Government‏

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.
「民有、民治、民享」，這是亞伯拉
罕．林肯在蓋茨堡演說時，描繪的美國
政府。這簡短的幾個字道出了美國民主
的真諦。美國政府不是統治人民而是受
人民所統治。民選的官員被認為是人民
的公僕，他們代表的是他們的選民。

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.”
美國人可經由投票，向他們的代表陳情、
甚至於組織和平的示威活動，來發表心
聲，參與政事。每一個美國公民都有一
份保護自身利益的權利與義務，來決定
他們的政府該如何執政，前總統泰迪．
羅斯福深刻地表達了美國人對政府的看
法：「政府就是我們。」

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 a president 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 become “King of America,”
people have sought to ascribe far-reaching powers to the president. But the Constitution ensures that the president will not become an all-powerful ruler.
乍看之下，身為「自由世界領袖」
的美國總統似乎是美國的「統治者」。在
就職日，來自世界各地達官顯要的出
席，使柯林頓總統的第二任就職宣誓儀
式，如同國王加冕典禮一般的華麗與隆
重。即使遠朔自華盛頓總統，他曾經拒
絕了成為「美國國王」的建議，人們還
是想要把無比的權力賦予總統。但是美
國憲法確保了總統不會成為一個集權的
統治者。

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 comprised of the two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
美國憲法概略的將政府分為三部
份：立法部門、行政部門及司法部門。
立法部門通過法律：行政部門執行法律
而司法部門詮釋法律。立法部門由國會
的參議院及眾議院所組成。

Thanks to CNN, C/SPAN and the nightly news, many lawmakers have almost become 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 commander 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.
承蒙CNN及C/SPAN和夜間新聞之抬愛，
這些議員們都因個人的論調、舉止成了名人。
行政部門由總統代表，他被稱為最高行政長
官、或是國家元首。除此之外，身為三
軍司令，美國總統在世界局勢所有的影
響力也是不小的。司法部門是由最高法
院及大約100個其他的聯邦法院所組成。
九位最高法院的法官是終身職。

In order to prevent any one branch of government from becoming 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 become 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.
為避免任何一個部門的權力大過其
他兩個部門，憲法設立了一套「制衡」
制度。例如，當國會通過一個法案，它
必須由總統簽署後才能成為法律。但即
使總統否決了這個法案，國會可以透過
參、眾兩院三分之二的票數同意而不顧
他的否決。身為憲法最後仲裁者的最高
法院，如果發現法令或是行政命令違
憲，可以將其推翻。如此，政府的權力
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.
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.”
在許多國家，權力集中於中央政
府。相對之下，在美國聯邦制度下，國
家政府與州政府分攤權力。聯邦政府只
擁有憲法中明確陳述的權力，其他所有
的權力都保留在州政府。
英國政治理論家湯瑪士．潘尼在一
七七六年寫道：「政府，即使在在其最
好的狀態，也不過是一個無可避免的惡
魔；在它最壞的狀態，就是一個無法忍
受的惡魔。」

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.
美國人對他們自己的政府懷有複雜
的情感。他們知道它存在必要性，但還
是對它存疑。對某些美國人來說，政府
是一個壓抑人民的組織，以向人民徵稅
為樂，並干預人民隱私的「老大哥」。對
其他人來說，政府是一個富有的山姆叔
叔，它供養窮人並保護它的人民在國內
外免受欺凌。不管他們怎樣看待他們的
政府，美國人都不會將它與地球上任何
一個政府交換的。
⊙Word Bankconstituent (n) 選民；選舉者

vested interest (n phr) 保護或提升自身利益的特權及義務

pomp and circumstance (n phr) 華麗與尊重
dignitary (n) 達官顯要
ascribe 把⋯歸因於

clout (n) 影響；敲；打

override (v) 藐視；拒絕
veto (n) 否決權
arbiter (n) 仲裁人；決定者

delineate (v) 記述

Big Brother (n phr) 老大哥；暗中監視人之高壓、獨裁政權
meddle (v) 干預或擾亂他人之事物

The Day's Phrase

Meet a counselor who helps people change their futures
來認識這位協助人們改造未來的諮商顧問

The Canadian Film Board is worth its' weight in gold. The quality of films they produce is incredible.
加拿大電影局是相當優秀的。他們製作的電影品質好得沒話說。

A great idea, the Panama Canal took a long time to be completed
巴拿馬運河雖是偉大的構想，卻花了很長的時間才大功告成

The garbage was so smelly that Brian nearly threw up.
垃圾那麼臭，以致於布萊恩差點要吐了。

All in all it was a pretty bad day for Mr. Jackson. His car broke down, he lost his favorite
hat and his dog ran away.
總括來說，傑克森先生那天頗為倒楣。他的車子拋錨，他遺失了他最喜歡的帽子，然後他的狗也跑了。

Walk or zip along in the forest canopies
沿著樹冠層徒步或疾行
Brian's company doesn't like paying taxes. It is rumored that they pay many of their workers under the table.
布萊恩的公司不喜歡繳稅。謠傳說他們很多員工的薪水都沒有入帳。

Samuel was really living it up. He bought a house in the suburbs, a new 45-inch television
and yesterday he left for a long holiday in Ottawa.
山姆爾可真是享受。他買了一幢郊區的房子，一部45吋的電視機，昨天還去渥太華度長假呢！

Take your cell phone to the beach and give me a shout once you get there.
That way I will know you have arrived safely.
帶著你的行動電話去海邊，到了那裡就打電話給我。這樣我就知道你安全抵達了。

Learn what you can do with a cucumber besides eat it
來看看小黃瓜除了能吃以外，還有哪些其他功用

The game is not over yet! Don't throw in the towel so soon!
比賽還沒結束呢！別這麼快就認輸！

English "rocks"!
英文真的好酷！

If you want to make this program a success, you will have to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself.
如果你想要讓這個方案成功的話，你就必須要不畏艱難並且親自去做。