美国宪法英文.docx
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美国宪法英文.docx
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美国宪法英文
ConstitutionoftheUnitedStates(1787)
GeorgeWashington(holdingtheConstitution)presidedatthePhiladelphiaconventionwherethehistoricdocumentwasdrafted;BenjaminFranklin,Theconvention'soldestmember,isseatedsecondfromleft.
Bythemid-1780s,theweaknessesoftheArticlesofConfederationhadbecomecleartomanyobservers.IntheirreactiontowhattheyconsideredtheauthoritariangovernmentofGeorgeIII,theframersoftheArticleshaddeliberatelycreatedaweakgovernment,althoughtheybelievedthatithadsufficientpowerstogovern.Thatassumptionprovedfalse.Amongitsotherdefects,theArticlesofConfederationgavetheCongressnopowertotaxortoregulatecommerceamongthestates,itlackedbothexecutiveandjudicialbranches,andamendingtheArticlesrequiredunanimityofallthestates.
JamesMadisonofVirginia,workingwiththeblessingofGeorgeWashington,ledthedrivetogetCongresstocallaconventionfortheexpresspurposeofrevisingtheArticlesofConfederation.ButoncethedelegateshadgatheredinPhiladelphiainthesummerof1787,theytookthebitintheirteethanddecidedtodraftanentirelynewdocument,onethatwouldmeetwhattheyperceivedtobethecurrentandfutureneedsofthecountry.
GovernmentundertheConstitutionremainedfederalinnature,thatis,powerwassharedbetweenthestatesandthenationalgovernment.ButwhereundertheArticlesthestateshadbeenthedominantforce,undertheConstitutionthenationalgovernmentwouldbesupreme.Theframerssawbothstateandnationalgovernmentsasactiveparticipantsinthepoliticalprocess.
OneofthekeyfeaturesintheConstitution,andonethatwouldbecomeacriticalfactorinthenineteenthcentury,isthatthesourceofsovereignty,thesourceoftheauthorityforthedocument,isthecitizenry."WethePeopleoftheUnitedStates"ordainandestablishtheConstitution.ThisisadirectlinktotheDeclarationofIndependence,whichdeclaredthatgovernmentsderivetheirlegitimacyfromtheconsentofthegoverned.
PerhapsthemoststrikingfeatureoftheConstitutionwashowextensivelyitimplementedtheprevailingnotionsofseparationofpowers.Clearlinesdividedthelegislative,executiveandjudicialbranches.InasharpdeparturefromtheirexperienceundertheArticles,theframersputagreatdealofpowerinthehandsofthepresident.Atthesametime,asystemofchecksandbalancesensuredthatnoonebranchofthegovernmentwoulddominatetheothers.
InthedebateoverratificationoftheConstitutionthattookplaceinthefallandwinterof1787-88,proponentsofthenewdocument--calledFederalists--claimedthatnotonlywoulditremedythedefectsoftheArticlesofConfederation,butitwouldprovideastrongyetlimitedgovernmentthatwouldensurethepeaceandsecurityofthenewnation.ThoseopposedtotheConstitution--knownasAnti-Federalists--operatedatadisadvantage,becausetheyrecognizedandadmittedthatthegovernmentundertheArticleshadnotbeenasuccess.Theydid,however,demandthatasapriceofratificationabillofrightsshouldbeadded.TheFederalistsbelievedthatnosuchlistingwasnecessary,becauseasagovernmentoflimitedpowers,thenewgovernmentwouldhavenoauthoritytoinvadetherightsofthecitizens.ButasThomasJeffersonexplainedtoJamesMadison,"Abillofrightsiswhatthepeopleareentitledtoagainsteverygovernmentonearth,generalorparticular,andwhatnojustgovernmentshouldrefuse,orrestuponinferences."
WiththeratificationoftheConstitution,thenewgovernmentmetinthespringof1789,andCongressimmediatelyadoptedandsenttothestatesaseriesofproposedamendments.Thestatesratifiedtenofthemby1791,andthesehavesincebeenknownastheBillofRights.Otheramendmentshavefollowed,afewofthemprimarilytechnicalinnature,butforthemostparttheyhaveexpandedthedemocraticnatureofAmericansociety--byabolishingslavery,wideningthesuffrageormakinggovernmentmoreresponsivetothepeople,asinthedirectelectionofsenators.
TheConstitutionhasservedthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesadmirablyforover200years,inpartbecausetheframerswerewiseenoughtorecognizethattheycouldnotforeseeeveryproblem.Thosewhofollowedthemthushadtheabilitytotakethedocumentandadaptittonewneedsandnewconditions.
Forfurtherreading:
MichaelKammen,ed.,TheOriginsoftheAmericanConstitution:
ADocumentaryHistory(1986);ForrestMcDonald,NovusOrdoSeclorum:
TheIntellectualOriginsoftheConstitution(1985);ClintonRossiter,1787:
TheGrandConvention(1966);ClintonRossiter,ed.,TheFederalistPapers(1961).
