美国文化之美国国会

1、Lesson Eight Federal Congress of USA vCapitol （风雨洗礼国会山）v composition of the Congress (高低贵贱论两院)v election of the congress (国会选举猫腻多)v specific powers of and certain limits on the congress v the process of law-making (立法好比做香肠)Capitol1. the name 2. construction of the Capitol3. the Rotunda vThe name is

2、derived from the Capitoline, a hill of the ancient Rome (Jenkins ). Pierre Charles LEnfant vEducated in Scotland as a physician, William Thornton (May 20, 1759 to March 28, 1828) rarely practiced his profession. He was a self-taught architect, painter, and inventor. v grandeur, simplicity and conven

3、ience. -President Washington vSeptember 18, 1783 the Capitol was dedicated. v1800 the north wing (later it became the seat of senate) was completed. vNovember 21 and 22 the senate and house moved in respectively. v1803 a wood arcade was built to connect the north wing with the south one under constr

4、uction. v1807 the south wing was finished and the house moved in. Latrobe v August 24, 1814 the British soldiers burnt the Whitehouse and the congress. v1815 it was reconstructed. v1819 the dome was built. v1851 to 1863 the two wings were extended. vDecember 2, 1963 a bronze armed statue of liberty

5、was erected at top of the dome. vHer right hand rests upon the hilt of a sheathed sword; her left holds a laurel wreath of victory and the shield of the United States with thirteen stripes. Her helmet is encircled by stars and features a crest composed of an eagles head, feathers, and claws, a refer

6、ence to the costume of Native Americans. vThe capitol is famous for its rotunda which is open to visitors. It is a 55 meters high hemisphere, and the diameter is 30 meters. Baptism of Pocahontas vJohn Gadsby Chapman depicted Pocahontas, wearing white, being baptized Rebecca by Anglican minister Alex

7、ander Whiteaker in Jamestown, Virginia; this event is believed to have taken place in 1613 or 1614. She kneels, surrounded by family members and colonists. Her brother Nantequaus turns away from the ceremony. The baptism took place before her marriage to Englishman John Rolfe, who stands behind her.

8、 vTheir union is said to be the first recorded marriage between a European and a Native American. The scene symbolizes the belief of Americans at the time that Native Americans should accept Christianity and other European ways.Declaration of Independence vThe first painting to be completed by Trumb

9、ull shows the signing of the Declaration of Independence in what is now called Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. The painting features the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence-John Adams, Robert Sherman, Thomas Jefferson presenting the document, and Benjamin Frankli

10、n-standing before John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress. Discovery of the Mississippi vWilliam H. Powells dramatic and brilliantly colored oil painting shows Spanish conqueror and explorer Hernando DeSoto, riding a white horse, the first European to view the Mississippi River, in 1

11、541. As De Soto and his troops approach, the Native Americans in front of their tepees watch, and a chief holds out a peace pipe. In the foreground is a jumble of weapons and soldiers, suggesting the attack they had suffered shortly before. Embarkation of the Pilgrims vProtestant pilgrims are shown

12、on the deck of the ship Speedwell before their departure for the New World from Delft Port, Holland, on July 22, 1620. William Brewster, holding the Bible and Pastor John Robinson lead people in prayer. The prominence of women and children suggests the importance of the family in the community. At t

13、he left side of the painting is a rainbow, which symbolizes hope and divine protection.Landing of Columbus vChristopher Columbus is shown landing in the West Indies, on an island that the natives called Guanahani and he named San Salvador, on October 12, 1492. He raises the royal banner, claiming th

14、e land for his Spanish patrons, and stands bareheaded, with his hat at his feet, in honor of the sacredness of the event. vThe captains of the Nia and Pinta follow, carrying the banner of Ferdinand and Isabella. The crew displays a range of emotions, some searching for gold in the sand. Natives watc

15、h from behind a tree.Surrender of General Burgoyne vThe scene of the surrender of the British General Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York, on October 17, 1777, was a turning point in the Revolutionary War that prevented the British from dividing New England from the rest of the colonies. The central figu

16、re is the American General Horatio Gates, who refused to take the sword offered by General Burgoyne, and, treating him as a gentleman, invites him into his tent. Surrender of Lord Cornwallis vThe surrender of the British at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, ended the Revolutionary War. Trumbu

17、ll placed American General Benjamin Lincoln at the center on a white horse, with French officers on the left and Americans on the right, led by General Washington on the brown horse. The British are represented by British officers, but Lord Cornwallis himself was not present. Trumbull included a sel

18、f portrait in the group under the American flag.General George Washington Resigning His Commission vGeneral George Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to the Congress, which was then meeting at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, on December 23, 1783. This action

19、was of great significance in establishing of civilian rather than military rule, leading to democracy rather than dictatorship. Washington stands with two aides addressing the president of the Congress, Thomas Mifflin. Mrs. Washington and her three grandchildren are shown watching from the gallery.T

20、he Apotheosis of Washington composition of the Congress 1. the senate (老人院)2. the house of the representatives (青年院)3. committees and subcommittees4. officials of the congress v“why do you pour coffee from the cup into the saucer?” v “To cool it.” v“So we will pour a bill into the senatorial saucer

21、to cool it. A bill passed in the heat of passion by one house can be submitted to the cool judgment of the other.” vThe Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof (of the state, now senators are elected by popular vote), for six y

22、ears; and each Senator shall have one vote. -section 3 article 1 vthe smallest state in territory- Rhode Island (3,156 sk), vthe largest state in territory- Alaska (1,524,640 sk), vthe least populous state- Wyoming (480,000) and vthe most populous state- California (32,270,000) each elect 2 senators

