VOA标准英语2013--US Presidential Inaugurations Transfer Power Peacefully

 

US Presidential Inaugurations² Transfer Power Peacefully

At noon on January 20, in the year following the November presidential election, a new U.S. president takes office, or the incumbent³ president continues on to a second four-year term.

Inauguration¹ Day represents an unbroken chain stretching back to 1789, when the United States installed its first president, George Washington.

The ceremony conveys the strength - and the permanence - of the U.S. presidency⁴. And as Georgetown University’s Mark Rom points out, it is a powerful symbolic⁵ moment for the American people. 

"Because it is the time when one democratically elected president leaves office, and another democratically elected president takes over office. And, the transition is peaceful and ceremonial," he said.

In the years when a new president comes into office, he meets with his predecessor⁶ at the White House on the morning of inauguration day. They go to the Capitol together for the swearing-in ceremony.

Awaiting them are members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme⁷ Court, officials from the outgoing administration, and many of those who will serve under the new president. This represents both support for the office of the president, and a reflection of the office's continuity.

The new president takes the oath of office at noon, and it is administered by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His presence has symbolism of its own, says Johns Hopkins University Professor Ben Ginsberg.

"It is, in effect, saying that the fact that this new individual is exercising power is consistent with the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the United States, the wisdom and hopes of the framers of our Constitution," he said.

As America’s head of state, the new president receives a 21-gun salute⁸.

And gives his first official speech, the Inaugural⁹ Address.

"The eyes of the world will be on him, [and] the eyes of our country will be on him to see how he defines the vision for his presidency," explained Mark Rom of Georgetown University.

After being sworn in, the president travels to the White House, where he enjoys a massive inauguration parade. Groups from all over the country come to Washington to take part, symbolically¹⁰ reflecting the nation’s approval of the new Chief Executive.

Then, as the day becomes night, the inauguration festivities continue, as the new president attends one or several balls celebrating his ascension to the White House.

Being the president of the United States has been called the “toughest job in the world.” But the challenges ahead begin on this day surrounded by promise, and buoyed¹¹ with hope. 

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 inaugurations   

n.就职( inauguration的名词复数 )；就职典礼；开始；开创

参考例句：

3 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• 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。

8 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

9 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

10 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。

11 buoyed   

v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. 在昨天胜利的鼓舞下，该队有信心再次获胜。
• His encouragement buoyed her up during that difficult period. 他的鼓励使她在那段困难时期恢复了乐观的情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》