English - Italian & Italian - English Dictionary of Law

By Daniela Angioletti and PROF. OLIVIERO TRONCONI

ENGLISH-ITALIAN & ITALIAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY OF LAW
How often do you stumble upon English and Italian legal terms at work? Get yourself the English–Italian Dictionary of Law! Are you unsure about the meaning of consideration, foreclosure, frustration of contract? Over 2400 entries define and explain major terms and concepts, in both languages. Make the right choice! This is your Dictionary of Law.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483524511

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INTRODUCTION BY OLIVIERO TRONCONI

Non è facile dire oggigiorno cosa sia cultura. Ogni tentativo risulta incompleto perché qualunque definizione dovrebbe comprendere troppi elementi. Sappiamo però che ogni tempo ha avuto la sua cultura e che tra le conquiste dell’uomo possiamo annoverare proprio i cambiamenti culturali che si sono determinati grazie alle opere di molti.

Così nel passato per Platone il metodo dialettico era la più elevata forma di conoscenza: "Ora non chiami tu dialettico chi si rende ragione dell’essenza di ciascuna cosa? E chi non ne è capace, non negherai che, nella misura in cui non riesce a darne ragione a sé e ad altri, in tale misura ne abbia intelligenza? [Platone, La Repubblica, VII, 533-534.]

L’opera di Daniela Angioletti che ho il piacere di introdurre costituisce un pregevole contributo sulla strada di far crescere nel nostro Paese la cultura e la conoscenza di quello che oggi costituisce il linguaggio internazionale di un importante settore economico.

Grazie perciò alla giovane e tenace autrice per il contributo che offre alla nostra evoluzione culturale.

GENESI E SVILUPPO DELLA COMMON LAW DI DANIELA ANGIOLETTI

La Common Law si sviluppò in Inghilterra durante il Medio Evo e fu applicata anche nelle colonie inglesi. La Civil Law, base degli ordinamenti giuridici romanistici, si sviluppò in Europa durante lo stesso periodo e fu applicata nelle colonie spagnole, portoghesi e francesi. Essa è definita "codified law" poiché si basa sulla sistematica elaborazione ed aggiornamento di codici che delineano sia il diritto sostanziale sia quello strumentale

La Common Law non si basa su un codice scritto, per questo viene definita "uncodified". Essa viene creata dai giudici attraverso la regola del precedente giudiziale (precedent) che obbliga i giudici ad applicare la regola decisa in casi analoghi in precedenza da un giudice di un tribunale di grado superiore. E’ denominata in questo modo la dottrina dello stare decisis (attenersi a ciò che è stato deciso), fondamento giuridico della Common Law.

Secondo questo sistema i giudici rivestono un ruolo fondamentale nella creazione delle leggi. La genesi della Common Law risale alla conquista Normanna nel 1066, anno in cui Guglielmo il conquistatore occupò l’Inghilterra. Il sistema Normanno era fortemente centralizzato e le corti avevano sede a Westminster (Court of Exchequer, Court of Common Pleas e Court of King’s Bench). Il Re emanava degli ordini regi detti writs, ognuno dei quali identificava un rimedio ad uno specifico illecito. La Corona nominava dei giudici itineranti che si recavano regolarmente nelle periferie ad amministrare la giustizia con l’ausilio della giuria composta da elementi locali (sistema sviluppatosi sotto Enrico II 1154-1189). Così si formò un sistema di regole giurisprudenziali applicabile a tutto il paese detto Common Law. Il ruolo del giudice era quello di essere un moderatore delle due parti in conflitto, assistito dalla giuria di dodici persone prive di preparazione e competenze legali. Da qui si sviluppò il sistema accusatorio.

Le decisioni dei giudici (rules) vennero poi raccolte per iscritto nei law reports o yearbooks. La parte vincolante di un precedent è detta ratio decidendi ed obbliga il giudice all’applicazione stabilita in un caso analogo in precedenza. I precedenti sono vincolanti (binding precedents) se emessi dai tribunali di grado superiore (higher courts) o possono essere non vincolanti (obiter dicta) se emessi dai tribunali dello stesso grado o di grado inferiore (peer or lower courts).

