rule of rank
rule of rank 等级规则 一种法律解释原则，认为规范低一等级的人与事的法律不能借其中的任何概括性词语扩大适用于高一等级的人与事。英国法学家布莱克斯通〔Blackstone〕曾例举道，规范教堂执事长〔dean〕、受俸牧师〔prebendary〕、堂区主持牧师〔parson〕、堂区长代理〔vicar〕等的法律将不能适用于主教〔bishop〕，尽管主教也属教职人员，但教堂执事长是该法所涉及的最高等级的人，主教则是更高等级的职务。
RULE OF RANK
rule of rank
rule of rank. A doctrine of statutory construction holding that a statute dealing with things or persons of an inferior rank cannot by any general words be extended to things or persons of a superior rank. • Blackstone gives the example of a statute dealing with deans, prebendaries, parsons, vicars, and others having spiritual promotion.