【美国精神】第4期(在线收听

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 Convention, 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 amendment. 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 amendments to the Constitution. The President cannot create amendments and does not have the right (or power or ability) to veto, 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   Amendments can be repealed (or taken back) by passing other amendments. Only one amendment has been repealed in the history of the United States.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 Prohibition 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 However, the Twenty-First Amendment, passed in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, so today Americans can make and sell alcohol again.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)
  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/mgjsy/397919.html