Understanding the US Elections

Hi.

你好

Welcome back to www.engvid.com.

歡迎回到www.engvid.com。

I'm Adam.

我是亞當。

Today we're going to talk about "The American Election".

今天我們要談的是 “美國大選”。

Now, if you live anywhere in the world, it's very hard to escape hearing about what's going

現在，如果您生活在世界任何地方， 很難逃脫了解發生了什麼

on in America.

在美國。

The elections are coming up, everybody's talking about it.

選舉快到了， 每個人都在談論它。

They're using a lot of new words, a lot of complicated words that you might not be familiar

他們使用了很多新詞， 您可能不熟悉的複雜單詞

with, so we're going to talk about this.

與，所以我們要去 談論這個。

I'll explain to you a little bit how it works.

我會告訴你一個 一點點如何運作。

I'll explain to you some of the words you're going to hear commonly.

我會向你解釋一些話 您將經常聽到。

And keep in mind that although it's a bit more for advanced students because I have

請記住，儘管有點 給高級學生的更多，因為我有

a lot to say about all this, there's a lot of new information here, but even if you're

關於這一切的很多話，有很多 這裡的新信息，即使您

a beginner, lots of new words, lots of good words that are everyday words.

初學者，很多新詞，很多 好話就是日常用語。

If you watch CNN ever, you're going to hear some of these words because CNN loves to talk

如果您曾經看過CNN，就會聽到 其中一些單詞是因為CNN喜歡說話

about the election.

關於選舉。

Okay?

好的？

So let's get into some of this, and we'll see where we go.

因此，讓我們進入其中 我們會看到我們要去的地方。

First of all we're going to start with the two parties.

首先，我們要 從兩黨開始。

Okay?

So, America is essentially a two-party system.

好的？

因此，美國本質上是 兩黨制。

You have the Republicans and you have the Democrats.

你有共和黨人， 你有民主黨人。

Now, that doesn't mean there aren't other parties.

現在，這並不意味著 不是其他各方。

In fact, there are many parties in America, but usually they don't get many votes, and

實際上，在美國有很多政黨， 但通常他們得票不多，而且

maybe even...

甚至會...

Not even 1% of the total vote for all the little parties.

甚至不到投票總數的1％ 所有的小聚會。

Now, you can also have a third-party candidate, meaning somebody who wants to run by him or

現在，您還可以擁有第三方候選人， 意思是某人想要由他經營或

herself with his or her own money.

自己與他 或她自己的錢。

Okay?

好的？

Because the Republicans and the Democrats give money to their candidates to run a campaign.

因為共和黨人和民主黨人給 錢給他們的候選人進行競選。

I'm going to go over all these words, so not to worry.

我要遍歷所有這些 話，所以不用擔心。

So, first let's start with the Republicans.

所以，首先開始 與共和黨人。

Okay?

好的？

They're sometimes called the GOP.

他們有時 稱為共和黨。

You're going to hear this often.

您會經常聽到這個聲音。

This is just a nickname, it means "Grand Old Party."

這只是個暱稱 意思是“盛大的舊黨”。

I should make this a little bit bigger.

我應該做一個 更大一點。

Grand Old Party.

大老黨。

It's just a nickname given to them a long, long time ago.

這只是暱稱 他們很久很久以前。

In fact, both of these parties are over 150 years old, and they have won every election

實際上，這兩個政黨都超過150個 歲，他們贏得了每次選舉

since way back when.

從什麼時候開始。

And what they do is they often switch.

他們所做的是 他們經常切換。

Sometimes they'll go on a streak, like the Democrats will win a bunch of elections, the

有時他們會連勝，例如 民主黨將贏得一系列選舉，

Republicans will win a bunch of elections.

共和黨將贏得一個 一堆選舉。

Sometimes they'll switch back and forth every election.

有時他們會轉回來 每次選舉來回。

It depends on the season, depends on the mindset of Americans.

取決於季節，取決於 以美國人的心態。

Okay?

好的？

So here we have the two Democrats.

所以這裡有 兩個民主黨人。

Now, the campaign, the...

現在，運動，...

The attempt to run for office...

