The US Constitution

MGiordano
The US Constitution-Vocabulary
The Constitution of the United States of America
VOCABULARY
Constitution: A document outlining the basis of the rules of a country or organization, a system of laws
and principles according to which a state is governed.
to outline: to give a short and general description of something, DESCRIVERE, DELINEARE
federal (national): pertaining to the national or central government
well-established: FONDATO, AFFERMATO, CONSOLIDATO
faith: trust, complete confidence in somebody or something, strong religious belief, FEDE
to found: to base something on something FONDARE, BASARE
controversy: CONTROVERSIA, DIBATTITO, POLEMICA
worth/value: VALORE
to rule: govern, reign, run, administrate, have power over, lead, control
colonist: a person who settles in an area, settler, pioneer, immigrant (native: antonym) COLONO,
COLONIZZATORE
grievance: complaint, LAGNANZA, LAMENTELA, RIMOSTRANZA
taxation: the system of raising money by taxes
resentment: RISENTIMENTO, SCONTENTO
to intensify: make stronger, deepen, increase
to bring to an end: METTERE FINE A
colonial rule: GOVERNO COLONIALE
to defeat: beat, to win a victory over somebody SCONFIGGERE, BATTERE
Articles of Confederation: GLI ARTICOLI DELLA CONFEDERAZIONE
former: previous, past, exweak: having little strength or energy, (strong: antonym) DEBOLE
sovereignty: control, rule, power, autonomy, independence SOVRANITA’
freedom: liberty, autonomy, independence LIBERTA’
independence: self-government, sovereignty, autonomy, self-rule INDIPENDENZA
to require: need, demand, expect
backing: support, help, assistance, sponsorship SUPPORTO, SOSTEGNO
branch: division, subdivision, RAMO, DIRAMAZIONE, BRANCA, DIVISIONE
The Philadelphia Convention: LA CONVENTION DI FILADELFIA
convention: an official meeting, a conference of members, CONGRESSO, RADUNO, ASSEMBLEA
delegate: a person chosen or elected to express their views at a meeting or conference, representative
Founding Fathers: the men responsible for creating the US Constitution PADRI FONDATORI
Framers: the men who wrote the US Constitution COLORO CHE ELABORARONO
debate: discussion, argument, dispute
compromise: agreement, finding the middle ground COMPROMESSO
to adopt: take on, accept, approve ADOTTARE
to draft: outline, write, plan, design PREPARARE, ABBOZZARE, REDIGERE LA BOZZA
to ratify: approve, confirm, authorize RATIFICARE, SANZIONARE
supporter: follower, fan SOSTENITORE, SIMPATIZZANTE
federalist: supporter of a federal union or power FEDERALISTA
opponent: a person who is against another in a game, a fight, an argument OPPOSITORE,
AVVERSARIO
to argue: SOSTENERE
to threaten: menace, put at risk, MINACCIARE, METTERE IN PERICOLO
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MGiordano
The US Constitution-Vocabulary
to fear: be afraid of, worry about, AVER PAURA DI
to lead: conduct, head GUIDARE, CONDURRE, PORTARE A
over centralisation: ECCESSIVO ACCENTRAMENTO (DEL POTERE)
citizen: CITTADINO
to add: AGGIUNGERE
amendment: a minor change or addition to a document in order to correct an error or to make an
improvement EMENDAMENTO. Il testo della Costituzione Americana non è stato cambiato da quando
fu redatto nel 1787, ma il suo contenuto di partenza è stato profondamente modificato da emendamenti.
Un emendamento può annullarne un altro.
Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution DICHIARAZIONE DEI DIRITTI,
CARTA COSTITUZIONALE DEI DIRITTI ALLEGATA ALLA COSTITUZIONE DEGLI USA.
Garantiscono le fondamentali libertà di culto, di espressione e di stampa, e ulteriori libertà individuali. Il
secondo emendamento autorizza al libero possesso di armi. Il quinto riconosce al soggetto interrogato il
diritto di non rispondere alle domande che potrebbero determinare la sua responsabilità penale.
separation of powers - The idea that the powers of a government should be split between two or more
independent groups, so that any group cannot gain too much power. SEPARAZIONE DEI POTERI
legislative branch - the part of the US government that makes the laws. The legislative branch includes
the House of Representative and Senate. POTERE LEGISLATIVO= Congress
executive: the part of the US government that administers the laws, it includes the President and cabinet
departments POTERE ESECUTIVO
judicial: the part of the US government that settles disputes and administers justice. the judicial branch is
made up of the court system and the supreme court. POTERE GIUDIZIARIO
Congress: governing body that makes laws. CONGRESSO Si riunisce nel Campidoglio, sul Capitol Hill,
ed è composto da due Camere: Senate e House of Representatives. Tutte le proposte di legge devono
avere prima l’approvazione delle due Camere e in seguito quella del Presidente.
