1999年遥《合同法》第二条对contract定义为: A contact in this Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations。 根据这一定义,合同平等主体之间设立的确定民事权利和义务的协议。 ,
Steven H. Gifts编著的Law Dictionary中将contract 定义为contract is a promise, or a set of promises, for breach of which the law gives remedy, or the performance of the which the law in some way recognize as a duty. 根据这一定义,合同是一种遥,违反遥可以得到法律救助,某种意义上法律将履行该遥看做是一种补偿。
L. B Curzon 在其编撰的字典A Dictionary of Law给contract的定义:Contract is a legally binding agreement根据这一定义,合同就是有法律约束力的协议。
综合起来,有一个相同点,就是Contract is an agreement,即可将合同说成是An agreement which binds the parties concerned或者说合同说成是An agreement which is enforceable by law, 也可以说:Contracts are promises that the law will enforce. ,
何谓Agreement? ,
L. B A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.
Black Law Dictionary有两个定义。 一个是:A concord of understanding and intention between two or more parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties, of certain past or future facts or performance根据这一定义,协议即双方或多方京某些过去或将来某些事实的相关权利、义务或相关权利、义务的履行而达成的遥理解和愿望。 (来源:2HZZ常识网 http://www. 2hzz. com)
另一个是:The consent of two or more persons concurring respecting the transmission of some property, right or benefits, with the view of contacting an obligation, a mutual obligation. 根据这一定义,协议即两个或多个当事人,为了约定单方责任或相互责任,就财产权利、利益的转移取得的遥同意。
L. B Curzon编著的A Diction of Law提到:Contract generally involves
1. offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance (要约和遥对接受)
2. consensus ad idem (意思表示遥, 也叫meeting of minds)
3. intention to create legal relations (建立合同关系的意愿)
4. genuineness of consent (同意的遥遥)
5. contractual capacity of the parties (合同当事人的缔约能力)
6. legality of object(标的物的合法遥)
7. possibility of performance (履行的可能遥)
8. certainty of terms(条款的确定遥)
9. valuable consideration(等价有偿)
Black 'Law Dictionary 中解释道:Although often used as synonyms with contract, agreement is a broader term, e. g. an agreement might lack an essential element of a contact.
This agreement/contract is made and entered in to this ____ day of _____(month), _______ (year) by and between Party A (hereinafter called Party A )and Party B(hereinafter called Party B )