Il diritto di natura giurisprudenziale venne elaborato dalle tre corti di Common Law: the Court of Exchequer, the Court of Common Pleas e Court of King’s bench a partire dal XII secolo. Nel XIV secolo a causa delle lacune dei tribunali di Common Law fu necessario istituire la Court of Chancery in cui il cancelliere del re – di solito un ecclesiastico esperto in diritto canonico e diritto romano – trattava i casi non regolati dalle altre tre corti di Common Law. Questo tribunale detto appunto Court of Chancery diede origine alla Equity Law atta a colmare le lacune ed imperfezioni della Common Law.

I tribunali di Common Law e di Equity Law sopravvissero fino al 1873, quando vennero sostitutiti dalla High Court of Justice istituita dal Judicature Act 1873-1875. La High Court of Justice è parte della Supreme Court of Judicature.

I sistemi di Common Law, sebbene con varianti nazionali sono presenti anche negli USA, Canada e ex colonie dell’impero britannico. Il sistema legale degli Stati Uniti è fortemente legato alla tradizione giuridica di Common Law ereditata dall’Inghilterra, tuttavia permangono delle influenze di Civil Law. L’esempio più importante è lo stato della Louisiana che proprio per ragioni storiche (l’occupazione spagnola e francese fino alla cessione del territorio agli USA nel 1803) ha ereditato un sistema giuridico basato sulla Civil Law.

La provincia canadese del Québec è un esempio di ordinamento giuridico misto in cui si applica la Civil Law nell’ambito del diritto privato mentre per gli altri ambiti si applica la Common Law come in tutto il resto del Canada. Questa duplice presenza di Civil Law e Common Law è dovuta a ragioni storiche ed al controllo da parte francese del territorio che fu ceduto alla Gran Bretagna nel 1763.

Oggi la fonte primaria del diritto inglese è la Statute Law, la legge emanata dal Parlamento, sebbene i giudici rivestano ancora un ruolo molto importante e la legge di natura giurisprudenziale influenzi il diritto legislativo. Un’altra fonte divenuta importante è la legge dell’Unione Europea (European Court of Justice e European Court of Human Rights).

GENESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON LAW BY DANIELA ANGIOLETTI

Common Law developed in England during the Middle Ages and was also applied in the English colonies. Civil Law, the basis of the Roman legal systems, developed in Europe during the same period and was applied in the Spanish Portuguese and French colonies. It is defined as codified law because it is based on systematic processing and updating of codes that outline both substantive and procedural law.

Common Law is uncodified as it is not based on a written code. It is created by judges through the rule of judicial precedent, which requires judges to apply the rule previously decided in similar cases by a judge of a higher court. This principle is called stare decisis (to follow what has been decided) which is the legal basis of Common Law.

According to this system judges play a key role in the creation of laws. The genesis of Common Law dates back to the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror occupied England. The Norman system was highly centralised and the courts were located in Westminster (the Court of Exchequer, Court of Common Pleas and Court of King’s Bench).

The King emanated royal orders called writs, each of which identified a remedy for a specific wrong. The Crown appointed itinerant judges who regularly travel around the country to administer justice with the help of the jury composed of local people (a system developed under Henry II 1154-1189). Thus was formed a system of rules applicable across the country and defined as Common Law. The judges’ role was to be a moderator between the two conflicting parties, assisted by the jury of twelve persons without legal skills and preparation. This was the genesis of the adversarial system.

The judges’ decisions (rules) were then collected in the law reports or yearbooks. The part of a binding precedent is called the ratio decidendi and requires the court to apply the rule established in a previous similar case. The precedents are binding if they are emanated by higher courts, or they can be non-binding or persuasive precedents (obiter dicta) if they are issued by peer or lower courts. Case law was developed by the three courts of Common Law: the Court of Exchequer, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of King’s Bench in the twelfth century. In the fourteenth century the limited number of writs (royal orders) led to unjust results. When the decision of the Common Law court was unfair, litigants could address a petition to the King who usually delegated it to the Lord Chancellor. He was normally a clerical expert in canon law and Roman law. Equity law developed through the court of Chancery and filled the gaps and imperfections of the Common Law.

