ectors as the total number of its representatives in Congress。 This equals two senators per state plus the number of its representatives in the House （which is based on the state's population）。 The candidate who has the most votes in a state wins all of the state's electors。 To win the presidential election； a candidate must gain at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes。
在美国的选举制度中，人们并不直接投票给总统候选人，而是由选民投票给支持各个候选人的「选举人」。每一州的选举人人数和代表此州的国会议员人数相同，等于每一州有两位参议员，加上众议院的众议员人数（以各州的人口为基准）。在一个州里拥有最多票数的候选人就赢得了那一州所有选举人的票数。要赢得总统大选，候选人必须至少获得总共538个选举人中的270张票。
Over the years； the U。S。 has made a number of election reforms。 Some early reforms outlawed cheating； giving bribes and threatening voters。 They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns。 In 1870； black people gained the right to vote； and in 1920； that right was extended to women。 In recent decades； laws against unfair rules for voting have been passed。 No longer do people have to pay a special tax or pass a test in order to vote。 In 1971； the voting age was lowered to 18。 Other reforms made voting easier for the blind； the disabled and people who couldn't read。 In some areas； ballots had to be printed in languages besides English。
多年来，美国在选举方面做了一些改革。早期有些改革禁止作弊、收受贿赂或威胁选民。他们也限制候选人从捐赠者那儿获得的金额数目及花在竞选宣传上的费用。一八七○年，黑人获得选举权。一九二○年，权利延伸至妇女。近几十年来，通过了反对不公平选举规则的法律。人们不再需要付特殊的税或通过测验才能选举。一九七一年，投票的年龄降至十八岁。其它的改革减轻了盲人、残障者及文盲投票的困难。在某些地区，选票上面除了英文以外，还必须印上别的文字。
In November； Americans will again elect those who will represent them in government。 Although some citizens aren't even registered to vote……and some registered voters don't bother to go to the polls……most Americans exercise their right to vote。 They realize that their future is wrapped up in a special package……the ballot box。 It's a package that must definitely be 〃handled with care。〃
十一月五日，美国人要再一次选出在政府中代表他们的人。虽然有些市民甚至不是法定投票人──有些法定投票人懒得去投票──但是大多数的美国人都会行使他们投票的权利。他们了解他们的未来包在一个特别的箱子里──投票箱。它实在是一个必须「小心处理」的箱子。
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
＇ 关 闭 本 页 ＇
相关链接
？ Spotlight on Munich 聚焦慕尼黑（图）
？ 英国人的两种不同的休闲方式（图）
？ British Pub…goer's Manner 英国酒客的举止（图）
？ British Pub Etiquette 英国酒吧的礼仪（图）
？ British Pub Culture 英国的酒吧文化（图）
？ Spotlight on Copenhagen 哥本哈根特写（图）
？ 教堂与广场（图）
？ 剧院与音乐（图）
？ 世界各地婚俗（三）（图）
？ 美味的馅饼和细面条（图）
？ 意大利：美丽神奇之国（图）
？ 神秘的威尼斯（图）
牋更多厖
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
？
？
？
？
？
？
？
oh100首页 … 报栏 … 教学楼 … 科技楼 … 图书馆 … 青春教室 … 体育馆 … 艺术馆 … 时尚花园 … 联谊学校 … 我的大学 … 服务中心
电子邮件 ｜ About ｜
Copyright？2000…2001 //。oh100。/ All right reserved。
？
＇Amber demo＇
？
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
。oh100。 奥 博 教 育 网
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
礼品店
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
用户注册
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
用户登录
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
ABC Amber CHM Converter 7。14
Trial version
代理产品类
苦丁香多媒体教育网
？
？
时尚英语 》》 英语点滴 》》 正文
？
？
Government 美国政府
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
｜ ｜ 7月13日
〃Of the people； by the people； and for the people。〃 That's how Abraham Lincoln described the American government in his Gettysburg Address。 These simple phrases capture the essence of American democracy。 Instead of ruling over U。S。 citizens； the government is ruled by them。 Elected officials are known as public servants who represent their constituents。 Americans can get involved in government by voting； by writing letters to their representatives and even by organizing peaceful demonstrations to make their voices heard。 Each American citizen has a vested interest in how he or she is governed。 Former President Theodore Roosevelt expressed the American view of government well： 〃The government is us。〃
「民有、民治、民享」，这是亚伯拉罕．林肯在盖茨堡演说时，描绘的美国政府。这简短的几个字道出了美国民主的真谛。美国政府不是统治人民而是受人民所统治。民选的官员被认为是人民的公仆，他们代表的是他们的选民。美国人可经由投票，向他们的代表陈情、甚至于组织和平的示威活动，来发表心声，参与政事。每一个美国公民都有一份保护自身利益的权利与义务，来决定他们的政府该如何执政，前总统泰迪．罗斯福深刻地表达了美国人对政府的看法：「政府就是我们。」