試圖競選公職...

Okay?

好的？

So, "running for office" means trying to become president.

因此，“競選辦公室”意味著 試圖當總統。

So what happens is they start their campaign.

所以發生了什麼事 開始他們的競選。

A "campaign" is an organized effort to reach a goal.

“廣告系列”是有組織的 努力達到目標。

Okay?

好的？

You have an advertisement campaign, you have a sales campaign.

您有一個廣告活動， 您有一個銷售活動。

It's basically something organized with a target to reach by the end of it.

這基本上是與 最終達成的目標。

In this case, the target is the presidency of the United States.

在這種情況下，目標是 美國總統府。

So, this campaign usually starts well over a year before the actual election.

因此，此活動通常會順利開始 在實際選舉之前的一年內。

Before they can vote for a president, each party must present a candidate.

在他們投票選舉總統之前， 各方必須提出候選人。

A "candidate" is the person that the American people will vote for in November, Democrat

一個“候選人”就是美國人 人們將在11月投票給民主黨

or Republican.

或共和黨人。

But before you have a candidate for each party, each party has nominees.

但是在你有候選人之前 每個政黨，每個政黨都有被提名人。

A "nominee" is the potential candidate, people who are chosen to try to become the candidate.

“被提名人”是潛在候選人，人們 被選擇嘗試成為候選人的人。

You could have three, four, five, 15.

你可以有三個 四，五，十五

It doesn't matter.

沒關係

Whoever wants to try to be president can try.

想要嘗試的人 當總統可以嘗試。

Now, what they do, all these nominees, they go all over the country and they try to win delegates.

現在，他們所做的一切，所有這些提名，他們全力以赴 在全國各地，他們試圖贏得代表。

I'll explain "delegates" in a second.

我會解釋“代表” 一秒鐘。

So what they're trying to do is become the candidate for their party, they go around,

所以他們想做的就是成為 他們的政黨候選人，他們四處走走，

they have a campaign, they give speeches, they put TV and radio advertisements, they

他們有一場運動，他們發表演講， 他們投放電視和廣播廣告，

do all kinds of things so the people will vote for them.

做各種各樣的事情，所以 人們會投票給他們。

Okay?

好的？

Now, what they do is they go to each state and they have a primary or a caucus.

現在，他們要做的是去每個州 他們有一個主要或核心。

Basically, this is like an election, but it's state by state.

基本上，這就像 選舉，但這是一個州一個州。

Each state votes for the nominees of their choice for each party.

每個州都投票給被提名人 每個黨派的選擇。

So in one state the primary for Republicans will be voted on only by Republicans, people

所以在一個州里，共和黨人是主要的 只會由共和黨人投票

who have joined the party, people who have registered as Republicans.

參加聚會的人 已經註冊為共和黨人的人。

The other side is Democrats.

另一面是民主黨人。

Now, a "caucus" is a little bit more confusing.

現在，“核心小組”是 有點混亂。

A "primary" is just a straight vote: "Here's who I want", check, vote,

“主要”只是直接投票： “我想要的人”，檢查，投票，

and the winner is the winner.

勝利者就是勝利者。

"Caucus" is a little bit confusing.

“核心小組”有點 有點混亂。

Even Americans don't really know what a caucus is except in the states where they have a

甚至美國人也不是很清楚 是在他們有

caucus, but basically a caucus is more like a discussion.

核心小組，但基本上是核心小組 更像是一場討論。

You don't have a checkbox necessarily, you discuss and you say who you want to be your candidate.

您不一定有一個複選框，您討論 然後您說想成為候選人。

But essentially, it's the same idea.

但實質上 這是相同的想法。

Each state votes for the nominee of their choice, and then the winner of this vote gets delegates.

每個州都對自己選擇的候選人進行投票， 然後，這次投票的獲勝者將成為代表。

A "delegate" is a representative of that state, and that delegate or delegates, depending...

“代表”代表該州， 那個或多個代表，取決於...

Each state has different numbers of delegates, they will go to the convention in July for

每個州都有不同數量的代表， 他們將在7月參加大會

each party.

