VOA标准英语2018--The Fifth Amendment
时间:2018-12-08 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2018年(一月)
In a bid to protect the rights of citizens, the founders 1 of the United States included in the Constitution, the legal framework of the new government, ten Amendments 3: three to protect individual rights and seven to ensure justice. They are collectively named the Bill of Rights.
The Fifth Amendment 2 defines constitutional limits on the government's prosecution 4 of persons accused of crimes.
FILE - Workers at the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston point to a section of an original copy of the Bill of Rights.
FILE - Workers at the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston point to a section of an original copy of the Bill of Rights.
The Amendment's first clause requires that one may not be tried for a serious crime unless he or she is first indicted 5 by a grand jury. The grand jury, an old common-law English institution, acted as a sort of filter, protecting the accused from unreasonable 6 or punitive 7 prosecutions 8 by the English monarchy 9. The Framers of the Constitution chose to retain the Grand Jury system to protect the accused from overzealous prosecution by the central government.
The second clause protects the accused from repeated trials for the same offence, so-called double jeopardy 10. This means that once an individual is found to be innocent of a crime, he or she cannot be harassed 11 through the courts by multiple prosecutions for the same alleged 12 offense 13.
The third clause protects the accused from being forced to testify against him or herself in criminal cases. During trial, a witness may “plead the fifth” Amendment, thus declining to answer questions where the answers might incriminate him or her.
The fourth, or Due Process clause, guarantees fair treatment through the judicial 14 system for all persons. It requires the government to respect all rights, guarantees, and protections afforded by the Constitution and all applicable laws before the government can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property.
Finally, the Just Compensation clause declares that although the federal government does have the right to take private property for public use, it must pay the owner of that property fair market value at the time of the taking.
The Fifth Amendment prevents excesses of the courts, something that many of the Constitution's Framers had witnessed under British rule. It prevents forcing the accused into self-incrimination through intimidation 15, and guarantees fair treatment by the courts.
In the words of mid-20th century Supreme 16 Court Justice William O. Douglas, “The Fifth Amendment is an old friend and a good friend, one of the great landmarks 17 in men's struggle to be free of tyranny, to be decent and civilized 18.”
- He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
- The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句
- The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
- The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
- The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
- Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。
- The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
- He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。
- The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
- He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。
- I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
- They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
- They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
- The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。
- It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
- Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来,政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
- The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
- The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的,无甚实际意义。
- His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
- It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻,上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
- I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
- His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。
- He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
- Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。
- The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
- The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。