The American Jury System in the film Twelve Angry Men_英语论文

摘要

电影《十二怒汉》探讨了美国陪审制度在追求正义方面的瑕疵，直至今天，其在美国电影史上仍占据着极为重要的地位。自十九世纪以来,对美国的陪审团制度的价值一直存在争议。有鉴于此,本文分成了以下五部分。第一部分介绍了《十二怒汉》展现的陪审团制度和“全体裁决一致”原则；第二部分从制度起源、适用范围及其职能、遴选、裁决三个方面介绍了制度的具体内容；第三、四部分讨论了美国陪审团制度的价值纠纷；第五部分则对美国陪审团制度的两次调整运动做了简单介绍，并提出它还将一直在美国社会中发挥重要的作用，随后则提出了美国陪审团制度对我国的启示，以求促进我国审判制度的发展、完善。

关键词：十二怒汉，美国陪审团制度，价值纠纷，制度启示

Contents

Acknowledgments I

摘要 II

Abstract III

1  The Film Twelve Angry Men and the American Jury System 1

1.1 Introduction of the Film Twelve Angry Men 1

1.2 The American Jury System and Its Principles Embodied in the Film Twelve Angry Men 1

1.2.1 The American Jury System 1

1.2.2 The Principle of “Unanimous Verdict” 2

2  Brief Introduction of the American Jury System 3

2.1 Generation of the American Jury System 3

2.2 Operation of the American Jury System 3

2.2.1 Scope and function of the American jury system 3

2.2.2 Selection and Composition of the American Jury System 4

2.2.3 Trial and Adjudication of the American Jury System 5

3  The Highlights of the American Jury System 7

3.1 American Jury System as A Political System 7

3.1.1 Protection of the Rights of Freedom and Equality 7

3.1.2 The Goal of Anti-autocracy 8

3.1.3 Balance between the Government and the People 8

3.1.4 Prevention of Bureaucracy of Judicial Activities and Institutions 9

3.1.5 Enhancement of the Legal Awareness of Citizens 9

3.2 American Jury System as A Judicial System 10

3.2.1 Remedy for the Limitation of “Formal Rationality” 10

3.2.2 Protection of the Judicial Justice 10

3.2.3 Maintenance of Judges’ Independence 11

3.2.4 Development of American Case Laws 11

4  The Shortcomings of the American Jury System 12

4.1 Low efficiency of the Trial 12

4.2 Lack of Judicial Competence of the Jury 12

5  Direction and Inspirations of the American Jury System 14

5.1 Adjustment and Direction of the American Jury System 14

5.2 Inspiration of the American Jury System 15

References 17