who has the authority to make laws

誰有權力制訂法律

or punish people who break them?

或懲罰那些違法的人呢？

When we think of power in the United States,

當提到美國的政治權力

we usually think of the President,

我們大都想到美國總統

but he does not act alone.

但他不是唯一的執行者

In fact, he is only one piece of the power puzzle

事實上，他只是權力拼圖中的 一小塊而已

and for very good reason.

而這背後是有原因的

When the American Revolution ended in 1783,

當美國獨立革命於 1783 年結束時

the United States government was in a state of change.

當時的政府致力於改變

The founding fathers knew

開國元勳很清楚

that they did not want to establish another country

他們不想建立另一個

that was ruled by a king,

由國王統治的國家

so the discussions were centered on

因此討論都聚焦於

having a strong and fair national government

建立一個強大、公正的政府

that protected individual freedoms

不但要保障個人自由

and did not abuse its power.

也要避免權力的濫用

When the new constitution was adopted in 1787,

當新憲法於 1787 年實施時

the structure of the infant government of the United States

還在嬰兒期的美國政府架構

called for three separate branches,

已包含三個不同的部門

each with their own powers,

各有屬於自己的權力

and a system of checks and balances.

以及分權制衡的系統

This would ensure that no one branch

以確保沒有一個部門的權力

would ever become too powerful

會變得太大

because the other branches would always be able

因為每個部門總是能夠

to check the power of the other two.

制衡其他兩個部門的權力

These branches work together to run the country

這三個部門合作以維持國家運作

and set guidelines for us all to live by.

並制定人民應遵循的規則

The legislative branch is described in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

立法權記載於美國憲法第一條

Many people feel that the founding fathers

許多人認為開國元勳

put this branch in the document first

將立法權放在憲法的第一條

because they thought it was the most important.

是因為他們認為立法權最重要

The legislative branch is comprised of

美國的立法權是由

100 U.S. Senators

100 位參議員

and 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

以及 435 位眾議員組成

This is better known as the U.S. Congress.

統稱美國國會

Making laws is the primary function of the legislative branch,

制訂法律是立法部門的主要功能

but it is also responsible for

但它也負責

approving federal judges and justices,

任免聯邦法院法官、

passing the national budget,

通過國家預算、

and declaring war.

以及宣戰

Each state gets two Senators

每州能選出兩位參議員

and some number of Representatives,

並根據各州人口數

depending on how many people live in that state.

選出數名眾議員

The executive branch is described in Article 2 of the Constitution.

行政權記載於美國憲法第二條

The leaders of this branch of government

行政權的領導者

are the President and Vice President,

是總統及副總統

who are responsible for enforcing the laws

負責執行

that Congress sets forth.

由國會制訂的法律

The President works closely with a group of advisors,

總統和一群顧問合作

known as the Cabinet.

也就是內閣

These appointed helpers assist the President

內閣協助總統

in making important decisions within their area of expertise,

在各自的專業領域做出重大決策

such as defense,

例如國防、

the treasury,

財政、

and homeland security.

和國土安全

The executive branch also appoints government officials,

行政部門也任命部會首長、

commands the armed forces,

統帥三軍、

and meets with leaders of other nations.

並和其他國家的元首會面

All that combined is a lot of work for a lot of people.

這麼多工作需要很多人才能完成

In fact, the executive branch employs

事實上，行政部門總共雇用了

over 4 million people to get everything done.

超過 400 萬名員工

The third brand of the U.S. government is the judicial branch

第三個部門是司法權

and is detailed in Article 3.

記載於憲法第三條

This branch is comprised of all the courts in the land,

司法部門由國內所有法院組成

from the federal district courts

從地方法院，到最高法院

to the U.S. Supreme Court.

都包含其中

These courts interpret our nation's laws

法院負責詮釋國家的法律

and punish those who break them.

並處罰違法者

The highest court, the Supreme Court,

層級最高的，也就是最高法院

settles disputes among states,

負責調解各州間的紛爭、

hears appeals from state and federal courts,

審理地方法院和聯邦法院的上訴、

and determines if federal laws are constitutional.

並判斷聯邦法律是否符合憲法

There are nine justices on the Supreme Court,

最高法院由 9 名大法官組成

and, unlike any other job in our government,

和政府機關中其他職位不同

Supreme Court justices are appointed for life,

大法官為終身職

or for as long as they want to stay.

他們想當多久就當多久

Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry,

美國民主奠基於有素養的公民

so it is our duty to know how it works

因此我們有義務了解政府的運作

and what authority each branch of government has

以及政府各部門

over its citizens.

擁有的權力

Besides voting,

除了投票

chances are that some time in your life

或許人生中

you'll be called upon to participate in your government,

你會被要求參與政府的公共事務

whether it is to serve on a jury,

不論是擔任陪審團、

testify in court,

出庭作證、

or petition your Congress person

或向所屬選區的議員請願

to pass or defeat an idea for a law.

以通過或駁回某個法案

By knowning the branches,

藉由了解各部門

who runs them,

了解誰負責管理

and how they work together,

以及它們如何互相合作

you can be involved,

你可以增加參與、

informed,

提升素養、

and intelligent.

進而更有智慧