VOA标准英语2008年-Commission Recommends New US War Powers Act

Two former U.S. Secretaries of State are recommending that the United States change its procedures for deciding to go to war. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington.
　
James Baker¹ III, left, and Warren Christopher answer questions following a press conference in Washington, D.C., 08 Jul 2008

James Baker and Warren Christopher say a U.S. president should be required by law to consult with Congress before going to war. And they want to require Congress to approve or disapprove² the action within 30 days.

Baker was Secretary of State under Republican President George H.W. Bush, and Christopher held the same office under Democratic President Bill Clinton. Together, they led a year-long study by the National War Powers Commission.

Baker says the commission believes the 1973 War Powers Resolution needs to be replaced.

"We think that the rule of law, which is, of course, a centerpiece of American democracy, is undermined and is damaged when the main statute³ in this vital policy area is regularly questioned or ignored," said James Baker.

The 1973 legislation was a response to the Vietnam War. Baker and Christopher say it is ineffective and unconstitutional. They say no president has ever recognized its constitutionality, Congress has never challenged it, and the Supreme⁴ Court has never ruled on it.

The U.S. Constitution designates the president as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but gives Congress the power to control war funding.

The legislation proposed by Baker and Christopher's commission would require a president to consult with Congress before sending troops into combat for more than a week. It would also create a Joint⁵ Congressional Consultation⁶ Committee, with members of both houses of Congress. Christopher says this would include Congress in an important decision.

"This statute gives Congress a seat at the table, in deciding whether or not to go to war - not just a seat at the table, but one with a permanent staff, a permanent professional staff, and access to all the available intelligence information," said Warren Christopher.

The commission's proposal would also call for Congress to approve or disapprove any "significant armed conflict" within 30 days.

Baker said the plan is not directed toward any particular conflict in which the U.S. has been involved.
　
Lee Hamilton

Former Republican Congressman⁷ Lee Hamilton, a commission member, says the group hopes the legislation can be passed by Congress and signed by the president next year.

"We think it would be a marvelous piece of legislation for the next president and the next Congress to enact⁸ early on, as a signal of bipartisanship in this country, on a national security issue," said Lee Hamilton.

A new opinion poll shows 79 percent of Americans think the president should be required to have approval from Congress before sending troops into combat outside the United States.

　

 

1 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

2 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

3 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

4 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。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

7 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

8 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。