The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution -- also known as the Bill of Rights -- were ratified or passed over 200 years ago.
美国宪法中第一至第十条宪法修正案，也就是《权利法案》，在两百多年前就已被批准。
But even though they're a bit, well, old,
不过即使它们历史有那么悠久了，
these first 10 amendments are still the most debated and discussed section of our Constitution today.
这十条修正案依然是今天被争论和讨论得最多的美国宪法。
So, can you remember what they are? Let's take a look.
那你还记得它们分别是什么吗？让我们来看一下吧。
The First Amendment is the freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
第一修正案是保障言论、出版、宗教、集会和示威的自由。
This may be the most revered of the amendments.
这大概是修正案中最崇高的一条了。
The First Amendment protects our rights to say and write our opinions, worship how we please,
它捍卫了我们表达自身想法、宗教信仰、
assemble together peacefully and petition our government, if we feel the need.
和平集会以及必要时向政府请愿的权利
The Second Amendment is the right to bear arms.
第二修正案是保障公民携带武器的自由。
The original intent of the Second Amendment was to protect colonists from the invading British soldiers,
它的最初目的是为了防止殖民地居民遭受英国人的入侵。
but it now guarantees that you have the right to own a gun to defend yourself and your property.
但现在它保证了你享有权利，去使用枪支自卫和保护个人财产安全。
The Third Amendment is called the 'Quartering' amendment.
第三修正案亦称为进驻民房修正案。
It was written in response to the British occupation,
这条文是因应英兵占领而作的回应
and as a result of the colonists having to house -- or quarter -- soldiers in their homes during the American Revolution.
因为在美国革命期间，殖民地居民必须为士兵提供食宿。
Because of this amendment, our government can never force us to house soldiers in our home.
由于这个修正案，我们的政府永远不能强迫我们在家里收留士兵。
The Fourth Amendment is the right to search and seizure.
第四修正案是关于搜索和没收。
The police can't come into our home without a search warrant and take our personal property.
警察在没有搜查令的情况下，不可以进入我们的住所或拿走我们的私人物品。
Today, many concerns have arisen about our rights to privacy in technology.
科技发达的今天，很多人担心我们的隐私权。
For example, can the government track your location with your smartphone,
例如，政府是否可以利用我们的智能手机来确定我们的位置？
or can social media postings such as on Facebook and Twitter be used without a warrant?
或者，在未经授权下，政府是否可以擅自使用我们在脸书、推特网站上的帖子？

On to the Fifth: It's all about due process.
第五修正案：是关于正当程序。
You've probably heard the phrase 'I plead the Fifth' in movies or on TV.
你可能在电影或电视节目中，曾听过这样的用词：“我拒绝回答”。
They're talking about the Fifth Amendment,
他们在谈的正是第五修正案，
which says that you don't have to take the witness stand against yourself if you may end up incriminating yourself.
你不需要作出对自己做出不利的证词，如果你有可能因此而被迁连的话。
OK, we're halfway done. The Sixth and Seventh Amendments are about how the legal system works.
很好，我们已经进行一半了。第六和第七修正案是关于法律系统的运作。
If you're accused of a crime, you have the right to a speedy public trial and an impartial jury.
如果你被指控犯罪，你有权申请一个迅速、公开、有公正陪审团参与的审讯。
You also have the right to a lawyer, and the right to take the stand if you choose.
你也有权请律师辩护，如果你愿意，也可以自辩。
This is important because it will prevent the accused from sitting in prison forever
这是重要的，因为它可防止被告终身坐在牢里，
and insists that the prosecution proceed with undue delay.
并确保起诉程序不会受到不必要的延误。
The Seventh says you have the right to a jury trial,
第七修正案说明你有权要求陪审团审判，
where 12 impartial peers decide your innocence or guilt in the courtroom, as opposed to a judge doing it all alone.
让12名公正的人在法院上判定你是否有罪，而不是让法官独揽大权。
The Eight Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
第八修正案禁止残暴和异常的惩罚措施。
Is the death penalty cruel? Is it unusual?
死刑是否残酷？是否异常？
It's hard for Americans to agree on the definitions of cruel and unusual.
美国人对于残酷和异常的定义没有一致的看法。
The Ninth and Tenth Amendments are called the non-rights amendments.
第九和第十修正案亦称为非权利法案。
They say that the rights not listed in the Bill of Rights are retained by the people in the states.
它们是指没有被列在《权利法案》上的权利均属于人民和州政府的。
We have other rights that are not listed in the Constitution,
我们享有其他没有在宪法列出的权利，
and the states have the right to make their own policies, like instituting state taxes.
而各州也有权利制定它们自己的法律政策，比如制定州税。
So now you know all 10 amendments. Can you remember them all?
所以现在你已经了解了十项修正案。你能全部记得么？
If not, remember this: the Bill of Rights is a crucial piece of American history,
如果不能，记下这个：《权利法案》是美国历史中重要的一部分，
and though society has undergone many changes these past 200 and some years,
尽管社会在过去的二百多年中已经历许多改变
the interpretation and application of these amendments are as vital today as they were when they were written.
但这些修正案的解释和应用至今仍然非常重要，正如它们当初被制定的时候一样。