The System of the Federal Government

The United States is a federal union of 50 states. The District of Columbia is the seat of the national goverment. The Constitution outlines the structure of the national government and specifies its powers and activities. Other governmental activities are the reponsibilities of the individual states, which hae their own constitutions and laws. Within each state are counties, townships, cities and villages, each of which has its own elective government.

All government in the United States is "of, by and for the people." Members of congress, the President, state officials, and those who govern counties and cities are elected by popular vote. Heads of federal departments are named by the President, and judges are either elected directly by the people or are appointed by elected officials. Voting ballots are unsigned and marked by the voters in private booths so that no one else can find out for whom a citizen is voting. Public officials may be removed from office for failing to perform their duties properly as well as for serious violations fo law.

When the Constitution was written in 1787, there were only 13 states. The drafters of the Constitution saw that the future might bring a need for change, so they provided a method of adding amendments. Over the years 26 amendments have been added, but the basic document has not been changed. The pattern of government planned so long ago for 13 states today meets the needs of 50 states and more than 50 times as many people.

Individual rights and freedom are assured in the Constitution and are listed in the first 10 amendments called the "Bill of Rights", which were added in 1791. They include provisions for freedom of speech, of the press and of worship; the right of citizens to meet peacefully; the right to be secure in one's own home against unreasonable searches and seizure of persons or property; and the right of any person charged with breaking the law to have a speedy trial by a jury of fellow citizens.

The Constitution divides the powers of the government into three branches ---  the Executive, headed by the President; the Legislative, which includes both houses of Congress(the Senate and the House of Representatives); and the Judicual, which is headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution limits the powers of each branch and prevents any one branch from gaining undue power.

The whole system of American government is based on the principles established in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The people believe that the government should provide a framework of law and order in which they are left free to run their own lives.




联邦政府体制

美国是由50个州组成的联邦。哥伦比亚特区是全国政府的所在地。联邦宪法概括了全国政府的结构并规定了其权力和职能。其他政府职能则由各个州来承担，各州都有自己的宪法和法律。州以下有县、镇、市、村，各有其民选政府。

美国的各级政府都是“民有，民治，民享”的政府。国会议员、总统、州政府官员以及县长，市长均由民众投票选举。联邦政府各部部长由总统任命，法官由人民直接选举，或者由选举出来的官员任命。选票不记名，由选民在隔离站里圈出被选举人，这样就没有人会知道哪一个公民投了谁的票。严重违法以及不尽职守的政府官员可被免职。

1787年草拟宪法时，美国只有13个州。宪法起草人预料到将来可能需要对宪法进行修改，于是他们规定了修正宪法的办法。自那以后共增加了26项修正案，但是宪法的基本文件始终未变。很久以前为当时13个州设计的政府体制，今天仍能满足50个州和超过当时人口50倍的人民的需要。

个人的权利和自由在宪法中得到保障，并载入1791年增添的最初10项修正案（统称为《人权法案》）。修正案条款中规定言论、新闻和信仰自由，公民有和平集会的权利，有在自己家里享有安全、人身不受无理搜查和逮捕、财产不受无理查抄的权利，以及任何人被指控犯罪时享有公民陪审团及时审理的权利。

宪法把政府的权力分给三个部门： 以总统为首的行政部门，由国会两院（参议院和众议院）组成的立法部门，以最高法院为首的司法部门。宪法限制各部门的权力，防止任何一个部门获得过分的权力。

美国政府的整个体制，是以宪法和《人权法案》确立的原则为基础的。美国人民认为政府应当规定法治的准则，认人民自由地过自己的生活。

posted on 2007-07-22 17:48 小昭 阅读(188) 评论(1)  编辑  收藏 所属分类: 中级翻译 网摘收藏