VOA标准英语2013--American History Series: The Heart and Soul of the Constitution

 

American History Series: The Heart and Soul of the Constitution

From VOA Learning English, welcome to THE MAKING OF A NATION – American history in Special English. I’m Steve Ember.

This week in our series, we continue with the history of the United States Constitution. The Constitution became law once nine of America's 13 original states ratified¹ it. The Continental² Congress set a date for the new plan of government to take effect: the first Wednesday in March of 1789.

In 1789, the population of the United States was about four million. The 13 states had been loosely united for a short time, only about 10 years. Before that, they were separate colonies of Britain.

Because the colonies were separate, they developed different ways of life, different economies, different traditions.

Americans were fiercely independent. But the crisis of the American Revolution brought them together.

Together, they celebrated³ the Fourth of July, the day in 1776 when America declared its independence from Britain. Together, they fought British troops to make that declaration a political reality. And together they joined under the Latin phrase "e pluribus unum" -- one out of many.

Yet they did not really consider themselves a national people. When the war ended, the soldiers returned to their home states. They still thought of themselves first as New Yorkers, or Virginians, or Marylanders.

Americans of 1789 were sharply divided on the need for a national government. Many were afraid the new government would not survive. They feared the anarchy⁴ that would result if it failed. Others hoped it would fail. They wanted strong state governments, not a strong central government.

Also, in 1789, the American economy was improving after the destruction caused by the Revolutionary War. Agriculture, trade and shipbuilding were coming back to life. Roads, bridges and canals were being built.

The country's economy still had many problems, however. Two major issues had to be settled. One was the repayment⁵ of loans made to support the Revolutionary Army. The other was the creation of a national monetary⁶ system. Both issues needed quick action.

And before the new government could act, the old government still had work to do on other issues, like the question of a capital.

At the time the states approved the Constitution, the Continental Congress was meeting in New York City. And that was where the Congress decided⁷ to place the new government. Later, the capital would be moved to Philadelphia for a while. Finally, it would be established in Washington, DC, the District of Columbia.

Next, members of the Continental Congress had to decide when the states would choose a president. They agreed to March 4, 1789, the same day the Constitution would go into effect.

The states that ratified the Constitution chose electors to vote for a president. The result was not a surprise. They chose the hero of the Revolutionary War: George Washington. No one opposed the choice—except, perhaps, for George Washington himself.

Here are actors having an imaginary conversation between James Madison and George Washington. Madison is trying to persuade Washington that he should be the new nation’s first president.

“Oh sir, it must be you who serves as president. It is your influence that unites the states.”

 “I can tell you honestly I do not want the honor. I am very much aware of my deficient⁸ education and the ten thousand embarrassments⁹ it will cause me in office. I would hope they could find a younger man.  I want nothing more but to return to Mount Vernon and tend to my farming.”

“But, sir, if your country should need you?”

"If called I will serve.”

Washington learned of his election while at Mount Vernon, his home in Virginia. He left for New York where he was inaugurated on April 13.

Members of the new Congress were also elected on March 4.

One of the first things the Congress did was to re-open debate on the Constitution itself. Several states had set a condition for approving the document. They said a Bill of Rights, listing the rights of all citizens, must be added to the Constitution.

Yale Law School professor Akhil Reed Amar says one of the most important parts of the Bill of Rights is its source -- the people.

 “In effect, it’s crowd-sourced. And we the people actually say, where are the rights? And we get this Bill of Rights because of that conversation.”  

To many Americans, the Bill of Rights represents the heart and soul of the Constitution. Supreme¹⁰ Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said that when he reads the document, he gets chills.

“There was always this underlying¹¹ belief that we were entitled to be a full participant in ‘We the people.’”

Just what is this Bill of Rights and what does it say?

The "Bill of Rights" is the name for the first 10 amendments¹³ to the Constitution.

The First Amendment¹² deals with freedom of expression -- including, as Justice Clarence Thomas points out, freedom of religion.

“Your First Amendment is, what, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.  In other words, stay out of it. Leave people alone when it comes to their religion.”

The First Amendment guarantees that religion and government will be separate. Congress cannot establish an official religion or interfere¹⁴ in the people's right to worship as they choose.

The First Amendment also protects other rights. Here is the full text:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging¹⁵ the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress¹⁶ of grievances¹⁷."

