2024年5月6日发(作者：word页码)

Constitution的课文及翻译

第一部分 作为最高法律的宪法

美国宪法虽然是一部相对比较简单的文件，但它自我定名为“国家的最高法律”。制定这一条款意味着，如果

各州宪法或者各州立法机关或美国国会通过的法律与联邦宪法相抵触，它们就是无效的。最高法院在两个多世

纪的时间内所作出的各种裁决确认并强化了宪法至上原则。

The U.S. Constitution, a relatively simple document, is the self-designated “supreme law of the land”. This

clause is taken to mean that when state constitutions, or laws passed by state legislatures or the national

Congress, are found to conflict with the federal Constitution, they have no force. Decisions handed down by

the Supreme Court over the course of two centuries have confirmed and strengthened this doctrine of

constitutional supremacy.

最后的权力归于美国人民，如果他们愿意，可以通过修正宪法或者起草一部新宪法（这至少从理论上来说是可

行的）的方式来改变这部基本法。但是，人民并不直接行使这种权力，他们将日常的管理事务委托给经过选举

或者委任的公共官员们。

Final authority is vested in the American people, who can change the fundamental law if they wish, by

amending the Constitution, or－in theory, at least－drafting a new one. The people’s authority is not

exercised directly, however. The day-to-day business of government is delegated by the people to public

officials, both elected and appointed.

公共官员的权力是有限的，他们的公务行为必须符合宪法和根据宪法制定的法律。选举产生的官员必须定期接

受改选，届时其业绩要受到彻底的公开审查。委任产生的官员要根据（有委任权的）人或者机关的意愿来做

事，而且如果其表现不能令其满意，就会被免职。在这一问题上的例外情况经济就是由总统对最高法院大法官

和其他联邦法官的终身性委任。

The power of public officials is limited. Their public actions must conform to the Constitution and to the laws

made in accord with the Constitution. Elected officials must stand for re-election at periodic intervals, when

their record is subject to intensive public scrutiny. Appointed officials serve at the pleasure of the person or

authority who appointed them, and may be removed when their performance is unsatisfactory. The exception

to this is the lifetime appointment by the President of Justices of the Supreme Court and other federal judges.

美国人民表达其意愿最常见的方式是选举投票。不过，宪法还是规定了在公共官员出现严重的不法行为或渎职

行为时，通过弹劾程序予以免职的做法。第二条第四款规定：

Most commonly, the American people express their will through the ballot box. The Constitution, however,

does make provision for the removal of a public official from office, in cases of extreme misconduct or

malfeasance, by the process of impeachment. Article Ⅱ, Section 4 reads:

“总统、副总统和众合国的所有文职官员，因叛国、贿赂或其他重罪和轻罪而受弹劾并被定罪时，应予以免

职”。

"The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on

impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

在这种情况下，众议院必须投票通过一个弹劾法案。然后由美国（最高法院）首席大法官主持，在参议院对该

公共官员进行审判。

In such cases, the House of Representatives must vote a bill of impeachment. The public official is then tried

in the Senate, with the Chief Justice of the United States presiding at the trial.

在美国，弹劾被认为是一种非常严厉的措施。在过去的两百年里，只有十三位美国官员受到弹劾，其中有九位

法官，一位最高法院的助理法官，一位国防部长，一位众议员和一位总统，集安德鲁·约翰逊（关于另外一位总

统理查德~尼克松，虽然众议院司法委员会建议对其进行弹劾，但在众议院投票之前他便辞去了总统职务）在这

十三个案例中，只有四名法官被宣告有罪而免职。各州官员也同样可能受到其相应的州立法机关的弹劾。

Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States. In the past 200 years, only 13 U.S.

officials have been impeached: nine judges, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of War, a

Senator, and a President, Andrew Johnson. (In the case of another President, Richard Nixon, although the

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House Judiciary Committee recommended impeachment the President resigned before a House vote was

taken.) Out of the thirteen cases, only four judges have been convicted and removed from office. State

officials are similarly subject to impeachment by the legislatures of their respective states.

除了提出一般性政治观念之外，宪法还规定了政府体制的蓝图。它用三个主要的条款规定了美国政府的三个部

门：立法、行政、司法。它们各自拥有相应的职权，承担相应的责任。（联邦宪法中）相当详细的列出了立法

部门可以制定法律的项目，尽管多年来的司法裁决已经扩展了国会（立法）活动的范围。总统作为行政部门的

首脑，其权力和责任也（在宪法中）被规定下来。宪法还规定了联邦法院的体制及其与其他政府部门的关系。

In addition to setting forth general political ideas, the Constitution provides the blueprint for the governmental

system. The three major articles describe the three branches of the national government－legislative,

executive and judicial－each with specific duties and responsibilities. Subjects on which the legislative branch

can make laws are set out in considerable detail, although over the years judicial decisions have expanded the

scope of congressional activity. The powers and duties of the President, as head of the executive branch, are

described. A system of federal courts is outlined, and its relationship to other branches of government is set

forth.

第二部门 政府的原则

尽管这部宪法自从其最初通过至今已经在许多方面有所改变，它仍然保持着1789年的基本原则：

Although the Constitution has changed in many aspects since it was first adopted, its basic principles remain

the same now as in 1789:

政府的三个主要部门相互分离和独立。赋予一个部门的权力会受到其他两个部门的权力的微妙制衡。

每一个部门都作为对其他部门可能滥用职权的制约。

The three main branches of government are separate and distinct from one another. The powers given to

each are delicately balanced by the powers of the other two. Each branch serves as a check on potential

excesses of the others.

宪法与根据宪法条款通过的法律以及由总统签署并由参议院批准的条约的效力高于所有其他法律和行政法规。

The Constitution, together with laws properly passed according to its provisions, and treaties entered into by

the President and approved by the Senate, stands above all other laws, executive acts and regulations.

所有的人在法律面前都是平等的并有权获得平等的法律保护。所有的州都是平等的，任何州都不能获得联邦政

府的特别待遇。

All men are equal before the law and are equally entitled to its protection. All states are equal, and none can

receive special treatment from the federal government.

在宪法的范围内，各州必须承认和尊重其他州的法律。

Within the limits of the Constitution, each state must recognize and respect the laws of the others.

各州政府在形式上必须与联邦政府一样采取共和体制，最终权力归于人民。

State governments, like the federal government, must be republican in form, with final authority resting in the

people.

人民有权利利用宪法规定的合法手段改变其政府的体制。

The people have the right to change their form of government by legal means defined in the Constitution itself.

第三部分 修正案条款

宪法的起草者非常清楚，如果宪法要能够持久并与国家的发展保持同步，有时就需要修改。他们还意识到修改

宪法的程序不能太容易，从而可能产生构想拙劣的和草率通过的修正案。由于同样的原因，他们希望确保少数

人不能够阻止大多数人所希望的（修宪）行为。

The authors of the Constitution were keenly aware that changes would be needed from time to time if the

Constitution were to endure and keep pace with the growth of the nation. They were also conscious that the

process of change should not be facile, permitting ill-conceived and hastily passed amendments. By the same

token, they wanted to assure that a minority could not block action desired by most of the people.

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