美国学生历史 第67期:制定宪法(7)

 　　190. The First Ten Amendments¹. 190．前十条例正案

　　These defects seemed to be so grave that patriots² like Patrick Henry, R.H. Lee, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock could not bring themselves to vote for its adoption³. 这些缺陷看起来非常严重，像帕特里克o亨利、R.H.李、萨缪尔o亚当斯和约翰o汉考克他们这样的爱国者自己都不愿意投票通过宪法，

　　Conventions of delegates were elected by the people of the several states to ratify⁴ or to reject the Constitution. 几个州的人选出代表开会以修正或放弃想法，

　　The excitement was intense. It seemed as if the Constitution would not be adopted. 辩论非常激烈，似乎宪法不可能被通过。

　　But a way was found out of the difficulty. 但是，人们找到解决问题的一个方法。

　　It was suggested that the conventions should consent to the adoption of the Constitution, 有人提议通过宪法，

　　but should, at the same time, propose amendments which would do away with many of these objections. 但是要在通过的同时提出对宪法的修正，这些修正将处理多数反对意见。

　　This was done. The first Congress under the Constitution and the state legislatures adopted most of these amendments, and they became a part of the Constitution. 他们按照这个方法做了。按照宪法召开的第一次国会和州立法机关通过了大部分修正，这些修正成为《宪法》的一部分，

　　There were ten amendments in all, and they should be studied as carefully as the Constitution itself is studied. 总共有十处修正，应该如同对待宪法一样认真地学习这十处修正。

　　191. The Constitution Adopted, 1787-88. 191．通过《宪法》（1787~1788年）

　　In June, 1788, New Hampshire and Virginia adopted the Constitution. 1788年6月新罕布什尔州和弗吉尼亚州通过了《宪法》，

　　They were the ninth and tenth states to take this action. 他们是第九和第十个通过《宪法》的州。

　　The Constitution provided that it should go into effect when it should be adopted by nine states,  《宪法》规定，当有九个州通过《宪法》时《宪法》就应该生效，

　　that is, of course, it should go into effect only between those states. 当然，这就是说它只是在这些州之间生效。

　　Preparations were now made for the organization of the new government. 此时人们准备组成新的政府，

　　But this took some time. Washington was unanimously elected President, and was inaugurated in April, 1789. 但这花费了一些时间。华盛顿是一致选举出的总统，他于1789年4月宣誓就职，

　　By that time North Carolina and Rhode Island were the only states which had not adopted the Constitution and come under the "New Roof," as it was called. 当时只有北卡罗莱纳州和罗得岛还没有通过宪法，它们还没有来到这个"新屋檐下"。

　　In a year or two they adopted it also, and the Union of the thirteen original states was complete. 一两年后这两个州也通过了宪法，最初十三个州的联邦完成了。

1 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

2 patriots   

爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Abraham Lincoln was a fine type of the American patriots. 亚伯拉罕·林肯是美国爱国者的优秀典型。
• These patriots would fight to death before they surrendered. 这些爱国者宁愿战斗到死，也不愿投降。

3 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

4 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。