President: the elected leader of the USA. Negli Stati Uniti il Presidente è il Capo dello Stato, il
responsabile della politica estera e il capo delle Forze Armate.
Federal Courts: LE CORTI FEDERALI
to be assigned: to give something to somebody
appointment: NOMINA, CARICA, CONFERIMENTO DI UN INCARICO
term of office: period, time, duration of position (DURATA DEL) MANDATO
checks and balances: system in which separate, powerful entities check (monitor) the behaviour of each
other, to keep an even balance of power. CONTROLLI ED EQUILIBRI
to check: to make sure, to ensure, to verify CONTROLLARE, MONITORARE
behaviour: performance, actions, conduct COMPORTAMENTO, CONDOTTA
even balance: equal level, GIUSTO EQUILIBRIO
to split: divide
endorsement: backing, support, approval APPROVAZIONE, APPOGGIO
Preamble: the short introduction to the US Constitution.
Amendment: a change added onto the US Constitution.
to insure: ASSICURARE
to provide for: PROVVEDERE A, OCCUPARSI DI, PREVEDERE
defense: defense AME, defence BRE, DIFESA
welfare: wellbeing, interests, benefit, safety BENESSERE, INTERESSE
to secure: guarantee, assure
blessing: approval, permission, consent (veto: antonym) BENEDIZIONE, APPROVAZIONE
posterity: future generations, POSTERI
to ordain: order, decree, proclaim, establish DECRETARE, STABILIRE
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MGiordano
The US Constitution-Vocabulary
to head: lead, rule, command, ESSERE A CAPO DI, CONDURRE, GUIDARE
bicameral: consisting of two legislative chambers BICAMERALE
chamber: hall, assembly room, meeting room
House of Representatives: LA CAMERA DEI RAPPRESENTANTI è la camera bassa del Congresso.
E’ formata da circa 435 rappresentanti che vengono eletti ogni anno; il numero dei rappresentanti per
ognuno degli stati degli USA è proporzionale alla sua popolazione.
lower chamber: CAMERA BASSA
single member constituencies (districts): district, area, electorate CIRCOSCRIZIONE ELETTORALE
COLLEGIO UNINOMINALE
Senate: Il Senato è la Camera Alta del Congresso degli USA. E’ formato da 100 Senatori, due per
ciascun stato, in carica per un periodo di 6 anni.
upper chamber: CAMERA ALTA
seat: SEGGIO
Senator: SENATORE
irrespective of: INDIPENDENTEMENTE DA, A PRESCINDERE DA
to negotiate: NEGOZIARE, TRATTARE
treaty: agreement TRATTATO, ACCORDO
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces: COMANDANTE IN CAPO DELLE FORZE ARMATE
domestic powers: national, (foreign, international: antonyms) NAZIONALE, DI POLITICA INTERNA
to ensure: guarantee ASSICURARE
to carry out: REALIZZARE, PORTARE A TERMINE, ESEGUIRE
to veto: reject, refuse, disapprove (approve: antonym) OPPORRE IL VETO A
bill: proposed law DISEGNO DI LEGGE
to serve: RESTARE IN CARICA
unable: not capable, powerless, (able: antonym) INCAPACE, NON CAPACE
Vice President : Vice Presidente
to succeed: follow, come after SUCCEDERE, SUBENTRARE A, SEGUIRE
presidency: PRESIDENZA
to preside over: govern, administrate, lead, control, direct, manage PRESIEDERE
Supreme Court: the highest court CORTE SUPREMA
to solve: resolve, explain, answer RISOLVERE
conflict: disagreement, argument, dispute, controversy CONFLITTO
state governments: I GOVERNI DEGLI STATI
to undertake: INTRAPRENDERE, ASSUMERE, INCARICARSI DI, IMPEGNARSI A FARE
unconstitutional: illegal, unauthorized, undemocratic INCOSTITUZIONALE
to preserve: protect, defend, save, care for, PRESERVARE, DIFENDERE
right: DIRITTO
speech: PAROLA, DISCORSO
assembly: meeting ASSEMBLEA
to bear: carry PORTARE, TRASPORTARE, AVERE
arms: weapons, guns ARMI
speedy: quick, immediate, prompt, fast, rapid (slow: antonym) VELOCE
trial: judgment PROCESSO, GIUDIZIO
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