The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch, written by Nigel Pepperhouse. Focus question. Who leads the executive branch, and what are the jobs of this branch of government?

《行政部门》，作者：奈杰尔·佩珀豪斯。 核心问题。 谁领导行政部门，这个政府部门 的工作职责有哪些？

Introduction. Every day for more than 225 years, an American president has been on the job. Every day of every year, that job is important. The president is the most powerful person in the United States. The president is the executive branch at work.

引言。 225年多以来，美国总统每天都在履行职责。 一年365天，这份工作都至关重要。 总统是美国最有权势的人。 总统是行政部门的履职主体。

What is the executive branch? In 1788, American leaders set up a system of laws called the Constitution to help rule the young country. That system is still used today. It splits the U .S. government into three branches or parts. The executive branch is led by the president. The legislative branch makes laws and is the voice of the American people. The judicial branch watches over the U .S. justice system through its system of courts.

什么是行政部门？1788年，美国领导人建立了一套名为《宪法》的 法律体系，来治理这个新生的国家。这套体系沿用至今，它将 美国政府分成三个分支，也就是三个部门。行政部门由总统领导。 立法部门负责制定法律，代表美国人民的心声。 司法部门通过法院体系监督美国的司法系统运行。

Sometimes the branches work together. At other times, they work against each other. The U .S. system gives the president many powers. However, the president is not a king. People vote for him or her. Every four years, there is a new election. A person can be president two times, but no more than that.

有时候这三个部门会相互配合。 有时候它们也会相互制衡。 美国的体系赋予了总统很多权力。 不过，总统可不是国王。 人们投票选出总统一职的担任者。 每四年会举行一次新的总统选举。 一个人最多可以担任两届总统，不能更多。

The president must be 35 or older. He or she must have been born in the United States. He or she must have also lived in the United States for 14 years or more.

总统必须年满35岁。 他/她必须出生在美国境内。 此外，他/她还必须在美国居住满14年及以上。

What the executive branch does. The president has many powers. For example, the president can send US troops anywhere in the world. The president also meets with other leaders to work on all sorts of problems. Some are leaders from other parts of the world. Some are US leaders. Many are members of the president's cabinet.

行政部门的职责是什么？ 总统拥有很多权力。 比如说，总统可以派遣美国军队前往世界上的任何地方。 总统还会和其他领导人会面共同解决各种各样的问题。 有些领导人来自世界其他国家。 有些是美国本土的领导人。 其中很多都是总统内阁的成员。