VOA常速英语2020--一分钟了解美国政党

Since 1852, every US president has been a member of one of the country's two major political parties, the Republican party or the Democratic party. Democrats¹ generally support higher taxes, so they can fund more government programs. Republicans generally prefer lower taxes and smaller government. These two parties tend to reflect relatively² moderate political views.

自1852年以来，每一任美国总统都是美国两大主要政党的成员。美国的两个主要政党为共和党和民主党。民主党人通常支持提高税收，以便为更多的政府项目提供资金。而共和党人则普遍更倾向于减税和小政府。这两个政党倾向于反映相对温和的政治观点。

But there are several other smaller parties on the fringes,including the Libertarian, Constitution, Socialist³ or Green Parties. Or you can just be an independent not affiliated⁴ with any party. Third parties are not that big. But they can have a major influence on presidential elections, by taking away votes from the two major party candidates, which in some years can be a deciding factor in the race to become president.

但美国还存在几个小的边缘政党，包括自由意志党、宪法党、社会党或绿党。或者你可以成为无党派人士，不隶属于任何政党。第三方政党的规模不大。但是他们可以通过夺走两个主要政党候选人的选票，对总统选举产生重大影响，这在某些年份可能成为总统竞选的决定性因素。

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

4 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。