论除斥期间

On the Cut-off Period

除斥期间在我国理论及实务中通常被理解为权利存在的预定期间,与诉讼时效相比,它具有适用对象唯一性(形成权)与期间不变性(不适用中止与中断规定)等特征。这些继受来的结论不够完整与准确,且缺乏理论证成。本文认为,广义的权利期间才是权利存在的预定期间,包括除斥期间与狭义的权利期间。除斥期间是须行使的权利的存在期间,属于特殊的权利期间,狭义权利期间无须关注权利行使。因为在除斥期间中,权利不行使常常影响特定的利益状况,造成利益关系的不稳定、不清晰,故须对行使行为予以特别规制。诉讼时效也属于限制权利行使的情形,但其后果却非限制权利本身。在受时间影响的权利制度中,根据影响强度差异,可由强到弱依次区分为一个制度序列,即权利期间、除斥期间、失权与时效。其中,时间对除斥期间的限制强度大于时效。除斥期间与诉讼时效在本质上即体现为限制强度的不同。影响强度的因素又取决于对相关利益状况保护的不同需求,即立法者须对权利人利益、相对人利益以及透过保护相对人所体现出来的法律安定等社会公共利益作出利益衡量,而具体的衡量尺度则属于立法政策问题。判断不同制度的根本标准在于利益分析,外在标准仅为初步标准。除斥期间与时效所保护的利益时有交叉,因此,仅从外部特征上对二者作出清晰区分,是困难的。

The Cut--off Period or Preclusive Period （Ausschlussffist in German） is often understood as predetermined period for the existence of a private right in both Chinese legal theory and practice. And compared to the limitation or prescription, it is characteristic of only one object to apply （i.e. the right to alter the legal relationship or Gestaltungsrecht）, unvariable period （therefore it cannot be suspended and interrupted）, etc. These conclusions we learned from foreign countries are neither integrate nor accurate, and they are also lack of theoretical argumentation. The Author held the opinion that, the notion of pre- determined period for the existence of a private right is for a right period in a broad sense, including cut --off period and the right period in a narrower sense. The right period in narrower sense refers to an ex- istence of period for a right that whether that right should be performed will not be concerned by law, while the cut--off period means an existence of period for a right which should be performed, because the right not to be performed would always exert some influences upon the interests, and therefore will cause interest status uncertain and/or unclear unless the law regulates such performances. Prescription belongs to also the cases which require the law to regulate especially, however, its legal consequence of limiting to right itself is different with the cut--off period. In the right--influenced--by--time systems, they can be divided according to the degree of influence into an order, that is, the right period （in narrower sense）, cut--off period, the forfeiture （Verwirkung in German） and the prescription. Among them, the time will place more restriction on cut--off period than on prescription. In essence the differences be- tween the two systems, i.e. the cut--off period and prescription, are showed by different restrictive measurements. The elements of influences depend on different needs to protect variable interests. That is to say, the legislator should balance the interests between or among the right holders, its obligators and/ or social public interest which is reflected often by the protection of obligators, such as legal certainty. Of cause, the concrete balancing standard depends on the legal policy. Therefore, the fundamental standard to divide the two systems bases on the analyses of interest, any outer standards serves as only a prelimi- nary one. Due to the balances in the two systems are sometimes overlapped, it is very hard to tell the two systems by reliance barely on the outer standards.