What's a government shutdown?
by Jennifer Earl
The federal government has been partially shuttered since midnight on Dec. 22 as President Trump and Democrats continue to be at an impasse over a spending bill – particularly in regards to funding for border security.
federal /ˈfed(ə)r(ə)l/ adj. 聯邦的
partially /ˈpɑːʃ(ə)li/ adv. 部分地、不完全地（由partial加後綴-ly變成副詞）
shutter /ˈʃʌtə(r)/ v. 關門、關閉
Democrat /ˈdeməkræt/ n. 民主黨人
impasse /ˈæmpɑːs/ n. 僵局、僵持
bill /bɪl/ n. 議案、法律草案
in regards to 跟…有關
funding /ˈfʌndɪŋ/ n. 經費
border security 國界安全（指防止非法移民穿越國界進入美國）
A shutdown occurs when Congress and the president fail to sign into law one or more of the 12 appropriations bills (which determine spending for specific government agencies) in order to continue providing funding for government operations.
shutdown /ˈʃʌtdaʊn/ n. 關閉（由shut和down組成）
occur /əˈkɜː(r)/ v. 發生
Congress /ˈkɒŋɡres/ n. 國會
fail /feɪl/ v. 沒有做某事
appropriation /əˌprəʊpriˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 撥款
determine /dɪˈtɜːmɪn/ v. 確定、決定
specific /spəˈsɪfɪk/ adj. 特定的
agency /ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/ n. 政府機構
operation /ɒpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 運作、運轉（由operate加後綴-ion變成名詞）
To avoid a shutdown, members of Congress can give themselves an extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR). The temporary funding measure keeps the federal government open and allows lawmakers more time to negotiate the remaining appropriations bills. But it didn't happen this time because President Trump threatened to veto any CR without funding for the president's long-sought southern border wall.
extension /ɪkˈstenʃ(ə)n/ n. 擴展、展期
resolution /ˌrezəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ n. 決議
temporary /ˈtemp(ə)r(ə)ri/ adj. 臨時的、暫時的
measure /ˈmeʒə(r)/ n. 措施
lawmaker /ˈlɔːmeɪkə(r)/ n. 立法者（由law和maker組成；指國會議員）
negotiate /nɪˈɡəʊʃɪeɪt/ v. 談判、協商
remaining /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/ adj. 剩下的、遺留的
threaten /ˈθret(ə)n/ v. 威脅（由threat加後綴-en變成動詞）
veto /ˈviːtəʊ/ v. 否決
seek /siːk/ v. 尋求（sought是過去分詞；long-sought意思是尋求了很長時間的）
"Essential staff at top level agencies would continue working, but most federal employees whose jobs aren't vital would likely be sent home," said Marc Goldwein, senior policy director of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget – a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that educates the public on fiscal policy issues.
essential /ɪˈsenʃ(ə)l/ adj. 基本的、必需的
level /ˈlev(ə)l/ n. 層級
employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ n. 僱員、員工
vital /ˈvaɪt(ə)l/ adj. 至關重要的
senior /ˈsiːniə(r)/ adj. 資深的、高級別的
policy /ˈpɒləsi/ n. 政策
committee /kəˈmɪti/ n. 委員會
responsible /rɪˈspɒnsəb(ə)l/ adj. 負責任的
budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ n. 預算
bipartisan /baɪˈpɑːtɪzæn/ adj. 兩黨的（指共和黨和民主黨都參與的）
nonprofit /nɒnˈprɒfɪt/ adj. 非營利性的（由profit加上表示否定的前綴non-）
educate /ˈedʒukeɪt/ v. 教育
the public 大眾、公眾
fiscal /ˈfɪsk(ə)l/ adj. 財政的、公共資金的
But not everyone is required to take unpaid leave. The president, presidential appointees and members of Congress are exempt. The Postal Service, the TSA and Air Traffic Control will also continue business as usual.
unpaid /ʌnˈpeɪd/ leave 無薪休假
presidential /ˌprezɪˈdenʃ(ə)l/ adj. 總統的（由president加後綴-ial變成形容詞）
appointee /əpɔɪnˈtiː/ n. 被任命者（presidential appointee指由總統任命的官員）
exempt /ɪɡˈzempt/ adj. 被豁免的
postal /ˈpəʊst(ə)l/ adj. 郵政的（由post加後綴-al變成形容詞）
TSA 交通運輸安全局
Air Traffic Control 空中交通管制
Americans will still be able to get their Social Security and Medicare benefits and food stamps. However, people expecting VA benefits, unemployment benefits, farm subsidies and tax refunds may experience delays.
Social Security 相當於我國的社保
Medicare 相當於我國的醫保
food stamp 食物券（可以用來購買食物，是美國政府發給貧困人口的一種福利）
VA 退伍軍人事務部（VA benefits指退伍軍人享受的各項福利）
unemployment /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ n. 失業（由employment加上表示否定的前綴un-）
subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/ n. 補貼
tax refund /ˈriːfʌnd/ 退稅
"Everyone loses from the government shutdown. An employee loses their paycheck at the time he or she needs it," Goldwein said. "Ultimately, we're going to fund it anyway. Federal employees typically receive back pay shortly upon their return."
paycheck /ˈpeɪtʃek/ n. 工資支票（由pay和check組成）
ultimately /ˈʌltɪmətli/ adv. 最後、最終
fund /fʌnd/ v. 提供資金
typically /ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li/ adv. 通常
back pay 拖欠的工資
shortly /ˈʃɔːtli/ adv. 不久、馬上
The government has shut down 20 times since 1976, the year Congress introduced the Congressional（國會的） Budget and Impoundment Control Act, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget's research. Half of the shutdowns occurred over a weekend.
introduce /ɪntrəˈdjuːs/ v. 引入、使生效
impoundment /ɪmˈpaʊndmənt/ n. 扣押、扣留（指國會為某事撥款以後，總統扣住錢不發，使該事做不成）
act /ækt/ n. 法案
Goldwein says there have really only been three significant government shutdowns in the history of the U.S. Two occurred during the Clinton administration in the winter of 1995 to 1996. Former President Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress were at odds and shut the government down for a total of 26 days, Goldwein said.
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪk(ə)nt/ adj. 重要的
administration /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 一屆政府
Republican /rɪˈpʌblɪkən/ adj. 共和黨的
be at odds 不和、起爭執
The third occurred during the Obama administration in 2013 when a stalemate（僵局） between the House and Senate led to a 16-day hiatus（停滯）. The shutdown cost the country $24 billion of lost economic activity, according to an analysis from ratings agency Standard & Poor's.
the House 指美國眾議院（全稱是the House of Representatives）
the Senate /ˈsenət/ 指美國參議院
lead to 導致
billion /ˈbɪljən/ n. 十億
economic /ekəˈnɒmɪk/ adj. 經濟的（由economy加後綴-ic變成形容詞）
activity /ækˈtɪvəti/ n. 活動（由active加後綴-ity變成名詞）
analysis /əˈnæləsɪs/ n. 分析
ratings agency 評級機構
Goldwein says shutdowns "waste money" more than they "cost money." He explained: "Instead of paying employees to work, we're paying them not to work."
英文原文節選自Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-happens-during-a-government-shutdown-7-things-you-should-know
聲明：目前我們沒有任何收費的課程或服務，也沒有創建任何微信群。如果您看到有人以我們的名義，或者自稱跟我們合作，售賣課程或者拉您進群交流的，都是冒名頂替，請您不要上當受騙。