现代英国有限责任公司制度的确立

The Establishment of Limited Liability Company System in Modern England

现代英国有限责任公司制度的确立经历了长期的演变过程。1720年《泡沫法案》颁布之后,英国对成立合股公司一直奉行特许主义,这一做法虽然抑制了合股公司的发展,但同时也推动了“合股社团”“信托合股公司”等经济组织形式的发展,有限责任原则也有了初步的实践。从1825年《泡沫废止法》至1844年《合股公司法》,合股公司的成立实现了从特许主义向准则主义的转变。19世纪中期,铁路行业的危机促使英国民众普遍接受了现代有限责任公司制度。通过1855年《有限责任公司法》和1856年《合股公司法》,有限责任公司制度正式进入英国的立法实践,现代英国有限责任公司制度最终得以确立。

The establishment of modern limited liability company system has gone through a long process of evolution in England.After the promulgation of “The Bubble Act”in 1720,Britain has been adhering to the charter principle of company,which had inhibited the development of the joint stock company,but it also simultaneously promoted the development of economic organization forms such as joint stock association,where the limited liability principle has also been preliminarily practiced.From the“The Bubble Act Repeal Act”in 1825 to “An Act for the Registration,Incorporation,and Regulation of Joint Stock Companies”in 1844,the joint stock company system has achieved a transformation from the Charter principles to the liberal permission principle.The crisis in the railway industry in the mid-19 th century led to the widespread acceptance of the modern limited liability company.With “An Act for Limiting the Liability of Members of Certain Joint-Stock Companies”in 1855 and “An Act for the Incorporation and Regulation of Joint-Stock Companies and Other Associations”in 1856,the limited liability company system officially entered the legislative practice of Britain,and the modern limited liability company system was finally established.