2006年VOA标准英语-Tensions Rise Between US Congress, President Ov

By Jim Malone
Washington
19 July 2006

The recent U.S. Supreme¹ Court decision striking down the Bush administration's plans to use military tribunals to try suspected terrorists is the latest example of how one branch of the U.S. government can check another.  In the second part of his series on the challenges facing Congress, VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more on the tensions between the legislative² and executive branches of government from Washington. 

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Bush raises an American flag while standing³ by the rubble⁴ of the World Trade Center in New York (2001 file photo)   
  
In the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, President Bush took strong measures to protect the country from further attack.

But in recent years, Bush critics have charged that the administration has too often bypassed Congress and the courts in the name of national security.

Jonathan Turley is a constitutional law expert at George Washington University in Washington.

"This is a president who seems very uncomfortable with sharing power in our type of system," he said.  "But that is the job he took.  That is the oath he took.  We have a system that denies each of the branches enough power to govern alone, but this is a president who does not seem to accept that."

In recent months, even a few Republicans have complained that the Bush White House has often been dismissive of the role of Congress in shaping security policy.

Mr. Bush responds that the nation is at war and will be for a long time and that he will do what is necessary to both protect the American people and their civil liberties.

 
President Bush 
  
"My job is to protect you," said Mr. Bush.  "My job is to defend the civil liberties of the American people.  My job is to act within the confines of the Constitution and the law and that is precisely⁵ what I am doing when it comes to making sure we understand the intent of the enemy."

Two formerly⁶ bitter political rivals came together recently to urge Congress to vigorously exercise its constitutional duty of checking the power of the executive branch.

Democrat⁷ Tom Foley and Republican Newt Gingrich both served as speaker of the House during the 1990s.  They discussed the current state of Congress and the presidency⁸ at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

Former Speaker Gingrich is among several Republicans considering a run for president in 2008.  But for now, Gingrich is urging the Republican-led Congress to do a better job of acting⁹ as a check on the presidency no matter which party is in power.

Former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich  
  
"I am a passionate¹⁰ creature of the House," he said.  "I believe the House is the center of freedom on the planet.  I think the 435 people who shove against each other and argue with each other and learn to respect each other are at the core of freedom.  And I think it is important to remember that a presidency is, in a sense, an elected kingship.  It is a very dangerous institution to grant too much power to."

Gingrich, from the southern U.S. state of Georgia, was elected to Congress in 1978, the same year as another Republican, from Wyoming, by the name of Dick Cheney.

But Cheney, who now serves as vice¹¹ president, has a different view of the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.

Dick Cheney  
  
"I clearly do believe and have spoken directly about the importance of a strong presidency and that I think there have been times in the past, oftentimes in response to events such as Watergate or the war in Vietnam, where Congress has begun to encroach upon the powers and responsibilities of the president, and that it was important to go back and try to restore that balance," said Mr. Cheney.

Republican Gingrich has found an ally in former rival and Democratic House Speaker Tom Foley.

Foley argues that Congress should assert its constitutional authority as a check on the presidency, especially during wartime.

"I do also think that it is terrifically important that Americans realize that the founding fathers created a separation of powers and that it is not just a lot of congressional interference with a wartime president, but an essential part of the functioning of our government that each branch, each branch has its relative strengths and role, and that for one branch to over dominate, to over control the other two is not healthy for the society," said Mr. Foley.

There are some encouraging signs of greater cooperation between Congress and the White House.

Some lawmakers are working with the administration to set up a system of military tribunals for suspected terrorists that would meet the standard set by the recent Supreme Court ruling.

And the administration is also working with key senators on legislation that would allow legal challenges to a terrorist tracking program that allows the monitoring of international phone calls without a court warrant.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

5 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

6 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

7 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

10 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

11 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。