2006年VOA标准英语-Philippine Supreme Court Rejects Changing Polit
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（十月）
By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
25 October 2006
The Philippine Supreme 1 court has ruled against allowing a referendum on whether the country should change to a parliamentary system of government - dealing 2 a major blow to President Gloria Arroyo 3 who has been pushing for the change.
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By a vote of eight to seven, the 15-member court dismissed the "People's Initiative" petition to change the Philippine system of government.
Attorney Gleo Guerra announces Supreme Court decision dismissing petition for People's Initiative to amend 4 the Constitution, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006
The court ruled the petition to hold a referendum on switching to a parliamentary form of rule would be illegal because only Congress can pass such sweeping 5 revisions to the constitution.
Court Spokeswoman Gleo Guerre explained the decision in Manila.
"Under the constitution, the People's Initiative can only apply for amendments 6 to the constitution," she said. " And the proposed changes to the constitution, according to the court, constitutes revisions."
President Gloria Arroyo's government had backed the petition for a public vote on adopting a parliament. Her allies had secured more than six million signatures to endorse 7 it.
But Guerre says the Supreme Court - in throwing out the petition - also questioned the legitimacy 8 of those signatures, saying it was not clear if people knew what they were signing.
"The court found that the signatures were obtained irregularly, because they were just placed on the signature sheet and they were not appended [attached] to the actual petition containing the text of the proposed changes. In short, there was a lack of adequate showing that the people who signed knew the changes that they are affixing 9 their signatures to," she said.
Protesters display placards while shouting slogans during a picket 10 outside the Supreme Court, Wednesday Oct. 25, 2006
Advocates, including the president, had been pushing to switch to a parliament from the current American-style two-chamber Congress as a means to end political deadlock 11 between the opposition 12 controlled Senate and the administration-friendly House of Representatives. President Arroyo has argued this would bring faster policy making and greater economic growth.
Opponents of the charter change, known here as "cha cha", say Mrs. Arroyo, who has survived two impeachment 13 bids and at least one coup 14 attempt, was just trying to eliminate her opponents in the Senate. They note it could have allowed her to stay in office after her term ends in 2010.
Senator Franklin Drilon, a key opponent of the Mrs. Arroyo, hailed Wednesday's decision, saying it shows the independence of the court in the face of what he called 'brazen 15 pressure.'
- 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。
- This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
- His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
- She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
- They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。
- The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
- You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。
- The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
- Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？
- 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。
- No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
- I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。
- The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
- Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。
- Formally approves a document by affixing a signature. 以签名的形式正式批准文件。 来自互联网
- Forfixing, insulating, shock affixing parts or screws of many items such as appliances, stereos, and eyeglasses. 电器、音响响、光学学、电脑等的零件、螺丝固定绝缘、防震与接著。 来自互联网
- They marched to the factory and formed a picket.他们向工厂前进,并组成了纠察队。
- Some of the union members did not want to picket.工会的一些会员不想担任罢工纠察员。
- The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
- The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。
- The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
- The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
- Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
- The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。
- The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
- That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。