At first glance； it might seem that the U。S。 president； as 〃leader of the free world；〃 is the 〃ruler〃 of America。 On Inauguration Day； the swearing in of President Bill Clinton for his second term will reflect the pomp and circumstance of a coronation ceremony； with dignitaries from around the world in attendance。 Even as far back as George Washington； who once rejected a suggestion to bee 〃King of America；〃 people have sought to ascribe far…reaching powers to the president。 But the Constitution ensures that the president will not bee an all…powerful ruler。
乍看之下，身为「自由世界领袖」的美国总统似乎是美国的「统治者」。在就职日，来自世界各地达官显要的出席，使柯林顿总统的第二任就职宣誓仪式，如同国王加冕典礼一般的华丽与隆重。即使远朔自华盛顿总统，他曾经拒绝了成为「美国国王」的建议，人们还是想要把无比的权力赋予总统。但是美国宪法确保了总统不会成为一个集权的统治者。
The U。S。 government； as outlined by the Constitution； is divided into three branches： legislative； executive and judicial。 The legislative branch passes the laws； the executive enforces the laws and the judicial interprets the laws。 The legislative branch is prised of the two houses of Congress； the Senate and the House of Representatives。 Thanks to CNN； C/SPAN and the nightly news； many lawmakers have almost bee celebrities in their own right。 The executive branch is represented by the president； who is called the chief executive or chief of state。 Besides that； as mander in chief of the armed forces； the president carries more than a little clout in world affairs。 The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and about 100 other federal courts。 The nine Supreme Court justices hold office for life。
美国宪法概略的将政府分为三部份：立法部门、行政部门及司法部门。立法部门通过法律：行政部门执行法律而司法部门诠释法律。立法部门由国会的参议院及众议院所组成。承蒙CNN及C/SPAN和夜间新闻之抬爱，这些议员们都因个人的论调、举止成了名人。行政部门由总统代表，他被称为最高行政长官、或是国家元首。除此之外，身为三军司令，美国总统在世界局势所有的影响力也是不小的。司法部门是由最高法院及大约100个其它的联邦法院所组成。九位最高法院的法官是终身职。
In order to prevent any one branch of government from being more powerful than the other two； the Constitution has established a system of 〃checks and balances。〃 For instance； when Congress passes a bill； it must have the signature of the president in order to bee law。 But even if the president rejects the bill； Congress can override his veto with a two…thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate。 The Supreme Court； as final arbiter of the Constitution； can overturn legislative acts or executive orders if it finds them to be unconstitutional。 In this way； the powers of government are balanced； or held in check。
为避免任何一个部门的权力大过其它两个部门，宪法设立了一套「制衡」制度。例如，当国会通过一个法案，它必须由总统签署后才能成为法律。但即使总统否决了这个法案，国会可以透过参、众两院三分之二的票数同意而不顾他的否决。身为宪法最后仲裁者的最高法院，如果发现法令或是行政命令违宪，可以将其推翻。如此，政府的权力就可以被制衡了。
In many countries； power rests with a strong centralized government。 In contrast； under the American federal system； the national government shares its power with the state governments。 The federal government possesses only those powers clearly delineated in the Constitution； all remaining powers are reserved for the states。
在许多国家，权力集中于中央政府。相对之下，在美国联邦制度下，国家政府与州政府分摊权力。联邦政府只拥有宪法中明确陈述的权力，其它所有的权力都保留在州政府。
The English political theorist Thomas Paine wrote in 1776； 〃Government； even in its best state； is but a necessary evil； in its worst state； an intolerable one。〃 The American government； like every government； has its share of thorny problems。 An increasing number of governmental agencies and government workers has created the problem of bureaucracy； where a mountain of paperwork stifles efficiency。 Lobbyists make appeals to Congress on behalf of special interest groups。 As a result； those with the biggest lobby……and the most money……tend to have the loudest voice in Washington。
英国政治理论家汤玛士．潘尼在一七七六年写道：「政府，即使在在其最好的状态，也不过是一个无可避免的恶魔；在它最坏的状态，就是一个无法忍受的恶魔。」美国政府就像每一个政府一样，也有棘手的问题。不断增加的政府机构及公务员造成了官僚政治的问题，使堆积如山的纸上作业扼杀了效率。游说者为特定利益团体向国会上诉请愿。结果，说官人数最多，即钱最多的团体，在华盛顿就有最大的声音。
Americans harbor mixed feelings about their own government。 They recognize the need for it； but they remain suspicious of it。 To some Americans； the government is Big Brother； an oppressive organization which delights in taxing its people and meddling in their affairs。 To others； the government is a rich Uncle Sam who provides for the poor and protects his people from bullies at home and abroad。 But no matter how they view their government； Americans wouldn't trade it for any other on the face of the earth。
美国人对他们自己的政府怀有复杂的情感。他们知道它存在必要性，但还是对它存疑。对某些美国人来说，政府是一个压抑人民的组织，以向