Constitution 宪法

Part One：The Constitution as Supreme Law
第一部分：宪法—最高的法
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.
美国宪法，一份相对简单的文件，却自我确认为是“这个国家最高的法律”。

这一条款的意思被认为是，当州宪法或由州立法机构或美国国会通过的法律被发现与联邦宪法相抵触时，它们便无效。

两百年来美国联邦最高法院所审理的判例已确认且强调了这个宪法至上原则。

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.
最高的权利是属于美国人民的，如果愿意他们可以改变根本法，即通过修改宪法，或者—至少在理论上—可制定一个新宪法。

然而人民的权力并不是直接行使的。

日常的政府事务由人民授权给通过选举或任命产生的公共官员来行使。

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.
公共官员的权力是有限的。

他们行使公共职权必须遵守宪法以及根据宪法所制定的法律。

选举产生的官员必须定期的间隔接受再选举，在这段时期他们的过去的服务要接受集中的公共检查。

被任命的官员按照任命他们的个人或机构的意愿行事，如果他们的作为不够令人满意则可能被免职。

在这一的问题上例外是由总统对最高法院的大法官和其他的联邦法官的终身性委任。

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:
通常，美国人民表达通过投票选举来表达其意愿。

然而，宪法也确实规定了公共官员免职的情况，在其严重失职或渎职时可通过弹劾程序来罢免。

宪法第二条第4款规定：
"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."
“美国的总统、副总统和所有的公务员，因叛国罪、贿赂罪或其他重罪和轻罪而被弹劾并被认定有罪的，应予免职。

”
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.
在这种情况下，众议院必须先通过弹劾的提案。

然后由参议院来审判公共官员，并由美国最高法院的首席大法官主持审判。

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 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.
在美国弹劾被认为是一个非常严厉的措施。

在过去的两百年中，仅有十三个美国官员被弹劾过，包括有：九个法官，一个最高法院的助理大法官，一个国防部长，一个参议员和一个总统，安德鲁·约翰逊。

（在另一位总统，即理查德·尼克松的案件中，虽然众议院司法委员会建议弹劾，但是总统在众议院投票前辞职了。

）在这十三个弹劾案中，也仅有四个法官被认为有罪并被免职。

各州的官员根据其相应的立法规定，也同样的可被弹劾。

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.
除了阐释了一般的政治观念之外，宪法还为政府体制设计好了蓝图。

宪法的三个主要条文规定了国家政府机构的中三个机关—立法机关、行政机关和司法机关—每个机关有其具体的职责和责任。

（联邦宪法）相当详尽的列出了立法机关可以制定法律的事项，尽管多年来的司法判决已扩展了国会（立法）活动的范围。

作为行政机关的长官--总统的权力和职责也在（宪法）中有规定。

（宪法）也大致规定了联邦法院系统，并规定了其与政府的其他机关的关系。

Part Two：The Principles of Government
第二部分：政府的原则
Although the Constitution has changed in many aspects since it was first adopted, its basic principles remain the same now as in 1789:
尽管自从宪法实施后在很多方面都已作修改，但其基本的原则一如1789时一样至今仍没有改变：
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.
政府中的三个主要的部门彼此独立且互不相同。

每一个部门被授予的权力都可与其他两个部门的权力达到微妙的平衡。

每一部门都作为对其他部门可能滥用职权的制约。

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.
宪法，和根据宪法所制定法律，以及经议会批准总统所签署的条约的效力高于其他的法律、行政法令和条例。

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.
法律面前人人平等且每个人都受到法律的平等保护。

所有的州都是平等的，任何一州都不得从联邦政府得到特殊待遇。

Within the limits of the Constitution, each state must recognize and respect the laws of the others.
在宪法所规定的范围的，每个州都应认可且尊重其他州的法律。

State governments, like the federal government, must be republican in form, with final authority resting in the people.
州政府，像联邦政府一样，形式上都必须是共和制，最终权力归于人民。

The people have the right to change their form of government by legal means defined in the Constitution itself.
人民有权通过宪法自身所规定的法律方式来改变其政府形式。

Part Three: Provisions for Amendment
第三部分：修正案条款
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.
宪法的起草者非常清楚，如果宪法要能够持久存在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应太容易，不应允许设计不周和仓促通过的修正案出现。

基于同样的原因（或理由），他们还要确保一少部分人不能阻止大部分人希望通过的法案。

Their solution was to devise a dual process by which the Constitution could be changed. The Congress, by a two-thirds vote in each house, may initiate an amendment. Or the legislatures of two-thirds of the states may ask Congress to call a national convention to discuss and draft amendments. In either case, amendments must have the approval of three-fourths of the states before they enter into force.
他们的解决方案是设计一个可以修宪的双轨程序。

国会参、众两院都以三分之二多数票通过可以提出修宪。

或者三分之二的州的立法机关可以请求国会召开修宪大会来讨论和修改宪法。

在这两种情况下，宪法修正案都必须经过四分之三州的同意后方可生效。

Aside from the direct process of changing the Constitution itself, the effect of its provisions may be changed by judicial interpretation. Early in the history of the republic, in the landmark case of Marbury vs. Madison, the Supreme Court established the doctrine of judicial review, which is the power of the Court to interpret acts of Congress and decide their constitutionality. The doctrine also embraces the power of the Court to explain the meaning of various sections of the Constitution as they apply to changing legal, political, economic and social conditions. Over the years, a series of Court decisions, on issues ranging from governmental regulation of radio and television to the rights of the accused in criminal cases, has had the effect of altering the thrust of constitutional law, with no substantive change in the Constitution itself.
除了直接程序可改变宪法本身外，其条文的效力也可通过司法解释来改变。

在共和国早期，在具有里程碑意义的马伯里诉麦迪逊案中，联邦最高法院确立了司法审查原则，即由法院来行使解释国会法案的权力并确定其是否合宪。

多年以来，法院的一系列判决，所涉事项从关于广播和电视的政法法规到刑事案件中被告的权利，都有改变宪法指向的效果，但并未有宪法本身的实质变化。

Congressional legislation, passed to implement provisions of the basic law, or to adapt it to changing conditions, also broadens and, in subtle ways, changes the meaning of the Constitution. Up to a point, the rules and regulations of the myriad agencies of the federal government may have a similar effect. The acid test in both cases is whether, in the opinion of the courts, such legislation and rules are in conformity with the intent and purposes of the Constitution itself.
国会立法，或是因实施基本法条例而颁布的，或是使其更适应变化的情况而颁布的，都以一种微妙的方式扩展或改变了宪法的意义。

在某种程度上，联邦政府的各种机构所发布的规章也有类似的效果。

两种情况的严格检验（标准）是，按照法院的意见，这个立法或规章是否与宪法本身的意图和目的一致。