芭芭拉乔丹对弹劾的文章声明(英文版).doc

芭芭拉乔丹对弹劾的文章声明(英文版).doc

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BarbaraCharlineJordan

StatementontheArticlesofImpeachment

delivered25July1974,HouseJudiciaryCommittee

Thankyou,Mr.Chairman.

Mr.Chairman,IjoinmycolleagueMr.Rangelinthankingyouforgivingthejuniormembersofthiscommitteethegloriousopportunityofsharingthepainofthisinquiry.Mr.Chairman,youareastrongman,andithasnotbeeneasybutwehavetriedasbestwecantogiveyouasmuchassistanceaspossible.

Earliertoday,weheardthebeginningofthePreambletotheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates:

"We,thepeople."It'saveryeloquentbeginning.ButwhenthatdocumentwascompletedontheseventeenthofSeptemberin1787,Iwasnotincludedinthat"We,thepeople."IfeltsomehowformanyyearsthatGeorgeWashingtonandAlexanderHamiltonjustleftmeoutbymistake.Butthroughtheprocessofamendment,interpretation,andcourtdecision,Ihavefinallybeenincludedin"We,thepeople."

TodayIamaninquisitor.AnhyperbolewouldnotbefictionalandwouldnotoverstatethesolemnnessthatIfeelrightnow.MyfaithintheConstitutioniswhole;itiscomplete;itistotal.AndIamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion,thedestruction,oftheConstitution.

"Whocansoproperlybetheinquisitorsforthenationastherepresentativesofthenationthemselves?

""Thesubjectsofitsjurisdictionarethoseoffenseswhichproceedfromthemisconductofpublicmen."鹿Andthat'swhatwe'retalkingabout.Inotherwords,[thejurisdictioncomes]fromtheabuseorviolationofsomepublictrust.

Itiswrong,Isuggest,itisamisreadingoftheConstitutionforanymemberheretoassertthatforamembertovoteforanarticleofimpeachmentmeansthatthatmembermustbeconvincedthatthePresidentshouldberemovedfromoffice.TheConstitutiondoesn'tsaythat.Thepowersrelatingtoimpeachmentareanessentialcheckinthehandsofthebodyofthelegislatureagainstandupontheencroachmentsoftheexecutive.Thedivisionbetweenthetwobranchesofthelegislature,theHouseandtheSenate,assigningtotheonetherighttoaccuseandtotheothertherighttojudge,theframersofthisConstitutionwereveryastute.Theydidnotmaketheaccusersandthejudgers--andthejudgesthesameperson.

Weknowthenatureofimpeachment.We'vebeentalkingaboutitawhilenow.ItischieflydesignedforthePresidentandhishighministerstosomehowbecalledintoaccount.Itisdesignedto"bridle"theexecutiveifheengagesinexcesses."Itisdesignedasamethodofnationalinquestintotheconductofpublicmen."虏TheframersconfidedintheCongressthepowerifneedbe,toremovethePresidentinordertostrikeadelicatebalancebetweenaPresidentswollenwithpowerandgrowntyrannical,andpreservationoftheindependenceoftheexecutive.

Thenatureofimpeachment:

anarrowlychanneledexceptiontotheseparation-of-powersmaxim.聽TheFederalConventionof1787saidthat.Itlimitedimpeachmenttohighcrimesandmisdemeanorsanddiscountedandopposedtheterm"maladministration.""Itistobeusedonlyforgreatmisdemeanors,"soitwassaidintheNorthCarolinaratificationconvention.AndintheVirginiaratificationconvention:

"Wedonottrustourlibertytoaparticularbranch.Weneedonebranchtochecktheother."

"Nooneneedbeafraid"--theNorthCarolinaratificationconvention--"Nooneneedbeafraidthatofficerswhocommitoppressionwillpasswithimmunity.""Prosecutionsofimpeachmentswillseldomfailtoagitatethepassionsofthewholecommunity,"saidHamiltonintheFederalistPapers,number65."Wedivideintopartiesmoreorlessfriendlyorinimicaltotheaccused."鲁Idonotmeanpoliticalpartiesinthatsense.

Thedrawingofpoliticallinesgoestothemotivationbehindimpeachment;butimpeachmentmustproceedwithintheconfinesoftheconstitutionalterm"highcrime[s]andmisdemeanors."Oftheimpeachmentprocess,itwasWoodrowWilsonwhosaidthat"Nothingshortofthegrossestoffensesagainsttheplainlawofthelandwillsufficetogivethemspeedandeffectiveness.Indignationsogreatastoovergrowpartyinterestmaysecureaconviction;butnothingelsecan."

Commonsensewouldberevoltedifweengageduponthisprocessforpettyreasons.Congresshasalottodo:

Appropriations,TaxReform,HealthInsurance,CampaignFinanceReform,Housing,EnvironmentalProtection,EnergySufficiency,MassTransportation.Pettinesscannotbeallowedtostandinthefaceofsuchoverwhelmingproblems.Sotodaywearenotbeingpetty.Wearetryingtobebig,becausethetaskwehavebeforeusisabigone.

Thismorning,inadiscussionoftheevidence,weweretoldthattheevidencewhichpurportstosupporttheallegationsofmisuseoftheCIAbythePresidentisthin.We'retoldthatthatevidenceisinsufficient.Whatthatrecitaloftheevidencethismor