02 The Three Branches of Government 政府的三个部门

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention first designated which powers would be given to the federal government. They needed to decide how these powers would be pided, since they did not want them to all be controlled by one man or group alone. The delegates feared that if any small group was given too much power, the United States would once again be under the rule of another tyrant.

To avoid the threat of tyranny, the group pided the new government into three parts, or branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch.

Legislative Branch: Headed by Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The main task of these two bodies is to make the laws by which our government operates. Its powers include passing laws, originating

spending bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate) and approving treaties (Senate).

Executive Branch: Headed by the president. The president carries out federal laws and recommends new ones, directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties. Powers include administering government, commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with international powers, acting as chief law enforcement office and vetoing laws.

Judicial Branch: Headed by the Supreme Court. Its powers Include interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws and deciding cases involving states’ rights.

Vocabulary 词汇

delegate ['deliɡit]　n.　代表、代表团成员；

['deliɡeit]　vt.　任命或委派……为代表、托付

tyrant ['taiərənt]　n.　专制统治者、暴君

executive [iɡ'zekjutiv]　n.　主管、高级行政人员、行政部门；

adj.　执行的、行政的

legislative ['ledʒislətiv]　adj.　立法的

judicial [dʒu: 'diʃəl]　adj.　司法的、法庭的、明断的、公正的

originate [ə'ridʒineit]　vi.　起源于、产生；

vt.　创造、开创、发明

impeach [im'pi:tʃ]　vt.　控告（某人）犯罪、弹劾、提出异议

treaty ['tri:ti]　n.　条约、协议、协商

ceremonial ['seri'məunjəl]　adj.　礼仪的、仪式的

enforcement [in'fɔ:smənt]　n.　强制、实施、执行

veto ['vi:təu]　n.　否决权、否认权、行使否决权；

vt.　否决、不同意

interpret [in'tə:prit]　vt.　解释、说明；

vt. & vi.　口译、翻译

Practice

Match the power with the branch that is responsible for it.

1．Interprets the law

2．Performs ceremonial duties

3．Makes the laws

4．Settles states’ disputes

5．Directs foreign policy

A．Executive Branch

B．Legislative Branch

C．Judicial Branch

译文

参加第一次制宪会议的代表指定了联邦政府的职能，他们需要将政府职能分开，因为他们不想政府仅由一个人或一组人控制。代表们害怕如果任何一个团队的权力过大，美国就将再一次陷入另外一个暴君的统治。

为了避免存在暴君的威胁，代表们把新政府分成三部分或分支：行政，立法和司法。

立法：以国会为首，由众议院和参议院组成。这两个议院的主要任务是制定政府运作的规章制度。权力包括制定法律、审批开支要求（众议院），弹劾官员（参议院）和批准条款（参议院）。

行政：以总统为首。总统执行联邦法律，提出新的法律意见，管理国防部，处理外交事务，代表国家出席公开场合。权力包括管理政府、指挥陆海空三军、指导外交政策、监督法律的实施和对法律有否决权。

司法：以最高法院为首。权力包括诠释宪法、评论法律条款、判决涉及各州权力的案件。

练习

将各部门的职能与以下权力相匹配。

1．诠释法律条款

2．出席公开场合 A．行政

3．制定法律` B．立法

4．处理各州间的争端 C．司法

5．指导外交政策

1．C　2．A　3．B　4．C　5．A