美国宪法英文.docx

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