美国法上第一次被赋予了"合同"的法律身份,获得了未经双方认可不得修改的权利保护,免遭政府借用公益性借口而任意更改。这一变化过程,实质上将英国法之下教权、皇权的二元保护过渡到美国法之下单一法律权威的宪法保护中来,不仅从功能上实现了章程的稳定性,也让美国公私立高等教育同时具备了自由发展的法律基础。

Dartmouth College Case is a historical milestone event in transformation of American law and the develop- ment of higher education in the United States. By Judge Marshall＇s decision, the charter of private university is defined as the “contract” for the first time, which has the legal attribute of cannot be changed without permission of both parts. This process is essentially the transition from an imperial binary authority under British law to the constitutional protection under American law, not only achieved the stability function of the charter, but also left a possibility of free development for American higher education in both public and private sectors.