【美国精神】第55期

Explanation:

  The United States has a representative democracy¹, which means that citizens vote for people who will represent them in the government, making laws and decisions that reflect (or are the same as) what the citizens want. If Americans do not participate in their democracy, then the laws won’t reflect what they want. That is why civic² involvement (or participation³ in government) is extremely important in the United States.

  The most basic (or easiest and simplest) type of civic involvement is to vote, but some people are much more politically active (or involved in government and politics). Many people choose to join a political party, which is a group of people who have similar beliefs about what the government should do and want to get power for their group in the government. Some of them help with campaigns (or the things people do to try to be elected to a government job) for their political party’s candidates⁴ (or the people who are trying to be elected). Sometimes they help by calling undecided voters (or people who haven’t yet decided⁵ whom they will vote for) or by visiting them in their homes.

  Other people are more politically active for issues than for candidates. They might join a community group that tries to show people how important an issue is. They also call Senators⁶ and Representatives to try to get them to vote a certain way on important issues. Sometimes these people will talk to their friends and family about the issues and some of them even write letters to the editor, which is the part of the newspaper where people can write about their strong beliefs.

  The people who have the highest level of civic involvement try to run for office (or try to get elected to a political position or job). Sometimes people begin locally, at first running for office in their neighborhood or city, but then seeking office (or trying to get elected) at the state or national level. Each and every American can choose how much civil involvement he or she wants to have.

 

问题：

What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

Answer:

• Vote

• Join a political party

• Help with a campaign

• Join a civic group

• Join a community group

• Give an elected official your opinion on an issue

• Call Senators and Representatives

• Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy

• Run for office

• Write to a newspaper

1 democracy   

n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风

参考例句：

• Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
• Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？

2 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 candidates   

n.报考者( candidate的名词复数 )；申请求职者；攻读学位者；最后命运或结局如何已显然可见者

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• one of the leading candidates for the presidency 总统职位的主要候选人之一

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 senators   

n.参议员( senator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When the senators vote, the ayes will have it. 参议员投票时，投赞成票的人将占多数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The committee concluded that the senators had engaged in improper conduct. 委员会断定议员们从事了不正当活动。 来自《简明英汉词典》