每個聚會。

So the Democratic convention and the Republican convention.

所以民主公約 和共和黨大會。

A "convention" is basically a very big meeting.

一個“公約”基本上是 一個非常大的會議。

Another word for it is "conference".

換一個說法 是“會議”。

So it's a huge meeting, and all the delegates from all the states, all the representatives

所以這是一個巨大的會議，所有代表 來自所有州，所有代表

come to the convention and vote for the nominee who got the most votes in the primaries.

參加大會投票給被提名人 在初選中獲得最多選票的人。

Okay?

好的？

Now, once you have a winning nominee, like you have a...

現在，一旦你贏了 被提名人，就像你有一個...

Let's say you had your 10 nominees and then after the primaries, one person got enough

假設您有10位候選人，然後 初選之後，一個人吃飽了

votes.

票。

So there are a total number of delegates, whoever has more than half of those delegates

因此，代表總數 那些代表超過一半的人

that they won in the primary becomes the party's candidate.

他們在小學比賽中獲勝 成為黨的候選人。

And the candidates then run for office.

和候選人 然後競選公職。

Then they...

然後他們...

The candidates fight each other, and in November, all the American people can choose one candidate

候選人互相爭鬥，在11月， 所有美國人都可以選擇一名候選人

to be president.

當總統。

Now, what happens is that they all want to take out the incumbent.

現在，發生的是他們都 想拿出現任的。

Now, "incumbent" means in office now.

現在，“現任” 意味著現在在辦公室。

It doesn't have to be the president.

不必 成為總統。

It could be anything, in any position of authority, the person who has that position now is called

在任何權威位置，它都可以是任何東西， 現在擔任該職位的人稱為

the incumbent.

在位者。

So, the incumbent president of America right now is Barack Obama.

因此，現任總統 美國現在是巴拉克·奧巴馬（Barack Obama）。

In January, there will be a new president sworn in.

一月，將會有 新總統宣誓就職。

That's actually a good word.

這實際上是一個好詞。

"Sworn in" means become official.

“宣誓”是指 成為官方。

Put your hand on the Bible...

把手放在聖經上...

I guess you would raise your left hand.

我想你會 舉起你的左手。

Or no, left hand on the Bible, right hand up: "I swear to be the best president I can possibly be."

或不，左手放在聖經上，右手向上：“我 宣誓成為我可能成為的最好的總統。”

Now, the incumbent can serve a term of four years, and then there's another election.

現在，任職者可以任期四個 年，然後又有一次選舉。

A president can only serve two terms, eight years, and then he, in the future, possibly

總統只能任兩個任期，八個 年，然後他，將來可能

she, will have to move and let the new president take over.

她，將不得不移動並讓 新總統接任。

So where are we?

那我們呢

So right now we have candidates.

所以現在我們有候選人。

We have the Republican candidate, we have the Democratic candidate.

我們有共和黨候選人， 我們有民主黨候選人。

And then after the primaries where they fight the other nominees, they start fighting each

然後在初選之後 其他被提名人，他們開始互相爭鬥

other and they have a presidential campaign.

其他，他們有一個 總統競選。

Now, you can have a negative campaign, you can have a positive campaign.

現在，您可以進行否定廣告系列， 您可以進行積極的競選。

A "negative campaign" is when you're attacking the other candidate.

“負面廣告系列”是指您 攻擊其他候選人。

A "positive campaign" is when you're just talking about what you're going to do.

一個“積極的運動”是當你只是 談論你要做什麼。

What are you going to do for this country?

你打算去哪 為這個國家做什麼？

What is your platform?

您的平台是什麼？

So your "platform", basically is your beliefs on how to run the country.

因此，您的“平台”基本上就是您的 關於如何管理國家的信念。

What are you going to do for the economy?

你打算去哪 為經濟做？

What are you going to do for foreign policy?

你打算去哪 為外交政策做什麼？

What are you going to do for security?

你有什麼打算 為了安全？

All these things that you have in mind, all these promises you're going to make create

您要記住的所有這些事情 這些您將創造的承諾

your platform.

您的平台。

So a positive campaign focuses on the platform, a negative campaign attacks the other candidate.

