《英語國家》(下)單元輔導(dǎo)1

1、英語國家概況（下）單元輔導(dǎo)（2）Chapter 1: American BeginningsFocal Points meaning of being an American according to Crevecoeur two immigration movements to the Americas American Indians discovery of America the settlement of Virginia Puritanism the Pilgrim Fathers Quakerism W川iam Penn and his Holy Experiment the c

2、auses and major leaders of the American Revolution the Declaration of Independence the meaning of being an American according to Crevecoeur士 Crevecoeur believed that the American was a new man with the mixed blood of Europeans (P19) or their descendants. This new man left behind him all the ancient

3、European traditions and received new ones in the New World. In North America, all individuals were melted into a new race of the American. This new man acted upon newprinciples, entertained new ideas and formed new opinions.PuritanismPuritans were those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and w

4、anted to purify the Church of England. They believed that human beings were predestined by God before they were born. Some were Gods chosen people while others were damned to hell. No church nor good works could save people. The sign of being Gods elect was the success in his work or the prosperity

5、in his calling. They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find Gods will and establish a direct contact with God. These beliefs had great impact on American culture.The influence of puritansToday, puritans are no longer in existence. But their legacies are still felt in American

6、 society and culture. The puritans have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American values such a individualism, hard work, respect of education owe very much to the Puritan beliefs. QuakerismQuakers were a group of Protestants. They believed that people could communicate with God

7、because Gods divine light was in everyones heart. They believed in God through faith without the help of church or priests. Those religious beliefs taught them that people were born equal, and not sinful. They worked hard and lived a simple life in order to pleaseGod. William Penn, the founder of Pe

8、nnsylvania, was such a Quaker.Chapter 2: The Political System in the United Statesthe Articles of Confederationthe making of the US Constitutionthe three branches of the federal governmentchecks and balancesthe Bill of Rightspolitical partiesthe legislative branchThe legislative branch of the federa

9、l government is made up of elected representatives from all of the states and is the only branch that can make federal laws, levy federal taxes and declare war or put foreign treaties into effect. It consists of a Congress that is divided into the House of Representative and the Senate. The House of

10、 Representativeshas 435 members who serve two-year terms. The Senate comprises 100 lawmakers who serve six-year terms. Each state, regardless of population, has two senators.美國立法部門立法部門即國會，由50個州選舉的議員組成。這是美國政體中惟一可以制訂聯(lián)邦法律，征收聯(lián)邦稅，宣戰(zhàn)和批準(zhǔn)與外國簽訂的條約的部 門。眾議員任期兩年，每個眾議員代表本州一個選區(qū)，選區(qū)的數(shù)量根據(jù) 每10年一次的人口普查結(jié)果來確定。人口多的州可以比小州

11、選舉更 多的眾議員，有的州只有一名眾議員，眾議院的議員總數(shù)為435人。參議員任期6年，每州不論人口多少均選出兩名參議員，而且將任 期錯開，每兩年改選1/3的參議員。參議院共有參議員100名。法案必須在眾參兩院都通過，才能成為法律。眾議院或參議院提出 法案后，首先必須由一個或幾個委員會審議、修訂和投票表決，在委 員會獲得通過的法案才提交眾議院或參議院討論。在兩院之一獲得通過的法案，就提交另一院審議。當(dāng)眾議院和參議院通過的法案文本措 辭不同時，兩院議員組成的 議會委員會”將設(shè)法消除分歧。設(shè)法說服 議會議員投票支持或反對某一法案的團體叫做院外活動集團。他們可能在立法程序的任何一個階段施加影響。一旦兩

12、院通過相同文本的法案，該法案就提交總統(tǒng)審批。the executiveThe chief executive is the president, who is elected to a four-year term.A president can be elected to only two terms according to an amendment passedin 1951. The president can propose legislation to Congress. He can veto any bill passed by Congress. The veto can b

