【美国精神】第4期

Explanation:

   The men who wrote the U.S. Constitution knew that their document was not perfect. That is why they included ways to change or add laws to the Constitution in thefuture. The fifth article (or section) of the Constitution says that Americans can change the Constitution in two ways. The first way is to have another Constitutional Convention¹, a big meeting where representatives from all of the states would gather and decide on the changes, just like they did when the Constitution was written in Philadelphia in 1787. This way, however, has never been used. There has never

been a second Constitutional Convention.

   The second and more common way to change the Constitution has two steps. First, Congress (the group of elected national representatives) passes (or approves) a special law to change or add something to the Constitution. This change or addition is called an amendment². Two-thirds (or 67%) of the members of Congress has to vote in favor of (or say “yes” to approve) this amendment. Then the amendment must be approved by three-fourths (or 75%) of the states. Getting two-thirds of Congress and three-quarters of the states to agree is not an easy thing to do, and that is why there are not very many amendments³ to the Constitution. The President cannot create amendments and does not have the right (or power or ability) to veto⁴, or say no to, amendments. After three-fourths of the states approve the amendment

that has already been approved by Congress, the amendment officially becomes part of the Constitution.

   Many of the rights that Americans believe are extremely important in the United States are actually not in the original Constitution of 1787. Instead they are in amendments to the Constitution. Freedom of religion, the right to vote regardless of someone’s skin color or sex (being a man or woman), and who can be a citizen are all described in different amendments to the Constitution.

   Amendments can be repealed⁵ (or taken back) by passing other amendments. Only one amendment has been repealed in the history of the United States. The Eighteenth Amendment made it illegal (or against the law) to make or sell alcohol, such as beer and wine. This amendment was called the Prohibition⁶ amendment, because to prohibit means not to allow something, or to make something illegal. The Eighteenth Amendment was approved in 1919. However, the Twenty-First Amendment, passed in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, so today Americans can make and sell alcohol again.

 

问题：

What is an amendment?

Answer:

• A change (to the Constitution)

• An addition (to the Constitution)

1 convention   

n.惯例，习俗，常规，会议，大会

参考例句：

• How many delegates have checked in at the convention?大会已有多少代表报到？
• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 veto   

n.否决权；v.否决；vi.否决，禁止；vt.使用否决权

参考例句：

• The President has the power of veto.总统有否决权。
• Father put a veto upon our staying out late.父亲不许我们在外面逗留太晚。

5 repealed   

撤销，废除( repeal的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The Labour Party repealed the Act. 工党废除了那项法令。
• The legislature repealed the unpopular Rent Act. 立法机关废除了不得人心的租借法案。

6 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。