因此，積極的廣告活動著眼於平台， 負面競選活動襲擊了另一位候選人。

So some...

等等...

Some candidates don't try to win because they're good.

有些候選人不嘗試 贏是因為他們很好。

They try to win by making the other candidate look bad.

他們試圖通過使 其他候選人看起來很糟糕。

That's one way to do it.

那是做到這一點的一種方法。

Now, the delegates.

現在，代表們。

So, the delegates, they represent each state.

因此，代表們，他們 代表每個州。

Now, there is something called super delegates.

現在，有一些東西 稱為超級代表。

"Super delegates" are basically representatives of the party who can choose for any nominee

“超級代表”基本上就是代表 可以選擇任何提名人的黨派

that they want.

他們想要的。

Okay?

好的？

So sometimes they help, sometimes it doesn't make a difference.

所以有時候他們有幫助，有時候 沒關係。

Next, after the convention the campaign begins and now you're going to hear rhetoric.

接下來，在會議之後 開始，現在您將聽到修辭。

"Rhetoric" is technically the art of persuasion.

“修辭”在技術上是 說服藝術。

Okay?

So, rhetoric is how you speak, how you try to convince people to believe what you are saying.

好的？

所以，修辭是你說話，你如何嘗試 說服人們相信您在說什麼。

So, some candidates are very good with their rhetoric, some are not; but some have good

所以，有些候選人非常擅長 誇張的，有些不是；但是有些很好

background, good experience, some do not.

背景好 經驗，有些沒有。

Sometimes you only need to be a good speaker to become president.

有時候你只需要 成為總統的好發言人。

You don't have to be very smart, you don't have to be very qualified.

你不必很聰明，你 不必非常合格。

You just need to have good rhetoric, you need to know how to speak to the people and convince

你只需要有好的口才，就需要 知道如何與人民交談並說服

them to vote for you.

他們為你投票。

Now, part of rhetoric is called spin.

現在，一部分修辭 稱為旋轉。

So, "spin", so every...

所以，“旋轉”，所以每個...

Nobody's perfect, let's admit, there's no perfect candidate, no perfect human being,

讓我們承認，沒有人是完美的 完美的候選人，沒有完美的人，

so sometimes some...

所以有時候

The negative attack, the negative campaign will say something bad about a candidate.

負面攻擊，負面運動 會對候選人說些不好的話。

A smart candidate or a very powerful candidate will spin that story, they will take a bad

聰明的候選人或非常有能力的候選人 會旋轉那個故事，他們會變壞

story, spin it, and make it look good.

故事，旋轉它，然後 使它看起來不錯。

And the people, the professionals who know how to do this are called "spin doctors".

還有那些知道的人 如何做到這一點被稱為“旋轉醫生”。

So, every candidate has a bunch of people working with him or her that know how to take

所以每個候選人都有一群人 與知道如何服用的他或她一起工作

every bad attack, spin it, and make it look like a good thing about their candidate.

每次不良攻擊，旋轉並使其看上去 像他們候選人的一件好事。

Okay?

好的？

It's all part of rhetoric.

這都是修辭的一部分。

Next, you're going to hear a lot about polls, p-o-l-l, pronounced: "pole".

接下來，您將聽到很多關於 民意測驗，民意測驗，發音：“ pole”。

A "poll" is basically, like, a survey.

基本上是“民意調查” 像調查

It's a collection of opinions.

這是意見的集合。

It can be a noun or a verb.

它可以是名詞或動詞。

"A poll" means the number or the survey itself and what's...

“民意調查”是指號碼或 調查自己以及什麼是...

This guy got 54%, this guy got 46%, whatever.

這個傢伙有54％ 傢伙得到46％，隨便什麼。

"To poll" means to actually ask people what they think.

“投票”是指實際上 問人們他們的想法。

"Who are you going to vote for?"

“你要為誰投票？”

Okay, 30% said this, 20% said that, 50% said that.

好吧，有30％的人說，有20％ 表示50％表示。

So there's...

Every day there's a new poll.

所以有...