13、e overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses. The president can appoint federal judges as vacancies occur. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces.The president has other broad authorities in running the government departments and handling foreign relations.美國行政部門美國的首席行政官是總統(tǒng)，他與副總統(tǒng)經(jīng)選舉產(chǎn)生，

14、任期四年。根 據(jù)1951年生效的一條憲法修正案，總統(tǒng)只能連任一次。副總統(tǒng)只有 在總統(tǒng)死亡或殘廢時才能接替總統(tǒng)，惟一的正式職責(zé)是主持參議院工 作。副總統(tǒng)只有在參議院贊成票及反對票相等時才可以投票?？偨y(tǒng)的權(quán)力很大，但不是無限的?？偨y(tǒng)是國家政策的主要制訂者，經(jīng)常向國會提出法案。如上文所述，總統(tǒng)也可以否決國會通過的任何 法案。總統(tǒng)還是軍隊的最高統(tǒng)帥?？偨y(tǒng)有權(quán)在出現(xiàn)空缺時任命聯(lián)邦法 官，包括最高法院的法官?？偨y(tǒng)是所屬政黨的領(lǐng)袖，經(jīng)常接觸新聞媒 體，因此很容易影響輿論。在行政部門內(nèi)，總統(tǒng)擁有廣泛權(quán)力，可以發(fā)布規(guī)章和指令，指導(dǎo)聯(lián) 邦政府各部、署開展工作。總統(tǒng)任命各部、署的首腦和高級官員。主 要政府部門的首腦

15、稱為部長，是總統(tǒng)內(nèi)閣的成員。聯(lián)邦政府的大多數(shù) 工作人員，卻是依據(jù)能力而非政治選用的。the judicial branchThe judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court with a chief justice and 8 associatejustices. The federal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising out of the Constitution and other cases which do not arise out of individual states. T

16、he Supreme Court has the judicial review （司法審查, 復(fù)審）power, the power of determining whether congressional legislation; or executive action violates the Constitution.美國司法部門憲法惟一明確規(guī)定要設(shè)立的是美國最高法院，它是美國司法部門的最高機構(gòu)。此外，國會建立了11個聯(lián)邦上訴法院，以及下屬大約91個聯(lián)邦地方法院。美國最高法院在華盛頓特區(qū)開庭，其他聯(lián)邦 法院則分布在美國各城市。聯(lián)邦法官除非自愿退休，否則終生任職。國會通過復(fù)雜的起訴和審訊

17、的程序，才能免去聯(lián)邦法官的職務(wù)。聯(lián)邦法院審理依據(jù)憲法、聯(lián)邦法律和條約起訴的案件，海事案件， 涉及外國人或外國政府的案件，以及聯(lián)邦政府成為原告或被告的案 件。最高法院由1名首席法官和8名法官組成。最高法院一般審理低一級聯(lián)邦法院或州法院審理后提出上訴的案件，例外者為少數(shù)。最高法院審理的案件，多數(shù)涉及行政部門的行為和國會或州議會通過的法 律如何解釋和是否違憲等問題的爭論（州法律與聯(lián)邦法律一樣，也必 須與美國憲法一致）the Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to

18、the Constitution in 1791. The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech, theright to assemble in public places, the right to own weapons and so on.1787年在費城起草的憲法， 必須得到美國 13個州中至少9 個州多數(shù) 公民的批準(zhǔn)才能生效。在各州審議批準(zhǔn)的過程中，人們產(chǎn)生了疑慮。許多公民感到不安，因為文件沒有明確保障個人的權(quán)利。 憲法補充了 10 條修正案， 統(tǒng)一稱為權(quán)利法案 ，其中寫進了民眾期盼的文字。 權(quán)利法案保障美國人擁有言論自由、宗教信仰自由和出版自由。美國人有權(quán)在公共場所集會，抗議政府的行為和要求做出變革。美國人還有攜帶武器的權(quán)利。由