大选学英语（3）

Constitution: 美利坚合众国宪法

Constitution: Constitution of the United States of America

通称美国联邦宪法或美国宪法。它是美国的根本大法，奠定了美国政治制度的法律基础。美国宪法是世界上第一部成文宪法。1787年5月，美国各州(当时为13个)代表在费城召开制宪会议，同年9月15日制宪会议通过《美利坚合众国宪法》。1789年3月4日，该宪法正式生效。后又附加了26条宪法修正案。

Generally known as the Federal Constitution or the constitution of the United States. It is the fundamental law of the United States and lays the legal foundation of the American political system. The American constitution is the first written constitution in the world. In May 1787, representatives of the states of the United States (then 13) held a constitutional convention in Philadelphia. On September 15 of the same year, the constitutional convention adopted the constitution of the United States of America. On March 4, 1789, the constitution came into force. Then 26 constitutional amendments were added.

Donkey， Democratic: 驴，民主党

Donkey, democratic: donkey, democratic

在美国，“驴”是民主党的象征。

In the United States, "donkey" is the symbol of the Democratic Party.

Elephant， Republican：“象”，共和党

Elephant, Republican: "elephant", Republican

“象”是共和党的象征。

"Elephant" is the symbol of the Republican Party.

Front-runner:领先者

Front runner: the leader

在竞选或提名过程中被认为呼声最高或最有希望当选的候选人。

A candidate considered to be the most vocal or promising candidate in a campaign or nomination.

Grand Old Party (GOP)：大老党

Grand old Party (GOP)

共和党是美国当前的两个主要政党之一，别称大老党。

The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, also known as the great old party.

Grassroots campaign：基层竞选

Grassroots campaign

在竞选过程中，候选人往往都会下基层拉选票，这叫“基层竞选”，也可以称之为“草根竞选”。在这种场合中，候选人会跟普通民众拉家常，介绍自己的施政纲领，询问选民的诉求，跟支持者合影等等。

In the process of election, candidates often go down to the grass-roots level to solicit votes, which is called "grass-roots election" or "grassroots election". On such occasions, candidates will make friends with ordinary people, introduce their own policies, ask voters' demands, take photos with supporters, etc.

Hanging / Pregnant chad 悬挂式/孕妇式孔芯

Hanging / pregnant Chad

孔芯是一块微型的方形纸块儿。选举时，投票人在自己要选的候选人名字旁边的孔印处打孔，孔印被击穿，孔芯随即脱离选票，选举即算完成。孔芯在2000年总统选举中成为焦点。由于佛州的投票结果两党票数非常接近，有必要重新统计选票，选举官员被迫检查选票以确定选民意向。一些选民在自己要选的候选人名字旁边的孔印处打孔，但是孔芯未与选票分离(即悬挂式选票)。在另外一些情况下，选票上有打孔痕迹，但是选票没有打穿(孕妇式或酒窝式孔芯)。

The core is a small square piece of paper. During the election, the voters punch holes in the hole seal next to the names of the candidates they want to choose. The hole seal is broken down, and the hole core is immediately separated from the vote, and the election is completed. The core became the focus of the presidential election in 2000. With Florida's results close to those of both parties, there was a need to re count the votes, and election officials were forced to check the votes to determine voters' intentions. Some voters punch the hole next to the name of the candidate they want to vote for, but the hole core is not separated from the vote (i.e. hanging vote). In other cases, the ballot paper has holes, but the ballot paper has not been punched through (pregnant or dimple hole core).

Hard money ：硬钱

Hard money

个人直接向某个竞选活动捐出的钱。2002年的新法案将个人捐款的上限从每场联邦选举每位候选人1000美元提高至2000美元。

Money donated directly by an individual to a campaign. The new act of 2002 raised the ceiling on individual contributions from $1000 to $2000 per candidate for each federal election.

Home stretch：冲刺阶段

Home stretch: sprint phase

选举活动接近尾声，进入冲刺阶段。这个短语原意为赛马比赛时的终点直道。进入冲刺阶段后，候选人更是马不停蹄地四处奔走，为争取选民的支持做最后的努力。

The election campaign is coming to an end and entering a sprint phase. The original meaning of this phrase is straight at the end of a horse race. After entering the sprint stage, the candidates are constantly running around, making final efforts to win the support of the voters.