每天都有新的民意調查。

For some people polls are very important, for some people they mean nothing because

對於某些人而言，民意調查非常重要， 對於某些人來說，他們什麼都不是，因為

on the Election Day the polls...

在選舉日，民意測驗...

The only poll that matters is the one at the ballot box.

唯一重要的民意測驗是 一個在投票箱。

That's the day that the voters cast a ballot.

那天是 選民投票。

"Cast a ballot" means vote.

“投票”是指投票。

Go into the room, check, box, done.

進房間 選中，完成。

You cast your ballot.

你投了票。

You voted.

您投票了。

Okay?

好的？

But there are always swing voters.

但是總有 搖擺選民。

"Swing", you know like when you were a little child, you sat down on a tree, and you go

“搖擺”，就像小時候一樣 孩子，你坐在樹上，你走了

back and forth, and back and forth.

來回 來來回回。

So swing voters.

所以搖擺選民。

"Swing voters" are the people who the polls don't apply to.

“搖擺選民”是人民 哪些民意調查不適用。

These are the people who decide at the ballot box.

這些是誰 在投票箱決定。

Before...

One week before they didn't know who they're going to vote for, one day before maybe they

之前...

在他們不知道自己是誰之前一周 要投票，也許在他們的前一天

didn't know who they were going to vote for.

不知道他們是誰 打算投票。

So they go in, that day they decide.

所以他們進去了 他們決定的一天。

So the polls or the "pollsters", the people who conduct polls, they have no idea what

因此民意調查或“民意測驗” 誰進行民意測驗，他們不知道什麼

these people think.

這些人認為。

And these people have a huge influence on who becomes president.

這些人有一個巨大的 對誰當選總統的影響。

Okay?

好的？

Because you don't know what they're going to do, so the campaigns, they can't even target

因為你不知道他們會做什麼 這樣做，因此廣告系列甚至無法定位

advertising towards them, they can't use rhetoric because they don't know what these people think.

對他們做廣告，他們不能用誇誇其談 因為他們不知道這些人的想法。

They're not part of the polls.

它們不屬於民意調查。

And then you watch CNN, ABC, NBC, you watch all the news channels and every day, all day

然後你看CNN，ABC，NBC， 所有新聞頻道以及每一天，每一天

you hear the pundits.

你聽到專家們的聲音。

"Pundits" are experts in one...

“專家”是一個專家...

In whatever field they work for.

他們在任何領域工作。

So they come on TV, they say: "Oh, I think this is going to happen.

因此他們上電視說：“哦， 我認為這將會發生。

Oh, I think this is good, this is bad.

哦，我想這是 好，這很糟糕。

Why, why not", etc.

為什麼，為什麼不這樣”，等等。

So, pundits are experts who are asked for and who give their opinion, usually on TV,

因此，專家是被要求的專家 通常在電視上發表意見的人

radio, etc.

收音機等

Then there's always the lobby groups.

然後總有 遊說團體。

Lobby groups or sometimes lobbyists.

遊說團體或 有時是遊說者。

A "lobby group" is an organized group of people, sometimes it's a company, a whole company

“遊說團體”是有組織的人群， 有時是一個公司，整個公司

who try to influence other people.

誰試圖影響 其他人。

So, a lot of these lobbies, they try to give money to the candidates.

因此，許多此類游說者嘗試 給候選人錢。

They are donors.

他們是捐助者。

A "donor" is a person who gives money for the campaign.

“捐贈人”是指 為競選捐款。

And these lobbyists try to influence politics.

這些遊說者嘗試 影響政治。

They go to the candidate and they say: "Okay, if you vote for this bill, I will help you

他們去找候選人，他們說：“好吧， 如果您對此法案投贊成票，我會幫助您

with that bill or I will give you money, or I will do something for you."

那張帳單，否則我會給你 錢，否則我會為你做些事。”

There's a lot of politics involved in politics as it were.

有很多政治 參與政治。

Next, now we come to Election Day.

接下來，現在我們來 選舉日。

Now, how does...?

現在，如何...？

How do the elections work in America?

選舉如何進行 在美國工作？

There's something called an Electoral College, as opposed to the popular vote.