Courts of Common Law and Equity Law survived until 1873, when they were replaced by the High Court of Justice established by the Judicature Act, 1873-1875. The High Court of Justice is part of the Supreme Court of Judicature. The systems of Common Law, albeit with national variants are also present in the U.S., Canada and the former colonies of the British Empire. The U.S. legal system is strongly linked to the legal tradition of Common Law inherited from England, even if the legal system has been affected by Civil Law.

The most important example is in the state of Louisiana, which, for historical reasons (the French and Spanish occupation until the sale of the territory to the United States in 1803), has inherited a legal system based on civil law.

For historical reasons the Canadian province of Québec is an example of a mixed legal system, where civil law is applied in the context of private law, while Common Law regulates the rest, as in the remaining parts of Canada where Canadian Common Law is applied. This dual presence of Civil Law and Common Law in Québec is due to the French control of this territory which was ceded to Britain in 1763.

Today, the primary source of English law is Statute Law, the laws enacted by Parliament, even though the judges play a very important role in shaping the law and case law has an influence on legislated law. Another important source of law is the European Law (the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights).

NOTE TO THE ENGLISH READER BY JOHN PETER HOLDEN COGGAN

This Dictionary of Law gives a fascinating insight into two legal systems that are very different but which both, when properly used, aim to serve the maintenance of good order in society. As they are so different, it may be useful for the English speaking reader to note some of the differences. Italian law comes basically from the ancient Roman legal system, expanded (and confused!) by parliamentary additions; modern British law, apart from being given by parliament, is enlarged by judicial sentences and case histories.

Parliament in Italy is the originator of laws officially promulgated by the President of the Republic. They must be passed by both houses of Parliament, the chamber of Deputies and the Senate. When they have got through this treadmill (since the Government has always to overcome an Opposition that really opposes, not constructively, almost everything a government tries to do) laws are published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and the statute book, the Official Collection of Laws and Decrees.

Decrees can be issued by the Government when action (blocked by much opposition!) becomes urgently needed or when parliament has officially delegated this power to the Government.

The Ministry of Justice, with the motto Justice is equal for all (though in practice it is definitely not equal), runs a system of magistrates/judges who try to remain, despite politicians and very partisan newspapers, super partes.

The system is very inefficient, but theoretically much more democratic and fairer than some other systems, since it is possible for every case in the sections criminal law, civil law and labour law, to be heard at three different levels.

Courts of First Instance are of different types: the Justice of the Peace hears minor cases, the Juvenile court hears civil and criminal cases of under 18 year olds, the default First Instance court is called the Tribunale and deals with both civil and criminal cases as well as appeals against sentences issued by a Justice of the Peace, and the Assize Court handles criminal cases.

Courts of Second Instance hear appeals from the lower level courts. There is the general Court of Appeal and the Assize Court of Appeal which, as the name suggests, handles appeals from the First Instance criminal court.

If there is further judgement needed, either because the parties involved are not content with the lower judgements or because they wish to delay proceedings (delay is often part of the Defence tactic, so that the case exceeds the permitted maximum time allotted and fails under prescription), the case goes before the highest court, the Corte di Cassazione. This court sits in one of the three sections, civil, criminal or labour law; it can alternatively meet in combined session (a sezioni unite) for especially difficult cases.

For Administrative Law problems, the Council of State is the ultimate recourse for appeals, after sittings of the Regional Administrative Tribunal. For public accounts and taxes cases the three Commission levels start at District level (Commissioni Tributarie Distrettuali), go up to the Provincial Commission and ultimately to the State Auditors’ Department (Corte dei Conti).

That is the nutshell version but the result in practice is that cases can take years and years to be heard, and something which may seem simple at first becomes complicated and almost impossible to resolve because of the time involved!

However, with the help of this dictionary, which, as a result of years of practical experience in the legal and associated fields, gives interestingly detailed explanations of expressions, you would at least know what all the up-to-date terms mean.

TABLES

THE COURT HIERARCHY IN ENGLAND AND WALES

The court hierarchy in England and Wales

*The Supreme Court replaced the House of Lords as the highest court in England, Wales, Northern Irland and Scotland. The court system in England and Wales consists of 5 levels, in Scotland the court system has 4 levels and in Northern Ireland it has 5 levels. The highest court is the supreme is the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) for the three court systems.

