Have you ever wondered who has the authority to make laws or punish people who break them?
你有没有思考过谁掌控了制定法律的权力或是惩罚违法者的权力？
When we think of power in the United States, we usually think of the President, but he does not act alone.
当提及美国的权力，我们总是会想到总统，但是他并不是唯一一个行使权力的人。
In fact, he is only one piece of the power puzzle and for very good reason.
事实上，他只是权力这个大拼图里的一部分，这样的安排是有道理的。
When the American Revolution ended in 1783, the United States government was in a state of change.
当美国独立战争在1783年结束的时候，美国政府面临着改变。
The founding fathers knew that they did not want to establish another country that was ruled by a king,
美国的创始人们知道，他们不想再建立另一个被国王统治的国家，
so the discussions were centered on having a strong and fair national government
所以之后讨论的中心议题是建立一个强大但又公平的国家政府，
that protected individual freedoms and did not abuse its power.
这个政府保护个人的自由以及不滥用权力。
When the new constitution was adopted in 1787,
1787年，当新的宪法被采用时，
the structure of the infant government of the United States called for three separate branches,
襁褓中的美国政府由三个分支组成，
each with their own powers, and a system of checks and balances.
各自有不同的权力，同时还建立起了制衡原则。
This would ensure that no one branch would ever become too powerful
制衡原则保证任何一个分支都不会过于强大，
because the other branches would always be able to check the power of the other two.
因为他们其中的一个总能制约另外两个的权力。
These branches work together to run the country and set guidelines for us all to live by.
这三个分支一起合作，经营着这个国家，制定我们需要遵守的准则。
The legislative branch is described in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.
美国宪法第一条描述了立法分支。
Many people feel that the founding fathers put this branch in the document first because they thought it was the most important.
许多人觉得国家的创始人们把立法分支第一个记入档案，是因为他们觉得这是最重要的。
The legislative branch is comprised of 100 U.S. Senators and 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
立法分支包含了100个美国参议员和435个众议员。
This is better known as the U.S. Congress.
也就是人们所熟知的美国国会。

Making laws is the primary function of the legislative branch,
立法分支的主要机能是制定法律，
but it is also responsible for approving federal judges and justices, passing the national budget, and declaring war.
但他们也负责审核联邦法官和审判员，批准国家财政预算，同时还负责宣战。
Each state gets two Senators and some number of Representatives, depending on how many people live in that state.
每个州有两个参议员和不同数量的众议员，众议员的数目跟据各州的人口而变化。
The executive branch is described in Article 2 of the Constitution.
美国宪法的第二条介绍了行政分支。
The leaders of this branch of government are the President and Vice President,
这个政府分支的领导者是总统以及副总统，
who are responsible for enforcing the laws that Congress sets forth.
他们负责执行国会提出的法律。
The President works closely with a group of advisors, known as the Cabinet.
总统与一群顾问一起工作，这就是人们所熟悉的内阁。
These appointed helpers assist the President in making important decisions within their area of expertise,
这些指定的助手们协助总统，在他们所熟悉的领域内帮助总统制定重要决策，
such as defense, the treasury, and homeland security.
比如国防、财政以及国土安全。
The executive branch also appoints government officials, commands the armed forces, and meets with leaders of other nations.
行政分支同时也任命政府官员，指挥武装部队，他们还接见外国领导人。
All that combined is a lot of work for a lot of people.
这些事务对于这么多人来说也是庞大的工作量。
In fact, the executive branch employs over 4 million people to get everything done.
事实上，行政分支雇佣超过四百万的人来完成他们的工作。
The third brand of the U.S. government is the judicial branch and is detailed in Article 3.
美国政府的第三个分支是司法部门，出现在宪法的第三条里。
This branch is comprised of all the courts in the land, from the federal district courts to the U.S. Supreme Court.
司法部门由美国国土上所有的法院构成，从联邦地区法院到美国最高法院。
These courts interpret our nation's laws and punish those who break them.
这些法院解释了我们国家的法律，惩罚那些违反法律的人。
The highest court, the Supreme Court, settles disputes among states,
最高法院解决各州之间的争议，
hears appeals from state and federal courts, and determines if federal laws are constitutional.
审理各州和地区法院的上诉，并且判断联邦法律是否符合宪法。
There are nine justices on the Supreme Court, and, unlike any other job in our government,
最高法院有九名法官，和其他政府工作不同的是，
Supreme Court justices are appointed for life, or for as long as they want to stay.
最高法院的法官是终生任职，或者跟据法官自己的意愿决定。
Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry,
我们的民主依靠的是了解政府的公民，
so it is our duty to know how it works and what authority each branch of government has over its citizens.
所以知道政府如何工作、政府的每个分支有着哪些凌驾于公民之上的权威，是我们的义务。
Besides voting, chances are that some time in your life you'll be called upon to participate in your government,
除了投票，在你的一生中，你总有机会参与到政府的工作中去，
whether it is to serve on a jury, testify in court, or petition your Congress person to pass or defeat an idea for a law.
无论是作为陪审团的一员在法庭上作证，还是向你所在州的议员上书请求通过或驳回某个法律或想法。
By knowning the branches, who runs them, and how they work together, you can be involved, informed, and intelligent.
通过了解这些分支、谁管理这些分支以及他们是如何一起工作的，你可以参与其中，变得见多识广、聪慧。