ConstitutionoftheUnitedStates
WethePeopleoftheUnitedStates,inOrdertoformamoreperfectUnion,establishJustice,insuredomesticTranquility,provideforthecommondefence,promotethegeneralWelfare,andsecuretheBlessingsofLibertytoourselvesandourPosterity,doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Article1
Section1.AlllegislativePowershereingrantedshallbevestedinaCongressoftheUnitedStates,whichshallconsistofaSenateandHouseofRepresentatives.
Section2.TheHouseofRepresentativesshallbecomposedofMemberschoseneverysecondYearbythePeopleoftheseveralStates,andtheElectorsineachStateshallhavetheQualificationsrequisiteforElectorsofthemostnumerousBranchoftheStateLegislature.
NoPersonshallbeaRepresentativewhoshallnothaveattainedtotheAgeoftwentyfiveYears,andbeensevenYearsaCitizenoftheUnitedStates,andwhoshallnot,whenelected,beanInhabitantofthatStateinwhichheshallbechosen.
RepresentativesanddirectTaxesshallbeapportionedamongtheseveralStateswhichmaybeincludedwithinthisUnion,accordingtotheirrespectiveNumbers,whichshallbedeterminedbyaddingtothewholeNumberoffreePersons,includingthoseboundtoServiceforaTermofYears,andexcludingIndiansnottaxed,threefifthsofallotherPersons.TheactualEnumerationshallbemadewithinthreeYearsafterthefirstMeetingoftheCongressoftheUnitedStates,andwithineverysubsequentTermoftenYears,insuchMannerastheyshallbyLawdirect.TheNumberofRepresentativesshallnotexceedoneforeverythirtyThousand,buteachStateshallhaveatLeastoneRepresentative;anduntilsuchenumerationshallbemade,theStateofNewHampshireshallbeentitledtochusethree,Massachusettseight,RhodeIslandandProvidencePlantationsone,Connecticutfive,New-Yorksix,NewJerseyfour,Pennsylvaniaeight,Delawareone,Marylandsix,Virginiaten,NorthCarolinafive,SouthCarolinafive,andGeorgiathree.
WhenvacancieshappenintheRepresentationfromanyState,theExecutiveAuthoritythereofshallissueWritsofElectiontofillsuchVacancies.
TheHouseofRepresentativesshallchusetheirSpeakerandotherOfficers;andshallhavethesolePowerofImpeachment.
Section3.TheSenateoftheUnitedStatesshallbecomposedoftwoSenatorsfromeachState,chosenbytheLegislaturethereof,forsixYears;andeachSenatorshallhaveoneVote.
ImmediatelyaftertheyshallbeassembledinConsequenceofthefirstElection,theyshallbedividedasequallyasmaybeintothreeClasses.TheSeatsoftheSenatorsofthefirstClassshallbevacatedattheExpirationofthesecondYear,ofthesecondClassattheExpirationofthefourthYear,andofthethirdClassattheExpirationofthesixthYear,sothatonethirdmaybechoseneverysecondYear;andifVacancieshappenbyResignation,orotherwise,duringtheRecessoftheLegislatureofanyState,theExecutivethereofmaymaketemporaryAppointmentsuntilthenextMeetingoftheLegislature,whichshallthenfillsuchVacancies.
NoPersonshallbeaSenatorwhoshallnothaveattainedtotheAgeofthirtyYears,andbeennineYearsaCitizenoftheUnitedStates,andwhoshallnot,whenelected,beanInhabitantofthatStateforwhichheshallbechosen.
TheVicePresidentoftheUnitedStatesshallbePresidentoftheSenate,butshallhavenoVote,unlesstheybeequallydivided.
TheSenateshallchusetheirotherOfficers,andalsoaPresidentprotempore,intheAbsenceoftheVicePresident,orwhenheshallexercisetheOfficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStates.
TheSenateshallhavethesolePowertotryallImpeachments.WhensittingforthatPurpose,theyshallbeonOathorAffirmation.WhenthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesistriedtheChiefJusticeshallpreside:
AndnoPersonshallbeconvictedwithouttheConcurrenceoftwothirdsoftheMemberspresent.
JudgmentinCasesofImpeachmentshallnotextendfurtherthantoremovalfromOffice,anddisqualificationtoholdandenjoyanyOfficeofhonor,TrustorProfitundertheUnitedStates:
butthePartyconvictedshallneverthelessbeliableandsubjecttoIndictment,Trial,JudgmentandPunishment,accordingtoLaw.
Section4.TheTimes,PlacesandMannerofholdingElectionsforSenatorsandRepresentatives,shallbeprescribedineachStatebytheLegislaturethereof;buttheCongressmayatanytimebyLawmakeoraltersuchRegulations,exceptastothePlacesofchusingSenators.
TheCongressshallassembleatleastonceineveryYear,andsuchMeetingshallbeonthefirstMondayinDecember,unlesstheyshallbyLawappointadifferentDay.
Section5.EachHouseshallbetheJudgeoftheElections,ReturnsandQualificationsofitsownMembers,andaMajorityofeachshallconstituteaQuorumtodoBusiness;butasmallerNumbermayadjournfromdaytoday,andmaybeauthorizedtocompeltheAttendanceofabsentMembers,insuchManner,andundersuchPenaltiesaseach
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