** The ECJ acts only as a supreme court for the interpretation of European Union Law. The European Court of Human Rights hears complaints referring to breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

PERSONAL PROPERTY V REAL PROPERTY IN CIVIL LAW AND COMMON LAW

ORGANIZATION OF THE DICTIONARY OF LAW

1. English – Italian section: with legal terminology referring to the English legal system. Each entry has a detailed explanation in English followed by the equivalent and its explanation in Italian.

2. Italian – English section: with terms referring to the Italian legal system. Most of the entries include an explanation in Italian followed by the equivalent and the explanation in English

CHOICE OF TERMINOLOGY

Terminology is oriented towards the major terms and concepts. Key topics are accurately explained in in-depth entries i.e. Common Law, Equity Law, Statute Law, Case Law, bankruptcy, winding up, administrative receivership etc.

is a headword present in the dictionary as in the example below:

allodial titlefreehold. The principle on which this property concept is based is that land is property of the Crown.

titolo allodiale: allodio (latino allodium) termine usato nel Medioevo per indicare i beni e le terre possedute in proprietà assoluta, in opposizione ai termini feudo o beneficio, in cui i beni sono ricevuti in concessione da un signore dietro un giuramento di fedeltà (omaggio feudale o vassallatico). Nei sistemi di Common Law Il regime di piena proprietà viene definito freehold cioè libero da vincoli. Esso si basa sul concetto secondo il quale la terra è di proprietà della Corona.

freehold: doctrine of estates.

termine che negli ordinamenti di Common Law indica la piena proprietà, equivale alla proprietà piena ed assoluta cosi come è intesa negli ordinamenti romanistici. E’ riferito ad un regime patrimoniale (tenure) detenuto in freehold, cioè libero da vincoli. Ha origini medioevali e si basa sul principio secondo il quale la terra è di proprietà della Corona che la concede dietro un giuramento di fedeltà (omaggio feudale o vassallatico). titolo allodiale doctrine of estates.

DICTIONARY OF LAW - ENGLISH - ITALIAN

A

a posteriori: (Latin ‘from the later’) knowledge or statement based on experience or empirical data. ≠ a priori

a posteriori: da ciò che viene dopo, affermazione basata sull’esperienza o su dati empirici

a priori: (Latin ‘from the earlier’) preceding from antecedent to consequence, for that reason. Knowledge or statement that derive by reason alone. ≠ a posteriori

a priori: precedentemente, da ciò che è prima, detto di una opinione che non è basata sull’esperienza ma solo sul ragionamento logico

A Shares: ordinary shares with no voting rights.

azioni di tipo A: azioni prive del diritto di voto

aaa-tenant: triple-A tenant commercial tenant with the best credit rating and the lowest chance of default.

inquilino di un immobile commerciale che vanta il miglior rating di credito ed una minima possibilità di insolvenza.

AARE: (Accredited Auctioneer, at the auction Marketing Institute)

operatore aste accreditato presso l’Auction Marketing Institute

ab initio: (Latin) from the start

ab initio: dall’inizio

abandonment of chattels

abbandono di cose mobili

abandonment of appeal

rinuncia al ricorso in appello

abandonment of contract rescission

recesso unilaterale dal contratto

abandonment of easement (right of way)

abbandono della servitù di passaggio

abandonment, release, relinquishment of a right, surrender

abbandono rinunzia di un diritto

abatement noticenuisance to be removed e.g. contaminating fumes or noises that can be a danger for the health of the community.

notifica di rimozione atti di turbativa: notifica emanata da un ente pubblico locale che richiede la cessazione degli atti di turbativa e.g. esalazioni inquinanti, rumori molesti etc che rappresentano un pericolo per la salute della comunità.

abatement of nuisancenuisance

eliminazione rumori molesti o altri atti di turbativa nuisance

abatement: ademption

abbattimento: 1. riduzione riferita a pagamenti, tasse, debiti etc 2. riduzione del canone di locazione 3. cessazione di atti di turbativa nuisance 4. riduzione del valore del patrimonio in un testamento a causa della presenza di debiti lasciati dal de cuius

abeyance: a condition referring to real property in which title is not as yet vested in a specific titleholder, but awaits the appearance or determination of