How is power divided in the United States government? - Belinda Stutzman

Translator: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

Prevodilac: Ivana Krivokuća Lektor: Tijana Mihajlović

Have you ever wondered

Da li ste se ikada pitali

who has the authority to make laws

ko ima ovlašćenje da donosi zakone

or punish people who break them?

ili kazni ljude koji ih krše?

When we think of power in the United States,

Kada pomislimo na moć u Sjedinjenim Državama,

we usually think of the President,

obično pomislimo na predsednika,

but he does not act alone.

ali on ne postupa sam.

In fact, he is only one piece of the power puzzle

Zapravo, on predstavlja samo jedan deo slagalice moći

and for very good reason.

i to iz veoma dobrog razloga.

When the American Revolution ended in 1783,

Kada se Američka revolucija okončala 1783. godine,

the United States government was in a state of change.

vlada Sjedinjenih Država bila je u stanju promena.

The founding fathers knew

Osnivači su znali

that they did not want to establish another country

da ne žele da osnuju još jednu zemlju

that was ruled by a king,

kojom vlada kralj,

so the discussions were centered on

tako da su diskusije bile usmerene

having a strong and fair national government

na uspostavljanje jake i pravedne nacionalne vlade

that protected individual freedoms

koja štiti slobodu pojedinca

and did not abuse its power.

i ne zloupotrebljava svoju moć.

When the new constitution was adopted in 1787,

Kada je usvojen novi ustav 1787. godine,

the structure of the infant government of the United States

struktura rane vlade Sjedinjenih Država

called for three separate branches,

zahtevala je tri odvojene grane,

each with their own powers,

od kojih svaka ima svoje moći,

and a system of checks and balances.

kao i sistem kontrole i ravnoteže.

This would ensure that no one branch

To bi osiguralo da nijedna grana

would ever become too powerful

nikada ne postane previše moćna,

because the other branches would always be able

jer bi druge grane uvek mogle

to check the power of the other two.

da kontrolišu moć druge dve.

These branches work together to run the country

Ove grane rade zajedno da bi upravljale zemljom

and set guidelines for us all to live by.

i odredile smernice po kojima svi mi živimo.

The legislative branch is described in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

Zakonodavna grana je opisana u prvom članu Ustava SAD-a.

Many people feel that the founding fathers

Mnogi smatraju da su osnivači

put this branch in the document first

prvo stavili tu granu u ovaj dokument

because they thought it was the most important.

jer su mislili da je najvažnija.

The legislative branch is comprised of

Zakonodavna grana obuhvata

100 U.S. Senators

100 senatora SAD-a

and 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

i 435 članova u Predstavničkom domu SAD-a.

This is better known as the U.S. Congress.

Ovo je poznatije kao Kongres SAD-a.

Making laws is the primary function of the legislative branch,

Izgrada zakona je primarna funkcija zakonodavne vlasti,

but it is also responsible for

ali je takođe odgovorna

za postavljanje federalnih sudija i sudija Vrhovnog suda,

approving federal judges and justices,

passing the national budget,

donošenje nacionalnog budžeta

and declaring war.

i objavljivanje rata.

Each state gets two Senators

Svaka država dobija dva senatora

and some number of Representatives,

i određeni broj predstavnika,

depending on how many people live in that state.

u zavisnosti od toga koliko ljudi živi u toj državi.

The executive branch is described in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Izvršna grana je opisana u drugom članu Ustava.

The leaders of this branch of government

Vođe ove grane uprave

are the President and Vice President,

su predsednik i potpredsednik,

who are responsible for enforcing the laws

koji su odgovorni za sprovođenje zakona

that Congress sets forth.

koje utvrdi Kongres.

The President works closely with a group of advisors,

Predsednik blisko sarađuje sa grupom savetnika,

known as the Cabinet.

poznatih kao Kabinet.

These appointed helpers assist the President

Ti postavljeni pomagači pomažu predsedniku

in making important decisions within their area of expertise,

pri donošenju važnih odluka u okviru svoje oblasti stručnosti,

such as defense,

the treasury,

kao što je odbrana,

and homeland security.

državna blagajna

i unutrašnja bezbednost.

The executive branch also appoints government officials,

Izvršna vlast takođe imenuje vladine zvaničnike,

commands the armed forces,

komanduje oružanim snagama

and meets with leaders of other nations.

i sastaje se sa vođama drugih nacija.

All that combined is a lot of work for a lot of people.

Sve to zajedno predstavlja mnogo posla za mnogo ljudi.

In fact, the executive branch employs

Zapravo, izvršna grana zapošljava

over 4 million people to get everything done.

preko četiri miliona ljudi kako bi se sve obavilo.

The third brand of the U.S. government is the judicial branch

Treća grana vlade SAD-a je pravosudna vlast

and is detailed in Article 3.

i podrobno je opisana u trećem članu.

This branch is comprised of all the courts in the land,

Ova grana se sastoji od svih sudova u zemlji,

from the federal district courts

od saveznih okružnih sudova

to the U.S. Supreme Court.

do Vrhovnog suda SAD-a.

These courts interpret our nation's laws

Ovi sudovi tumače zakone nacije

and punish those who break them.

i kažnjavaju one koji ih prekrše.

The highest court, the Supreme Court,

Najviši sud, Vrhovni sud,

settles disputes among states,

rešava sporove među državama,

hears appeals from state and federal courts,

razmatra žalbe iz državnih i federalnih sudova

and determines if federal laws are constitutional.

i određuje da li su federalni zakoni u skladu sa Ustavom.

There are nine justices on the Supreme Court,

Postoji devet sudija u Vrhovnom sudu

and, unlike any other job in our government,

i, za razliku od bilo kog drugog posla u vladi,

Supreme Court justices are appointed for life,

sudije Vrhovnog suda se imenuju doživotno

or for as long as they want to stay.

ili na period koji žele da ostanu.

Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry,

Naša demokratija zavisi od informisanog građanstva.

so it is our duty to know how it works

Stoga je naša dužnost da znamo kako funkcioniše

and what authority each branch of government has

i kakva ovlašćenja ima svaka grana vlasti

over its citizens.

nad svojim građanima.

Besides voting,

Osim glasanja,

chances are that some time in your life

velike su šanse da će vas nekada u životu

you'll be called upon to participate in your government,

pozvati da učestvujete u svojoj vlasti,

whether it is to serve on a jury,

bilo da služite u poroti,

testify in court,

svedočite na sudu

or petition your Congress person

ili podržite peticiju vašeg člana Kongresa da se usvoji ili poništi ideja za zakon.

to pass or defeat an idea for a law.

By knowning the branches,

Poznavanje grana,

who runs them,

and how they work together,

ko njima upravlja

i kako one sarađuju,

you can be involved,

omogućava da budete uključeni,

informed,

and intelligent.

informisani,

i inteligentni.