有一種叫做選舉的東西 大學，而不是大眾投票。

So, the "popular vote" means the most number, the greatest number of people who vote for

因此，“大眾投票”是指人數最多， 投票人數最多的人

one candidate or the other.

一個候選人或另一個。

But to try to be fair, to try to be democratic, the American system uses the Electoral College.

但是要努力做到公平，要做到民主， 美國系統使用選舉學院。

Now, the "Electoral College" is a group of people, I think there's 538 people who basically

現在，“選舉學院”是一組 人，我認為基本上有538人

represent the nation.

代表國家。

Okay?

So every state gets a certain number of these electors, the people in that group of 538.

好的？

所以每個州都有一定數量的這些 538個小組中的選民。

Every state based on population size, based on a few other things has a certain number

每個州基於人口規模， 在其他一些東西上有一定數量

of electors.

的選民。

So, a president or a candidate I should say needs to win the most number of electors.

所以，我應該說總統或候選人 需要贏得最多的選民。

I think 270.

我認為是270。

270 electors, they have to win that many number of electors to become the president.

270名選民，他們必須贏得那麼多 成為總統的選民人數。

So, it is actually possible to lose the popular vote and win the Electoral College, and become president.

因此，實際上有可能失去全民投票 並贏得選舉學院並成為總統。

In fact, Bush, President Bush, the second Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore, but

實際上，布什總統布什第二次 布什輸給了戈爾（Al Gore）全民投票，但

still became president because of the Electoral College.

仍然擔任總統，因為 選舉學院的。

It's meant to be fair.

這是公平的。

So, for example, California which has the biggest population in the States has an equal

因此，例如加利福尼亞州 美國人口最多的國家

share... Sorry.

分享...對不起。

Has an equal share relative to, like, Idaho, which has very few people in it.

相對於 愛達荷州，那裡的人很少。

Okay, so that's how it works.

好的，這就是它的工作原理。

So then on Election Day, November something, something, the American people go to vote.

所以在十一月的選舉日， 東西，美國人民去投票。

The Electoral College has a certain number of people, they get all those people, they're president.

選舉學院有一定人數， 他們得到所有這些人，他們是總統。

Come January they are sworn in and we have a new president or America has a new president,

一月來，他們宣誓就職，我們有一個 新總統或美國有新總統，

which affects everybody, but that's another story altogether.

影響到每個人，但是 完全是另一個故事。

So, one thing I want to say before I finish off here, this is...

所以，我想說的一件事 我在這裡結束，這是...

This lesson was just meant to give you an idea of what's going on in America and how

本課只是為了給您一個 美國發生的事情以及如何發生的想法

the election works.

選舉工作。

It is not necessarily an invitation to have a political discussion.

不一定是邀請 進行政治討論。

You can have those with your friends and family.

你可以有那些 您的朋友和家人。

Everybody has their opinion, everybody's entitled to their opinion, but keep it to yourself,

每個人都有自己的見解，每個人都有權利 他們的意見，但要留給自己，

keep it with your...

隨身攜帶...

Within your group of friends and family.

在您的組中 朋友和家人。

Let's not get too serious about it.

我們也不要太 認真對待。

Unless you live in America, it doesn't necessarily affect you all that much.

除非你住在美國，否則不會 一定會影響到你

So I hope I've been very helpful here.

所以我希望我一直 在這裡非常有幫助。

I hope that you like this lesson and that you will subscribe to my YouTube channel.

我希望你喜歡這堂課 您將訂閱我的YouTube頻道。

If you have any questions about this, please go to www.engvid.com.

如果您有任何疑問 請訪問www.engvid.com。

There's a forum there, you can ask all the questions you have, I will be happy to answer them.

那裡有一個論壇，您可以提出所有問題 如果您有，我會很樂意回答。

There's also a quiz to make sure you understand the English of the system.

還有一個測驗，以確保您 了解系統的英文。

And yeah, if you have anything else, let me know and I'll be happy to help you with that.

是的，如果還有別的，讓我 知道，我們將很樂意為您提供幫助。

I'll see you again soon. Bye-bye.

我很快會再見。 再見。