American Elections
美国选举
National elections are held in the United States every two years.
在美国，全国选举每两年举行一次。
Each time, voters elect all members of the House of Representatives for a two-year term,and one-third of Senate members for a six-year term.
选举时，选民直接选举产生众议院议员，任期两年。三分之一的参议院议员也通过这种方式产生，任期六年。
Many states also choose governors and state legislatures in national elections.
许多州在任命州长及立法机关时也采取全国选举的方式。
Citizens may also vote on different questions of state or local interest.
公民有时也就有关州和地方利益的问题进行投票。
The Constitution requires the president and vice president be elected every four years.
宪法要求，总统和副总统每四年换届一次。
By law, voting is to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
根据法规，选举在11月的第一个星期一之后的第一个星期二举行。
Every four years, the Democrats and the Republicans hold national conventions to officially choose their nominees for president and vice president.
此时，民主党和共和党召开全国性会议，正式推选出总统和副总统的候选人。
Many states hold special primary elections to choose delegates to the national conventions.
各州通过预选来选出参加全国会议的代表。
Each presidential candidate lists on state primary ballots a group of delegates who have promised to support the candidate at their party's convention.
每个总统候选人根据其党派的传统，列出承诺支持他的代表团。
Citizens show their choice for the presidential nomination by voting for the group of delegates committed to that candidate.
选民通过个承诺支持某位总统候选人的代表团投票来间接参加选举。