23、. vImmediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. so that one third may be chosen every second year; -section 3 article 1 vthe House of Representatives is derived from the historic House of Burgesses firs

24、t held in Virginia. v“The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several (different, individual) states” -section 2 article 1 v“but each state shall have at least one Representative;” -section 2 article 1 v5 non-voting representatives from

25、 Washington D.C. , American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico who have no right to vote but can debate. vstanding or permanent committee (常设委员会); vspecial or select committees (特别或小型委员会); vjoint committee (联合委员会). Committees in the senate vStanding (16)Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

26、Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works vFinance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Ad

27、ministration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans Affairs vSpecial, Select, and Other (4)Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging vJoint (4)Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Join

28、t Economic Committee Committees in the house vStanding committees (20) vCommittee on Agriculture vCommittee on Appropriations vCommittee on Armed Services vCommittee on the Budget vCommittee on Education and the Workforce vCommittee on Energy and Commerce vCommittee on Financial Services vCommittee

29、on Government Reform vCommittee on Homeland Security vCommittee on House Administration vCommittee on International Relations vCommittee on the Judiciary vCommittee on Resources vCommittee on Rules vCommittee on Science vCommittee on Small Business vCommittee on Standards of Official Conduct vCommit

30、tee on Transportation and Infrastructure vCommittee on Veterans Affairs vCommittee on Ways and Means vJoint committees (4)vJoint Economic Committee vJoint Committee on Printing vJoint Committee on Taxation vJoint Committee on the Library vSpecial or select (2) vHouse Permanent Select Committee on In

31、telligence vSelect Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina v“The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.”v -section 3 article 1 v“The Senate shall choose their othe

32、r officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.” -section 3 article 1 vThe president pro tempore is not elected by the senators, and by tradition the position is always given to the senator wi

33、th the highest seniority. vThose who have meaningful powers in the senate are the majority and minority leaders who are elected by the respective party caucuses. vThere are other leaders such as the majority and minority whips who try to persuade their own party senators to vote in favor of bills pr

34、oposed by their party. vThe House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; -section 2 article 1 vThe most powerful person in the house is the speaker of the house who is nominated by the house majority party and then elected by the whole house. vEach committee or subcommitte

35、e has its chairperson. vThese chairpersons used to be appointed by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house. vNow they are elected by the majority party caucuses. The positions are usually given to the persons with the highest seniority within the committee( 想当主席熬白头). vThe minority le

36、ader of a committee is called the ranking member. vWhen George W. Bush began his first term in 2001 in the senate there were 50 democrats vs. 50 republicans. Given the vice president the majority party is the republican. All the chairpersons are from the Republican Party. vBut on May 24, 2001 a repu

37、blican senator from Vermont named Jeffers declared to secede from the Republican Party and became an independent. vSo the majority party in the senate became the Democratic Party, and all the chairpersons were reelected from the Democratic Party. vThis event was a severe club to the republican, call

38、ed a “political earthquake” (一人叛党乱全党). election of the congress 1. Requirement for senators and house members 2. The midterm election 3. precinct partitioning 4. ways of voting v“No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the

39、 United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.” -section 3 article 1 v“No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not

40、, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.” -section 2 article 1 vAmerican congress is elected every 2 years, and it occurs at the beginning of November, every even-numbered year. vIn the year of general election there are more chances for the candidates from the sam

41、e party as the president elect to succeed. It is called the “effect of coattail”. vIn the mid-term election the ruling party is more likely to lose some seats as the resentment against the president may be directed to the congressional candidates from the same party. vThe project of precinct partiti

42、on shall be proposed by the state legislature, and then signed by the governor. v If there is controversy or disagreement on the project it is the task of the state supreme court to define it. v If the party of the governor is the same as the majority in the council they will partition the precincts

43、 to their own advantages (黄鼠狼给小鸡设计鸡窝). Democratic the separation trickthe aggregation trick DDDD vto cross in a box; vto black a circle; vpenetrate through a box; vand the write-in method. specific powers of and certain limits on the congress1. Specific powers of the congress2. Certain limits on the

44、 congress vTo lay and collect taxes, duties (export tariff), imposts (import tariff) and excises (consumption taxes);vTo borrow money on the credit of the United States; vTo regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; vTo establish a uniform rule

45、 of naturalization;vTo establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; vTo fix the standard of weights and measures; vTo provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities (bonds) and current coin of the United States;vTo establish post offices and post r

46、oads; vTo promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right (patents) to their respective writings and discoveries; vTo coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin;vTo constitute tribunals inferior to the Supre

47、me Court; vTo define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations (international laws); vTo raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; vTo provide and maintain a navy;vTo decla

48、re war;vTo provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions; vTo exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance o

49、f Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States; vTo make all laws which shall be necessary and proper (so called Elastic Clause) for carrying into execution the foregoing (above) powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or i

50、n any department or officer thereof. vTo impeach the president, vice president and all other officers v“The Constitution of the United States was not made to fit us like a strait jacket. In its elasticity lies its chief greatness.” -Woodrow Wilson v A thing may be necessary, very necessary, absolute

51、ly or indispensably necessary. v-McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) v“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”v -Article 10 of Bill of Rights v“Even the 10th amendment, which was frame

52、d for the purpose of quieting the excessive jealousies which had been excited, omits the word expressly,”v -McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) vThe migration or importation of such persons (Negroes) as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prio

53、r to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty (tariff) may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. vThe privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may requir

54、e it. vNo bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. vNo tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. vNo capitation (poll tax; tax of an equal amount for each person), or other direct tax (e.g. income tax; income taxes were levied from 1913 Amendment XVI) shall be lai

55、d, vNo money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law vNo preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another: nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one state, be obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in another. vNo title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emo