VOA常速英语2017--美国宪法规定三权分立

One of the fundamental principles of the United States Constitution, the law of the land, is the balance and separation of power among the three branches of the Government: the Legislative¹, or law-making branch that is the U.S. Congress, the Executive branch which is headed by the President, and the Judiciary, which interprets the law at every level and settles legal disputes regarding the meaning and the application of the law.

美国宪法这个根本大法最基本的原则之一就是其三大权力部门之间的分权与制衡：立法分支——美国国会、行政分支——由美国总统领导、司法分支——诠释法律并解决由法律含义和实施所引起的法律纠纷。

The distribution of power among the three branches is meant to ensure that no one branch of the government is able to gain a disproportionate amount of power over the other two.

在三大分支间分权是为了确保没有任何一个政府分支可以掌握超过另外两个分支的过大权力。

Each branch has separate and unique powers the others cannot impinge upon, but which are nonetheless subject to acceptance or rejection² by the other two branches. This is how the balance of power is kept in check.

每个分支的权力分离，不同于彼此，因此也就不受其他权力分支的干涉，但却要受制于其他两个分支同意和否决的决定。这就会权力制衡的原理。

Thus, the Congress writes and enacts³ laws. It sets budgets and taxes and authorizes⁴ borrowing. It is the only body that can declare war. The Congress may override⁵ a presidential veto with a 60 percent vote.

综上所述，国会制定并颁发法律。国会设定预算、税收，并为借贷授权。国会也是唯一一个可以宣战的分支。而且，在达到了60%赞成票的情况下，国会可以无视总统的否决而通过决议。

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate initiate⁶ bills, or potential laws. The Senate also ratifies⁷ treaties, and confirms presidential appointments to federal posts.

众议院和参议院议员都可以发起议案（未正式通过的法律）。此外，参议院还可以批准各种条约，以及确认总统指定的联邦政府职位人选。

The House of Representatives creates federal judgeships and courts except for the Supreme⁸ Court, and has the ability to start impeachment⁹ proceedings¹⁰ against federal officials, including the President.

众议院有权为联邦政府任命法官和法院（除最高法院外）。众议院还可以对联邦政府的官员发起弹劾机制，总统也不能幸免于此。

Once proposed legislation passes through both Houses of the Congress, it goes to the President, who either signs the bill into law or vetoes it. In addition, the President is the Commander in Chief of all armed forces, has the power to make treaties and appointments to federal posts, and ensures that federal laws are executed throughout the country.

一旦提起的立法方案通过了两院的批准，就轮到总统做批准实施或否决的决定。此外，总统掌握所有武装部队的军权，因此总统有权为联邦政府的各个职位确定条约以及任命人选，总统还要确保联邦法律在美国全境内得到实施。

The Judicial¹¹ branch of the Government, which includes the Supreme Court and all lower Federal courts, decides the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution.

美国政府的司法分支包括最高法院和各级地方法院，对法律有着最终解释权，还决定着法律在不同情况下的实施方式，以及某项法律是否与宪法相冲突。

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands... may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny, wrote James Madison, the Father of the Constitution.

一旦所有权力，即立法权、司法权、行政权掌握于同一方之手，就可以称之为暴政，这是宪法之父詹姆斯 麦迪逊(James Madison)的原话。

The defect must be supplied by so contriving¹² the interior structure of the government, as that its several constituent¹³ parts may, by their mutual¹⁴ relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.

这种可能的缺陷必须要通过设定政府内部架构的方式来弥补，让政府的几个组成分支通过相互之间的关系来恰如其分地制约彼此，各行其是。

1 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。

2 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

3 enacts   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The legislative branch enacts laws; the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. 立法部门制订法律，行政部门执行法律，司法部门解释法律。
• Hold phasic characteristic correctly, ability enacts the policy with an actual suit, measure. 正确地把握形势特点，才能制定出切合实际的政策、措施。

4 authorizes   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。

5 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

6 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

7 ratifies   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• American Revolutionary War: The United States ratifies a peace treaty with England. 1784年的今天，美国独立战争：美国批准了一项与英国的和平条约。 来自互联网
• Each Member which ratifies this Convention shall ensure the effectiveapplication of its provis ions. 批准本公约的每一会员国应确保有效地实施本公约的规定。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

10 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

11 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

12 contriving   

（不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到

参考例句：

• Why may not several Deities combine in contriving and framing a world? 为什么不可能是数个神联合起来，设计和构造世界呢？ 来自哲学部分
• The notorious drug-pusher has been contriving an escape from the prison. 臭名昭著的大毒枭一直都在图谋越狱。

13 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

14 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。