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

美国政府的权力是如何分配的？ - Belinda Stutzman

Translator: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

翻译人员: Hannah Xu 校对人员: Geoff Chen

Have you ever wondered

你有没有思考过

who has the authority to make laws

谁掌控了制定法律的权力

or punish people who break them?

或是惩罚违法者的权力

When we think of power in the United States,

当提及美国的权力

we usually think of the President,

我们总是会想到总统

but he does not act alone.

但是他并不是唯一一个行使权力的人

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

事实上，他只是权力这个大拼图里的一部分

and for very good reason.

这安排是有道理的

When the American Revolution ended in 1783,

当美国独立战争在 1783 年结束的时候

the United States government was in a state of change.

美国政府面临着改变

The founding fathers knew

美国的创始人们知道

that they did not want to establish another country

他们不想再建立另一个

that was ruled by a king,

被国王统治的国家

so the discussions were centered on

所以之后讨论的中心议题

having a strong and fair national government

是建立一个强大但又公平的国家政府

that protected individual freedoms

这个政府保护个人的自由

and did not abuse its power.

不滥用权力

When the new constitution was adopted in 1787,

1787 年，当新的宪法被采用

the structure of the infant government of the United States

襁褓中的美国政府

called for three separate branches,

由三个分支组成

each with their own powers,

各自有不同的权力

and a system of checks and balances.

同时还建立起了制衡原则

This would ensure that no one branch

制衡原则保证

would ever become too powerful

任何一个分支都不会过于强大

because the other branches would always be able

因为他们其中的一个

to check the power of the other two.

总能制约另外两个的权力

These branches work together to run the country

这三个分支一起合作，经营着这个国家

and set guidelines for us all to live by.

制定我们需要遵守的准则

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

美国宪法第一条描述了立法分支

Many people feel that the founding fathers

许多人觉得国家的创始人们

put this branch in the document first

把立法分支第一个记入档案

because they thought it was the most important.

是因为他们觉得这是最重要的

The legislative branch is comprised of

立法分支包含了

100 U.S. Senators

100 个美国参议员

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

和 435 个众议员

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

也就是人们所熟知的美国国会

Making laws is the primary function of the legislative branch,

立法分支的主要机能是制定法律

but it is also responsible for

但他们也负责

approving federal judges and justices,

审核联邦法官和审判员

passing the national budget,

批准国家财政预算

and declaring war.

同时还负责宣战

Each state gets two Senators

每个州有两个参议员

and some number of Representatives,

和不同数量的众议员

depending on how many people live in that state.

众议员的数目跟据各州的人口而变化

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

美国宪法的第二条介绍了行政分支

The leaders of this branch of government

这个政府分支的领导者是

are the President and Vice President,

总统以及副总统

who are responsible for enforcing the laws

他们负责执行

that Congress sets forth.

国会提出的法律

The President works closely with a group of advisors,

总统与一群顾问一起工作

known as the Cabinet.

这就是人们所熟悉的内阁

These appointed helpers assist the President

这些指定的助手们协助总统

in making important decisions within their area of expertise,

在他们所熟悉的领域内 帮助总统制定重要决策

such as defense,

比如国防

the treasury,

财政

and homeland security.

以及国土安全

The executive branch also appoints government officials,

行政分支同时也任命政府官员

commands the armed forces,

指挥武装部队

and meets with leaders of other nations.

他们还接见外国领导人

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

这些事务对于这么多人来说 也是庞大的工作量

In fact, the executive branch employs

事实上，行政分支雇佣

over 4 million people to get everything done.

超过四百万的人来完成他们的工作

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

美国政府的第三个分支是司法部门

and is detailed in Article 3.

出现在宪法的第三条里

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

司法部门由美国国土上所有的法院构成

from the federal district courts

从联邦地区法院

to the U.S. Supreme Court.

到美国最高法院

These courts interpret our nation's laws

这些法院解释了我们国家的法律

and punish those who break them.

惩罚那些违反法律的人

The highest court, the Supreme Court,

最高法院

settles disputes among states,

解决各州之间的争议

hears appeals from state and federal courts,

审理各州和地区法院的上诉

and determines if federal laws are constitutional.

并且判断联邦法律是否符合宪法

There are nine justices on the Supreme Court,

最高法院有九名法官

and, unlike any other job in our government,

和其他政府工作不同的是

Supreme Court justices are appointed for life,

最高法院的法官是终生任职

or for as long as they want to stay.

或者跟据法官自己的意愿决定

Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry,

我们的民主依靠的是了解政府的公民

so it is our duty to know how it works

所以知道政府如何工作 是我们的义务

and what authority each branch of government has

政府的每个分支

over its citizens.

有着哪些凌驾于公民之上的权威

Besides voting,

除了投票

chances are that some time in your life

在你的一生中

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

你总有机会参与到政府的工作中去

whether it is to serve on a jury,

无论是作为陪审团的一员

testify in court,

在法庭上作证

or petition your Congress person

或是向你所在州的议员上书

to pass or defeat an idea for a law.

请求通过或驳回某个法律或想法

By knowning the branches,

通过了解这些分支

who runs them,

谁管理这些分支

and how they work together,

以及他们是如何一起工作的

you can be involved,

你可以参与其中

informed,

and intelligent.

了解我们的政府

并且变得更加智慧