2.What does the Constitution do?
2.宪法的作用是什么？
Answer: It sets up the government; It defines the government; It protects the basic rights of Americans
答案：宪法组建了政府；宪法界定了政府；宪法保护美国人的基本权利!rsP0vL-R-4。
Explanation: The United States would be a very different country if it did not have the U.S. Constitution, because it does three very important things.
解释：如果没有美国宪法，美国就不会是现在的美国，因为宪法有三大重要作用zm]Y|]g(.i0R01KGf。
First, it sets up (or organizes) the government, just like you would organize any organization or business.
第一，它组建了政府，就像你组建任何组织或企业一样ZhnomR;-c3I^B-qk=NCQ。
The U.S. Constitution divides the government into three branches (or parts): the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch.
美国宪法把政府分成三个部门：立法部门，行政部门和司法部门7kO2eI*CmsCiY2。
The legislative branch creates (or makes) the new laws.
立法部门创立新的法律G^afRiK,3#)FIZvy%。
The executive branch enforces (or makes sure people follow) the laws.
行政部门执行法律0=#25gts#Df%2V&01i9。
The judicial branch is the court system,
司法部门是法院系统，
which interprets (or decides what something means in) the laws and determines (or decides) who is guilty of breaking (or going against) the laws.
它诠释法律，并决定某人是否有罪JfP;ut-RJ]Q[63gi^。
All three branches are important.
三个部门都很重要5GxLam=F[YaR=m;n3soS。
The Constitution makes the branches share power equally, which means that no one branch is stronger than the others.
宪法使各个部门权力平等，也就意味着没有哪个部门会比其他部门更强大HG!1|YlvMO%m)i[]!d。
One branch cannot take all the power for itself.
单个部门不能独揽大权liiM2~|a+ek&j。
We call this sharing "checks and balances."
我们将此称为“三权分立”y#=k]G)Z+ZSYA7。

译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！