In other words, people have a right to gather peacefully and to make demands of the government.

Constitutional law expert Akhil Reed Amar says the idea of free expression can be found throughout the Bill of Rights.

“And even before there’s the text of freedom of speech, there’s the practice of freedom of speech. Five times the Bill of Rights uses the same phrase — “the people.” In the first and the second, and the fourth and the ninth, and the tenth amendments.”

Mr. Amar says he believes the Bill of Rights says “the people” so often because the document comes from the people.

The Second Amendment deals with guns. Here is what it says: "A well regulated Militia¹⁸, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed¹⁹."

The Third Amendment says people may not be forced to let soldiers stay in their homes during peacetime.

The next five amendments protect peoples' rights in the justice system.

The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable²⁰ searches and seizures²¹. It bars courts from approving warrants unless there is probable cause. And it says warrants should describe the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The Fifth Amendment says people should not be tried for the most serious crimes unless a grand jury has first examined the evidence. It also bars people from being tried twice for the same offense²².  And it says people cannot be forced to give evidence against themselves.

The Fifth Amendment also says no one can lose their freedom, property or life "without due process of law." And it says the government cannot take people's property for public use without paying them a fair price.

The Sixth Amendment says people accused of crimes have the right to a fair and speedy public trial by a jury. The aim is to guarantee that people are not kept in prison for a long time unless a jury has found them guilty of a crime.

The Sixth Amendment also guarantees the right of the accused to be defended by a lawyer. It says they must be informed of the nature and cause of the charges against them. And it says they have the right to face and question their accusers.

The Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases. The Eighth Amendment bars "cruel and unusual punishments."

The Ninth Amendment provides protection for other rights not stated directly in the Constitution. And the Tenth Amendment says any powers not delegated to the national government belong to the states or to the people. The exceptions are any powers that the Constitution prohibits states from having. 

So these first ten amendments make up the Bills of Rights. Later, says law professor Akhil Reed Amar, more amendments were added to the Constitution.

“As good as the founding was, the system kept getting better and better. We made amends²³ for some of the flaws of the founders²⁴ through a series of amendments, and that process continues today.”  

The Bill of Rights and the other changes that came later helped decrease the power of the federal government.

“These amendments that — Prohibition²⁵ aside — generally tend to expand liberty and equality, which is pretty striking that in general the amendments do that, and they don’t take us back.”

Because these amendments limited the powers of the federal government, many anti-Federalists ended their opposition²⁶ to the new government. Many agreed to help with the job of building the new nation.

In all, 11 of the 13 states approved the Constitution before Washington was inaugurated as president. The last two states -- North Carolina and Rhode Island -- ratified it afterward²⁷.

President Washington wanted the best men -- Federalist or anti-Federalist -- to be in his administration. The new nation needed strong leadership, and George Washington provided it. That will be our story next time.

I'm Steve Ember, inviting²⁸ you to join us again for THE MAKING OF A NATION -- American history in VOA Special English.

1 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

2 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

5 repayment   

n.偿还，偿还款；报酬

参考例句：

• I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
• The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。

6 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

9 embarrassments   

n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事

参考例句：

• But there have been many embarrassments along the way. 但是一路走来已经是窘境不断。 来自互联网
• The embarrassments don't stop there. 让人难受的事情还没完。 来自互联网

10 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

11 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

12 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

13 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。

14 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

15 abridging   

节略( abridge的现在分词 )； 减少； 缩短； 剥夺（某人的）权利（或特权等）

参考例句：

• He's currently abridging his book. 他正在对他的书进行删节。
• First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech." （美国宪法）第一修正案规定议会不应该通过减损（公民）言论自由的法律。

16 redress   

n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除

参考例句：

• He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.他尽了一切努力革除弊端。
• Any man deserves redress if he has been injured unfairly.任何人若蒙受不公平的损害都应获得赔偿。

17 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

19 infringed   

v.违反（规章等）( infringe的过去式和过去分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等）

参考例句：

• Wherever the troops went, they never infringed on the people's interests. 大军过处，秋毫无犯。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He was arrested on a charge of having infringed the Election Law. 他因被指控触犯选举法而被拘捕。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

21 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

22 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

23 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

24 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

25 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

26 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

27 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

28 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。