- Published on
环保局无权限制发电厂碳排放(下)
- Authors
首席大法官罗伯茨的意见将保守派法律运动的一个核心目标向前推动了一步，即限制这个国家的行政权力。
双语精读
More broadly, the court was asked to address whether Congress must "speak with particular clarity when it authorizes executive agencies to address major political and economic questions." That theory is often referred to as the "major questions doctrine," and it played a key role in Thursday's decision.
在更广泛的层面上，最高法院被要求回答国会“在授权行政机构处理重大政治和经济问题时”，是否必须“使用特别清晰的措辞”。这一说法通常被称为“重大问题原则”，在周四的裁决中发挥了关键作用。
Chief Justice Roberts, employing the phrase for the first time in a majority opinion, said it applied in cases of unusual significance and was meant to address "a particular and recurring problem: agencies asserting highly consequential power beyond what Congress could reasonably be understood to have granted."
首席大法官罗伯茨在主要意见书中首次采用了这一名称，他说，重大问题原则适用于具有不同寻常意义的案件，旨在解决“一个特殊且反复出现的问题: 某些机构维护自己极为重大的权力，而这种权力超出了国会为人所理解的合理授予范围。”
The provision of the Clean Air Act the Biden administration pointed to was too oblique, and so ran afoul of the major questions doctrine, the chief justice wrote.
首席大法官写道，拜登政府指出的《清洁空气法案》条款过于拐弯抹角，因此与重大问题原则相抵触。
Chief Justice Roberts's opinion advanced a central goal of the conservative legal movement, that of curtailing the power of the administrative state. But it did so in a characteristically measured way.
首席大法官罗伯茨的意见将保守派法律运动的一个核心目标向前推动了一步，即限制这个国家的行政权力。但是保守派的做法一如既往地审慎。
In a full-throated 19-page concurring opinion, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, joined by Justice Samuel Alito Jr., elaborated on what the chief justice had written.
大法官尼尔·戈萨奇和大法官小塞缪尔·阿利托在一份长达19页的协同意见书中，详细阐述了这位首席大法官所写的内容。
"When Congress seems slow to solve problems, it may be only natural that those in the executive branch might seek to take matters into their own hands," Justice Gorsuch wrote. "But the Constitution does not authorize agencies to use pen-and-phone regulations as substitutes for laws passed by the people's representatives."
“当国会在解决问题上行动迟缓时，正常的做法可能就是行政部门设法自己动手解决问题，”大法官戈萨奇写道。“但宪法没有授权行政机构使用笔头和口头规定来代替人民代表通过的法律。”
In dissent, Justice Kagan wrote that the statute at issue in the case had given the agency ample authority.
大法官卡根提出异议并写道，作为本案焦点的法规已经赋予了环保局充分的权力。
"The Clean Air Act was major legislation, designed to deal with a major public policy issue," she wrote, adding: "Congress knows what it doesn't and can't know when it drafts a statute; and Congress therefore gives an expert agency the power to address issues - even significant ones - as and when they arise."
“《清洁空气法案》是一部重大法规，旨在解决一个重大的公共政策问题，”她写道，并补充，“国会在起草法规时很清楚自己不知道和无法知道哪些事情；因此，国会赋予专门机构在问题出现时去解决这些问题的权力，甚至包括意义重大的问题。”
She added that the agency was best suited to take on climate change. "This is not the attorney general regulating medical care, or even the C.D.C. regulating landlord-tenant relations," she wrote. "It is E.P.A. (that's the Environmental Protection Agency, in case the majority forgot) acting to address the greatest environmental challenge of our time."
她补充说，环保局是应对气候变化最合适的机构。“这不是总检察长在监管医疗问题，甚至也不是疾控中心在监管房东和租客之间的关系。” 她写道，“而是EPA（也就是环境保护局，以防多数派法官们忘记了这是什么机构）要采取行动，应对我们这个时代最大的环境挑战。”
词汇预习
issue [高考]
美[ˈɪʃuː] | 英[ˈɪʃuː]
n. 问题，议题，争论点；（报纸、杂志等的）期刊号；发放，分配；（新股票或邮票等的）发行；子女，后嗣；流出，发出 v. 发表，颁布；分发，分配；正式发行；流出，发出；由……产生，由…得出
economic [高考]
美[ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk] | 英[ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk]
adj. 经济的，经济学的；有利可图的；节约的
significant [高考]
美[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt] | 英[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt]
adj. 重要的；有意义的；意味深长的；显著的
executive [高考]
美[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv] | 英[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv]
adj. 行政的；决策的；经营的；[计算机]执行指令 n. 行政主管；行政部门；决策者
reasonably [高考]
美[ˈriznəblɪ] | 英[ˈri:znəbli]
adv. 适度地；相当地；合理地；有理性地
landlord [高考]
美[ˈlændlɔːrd] | 英[ˈlændlɔːd]
n. 地主；房东
consequential [高考]
美[ˌkɑnsəˈkwenʃl] | 英[ˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃl]
adj. 重要的；间接的；随之发生的；自高自大的
provision [高考]
美[prəˈvɪʒn] | 英[prəˈvɪʒn]
n. 提供，供应；准备，预备；（尤指为旅行准备的）食物，必需品；条款，规定；赡养，供养；准备金 v. 为…提供所需物品（尤指食物）；（为已知债务）留出准备金
agency [高考]
美[ˈeɪdʒənsi] | 英[ˈeɪdʒənsi]
n. 代理；代理处；政府机构
theory [高考]
美[ˈθiːəri] | 英[ˈθɪəri]
n. 学说；理论；原理；意见
political [高考]
美[pəˈlɪtɪkl] | 英[pəˈlɪtɪkl]
adj. 政治的；政治上的；政党的；人事的；争权夺利的
majority [高考]
美[məˈdʒɔːrəti] | 英[məˈdʒɒrəti]
n. 大多数；大部分；多数票；（获胜的）票数
chief [高考]
美[tʃiːf] | 英[tʃiːf]
adj. 主要的；首要的 n. 首领
legal [高考]
美[ˈliːɡl] | 英[ˈliːɡl]
adj. 法定的；法律的；合法的
justice [高考]
美[ˈdʒʌstɪs] | 英[ˈdʒʌstɪs]
n. 公平；公正；正义；司法；法官；法律制裁
administration [高考]
美[ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn] | 英[ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn]
n. 实施；管理；行政；行政部门；任期
significance [高考]
美[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns] | 英[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns]
n. 重要性；意义
arise [高考]
美[əˈraɪz] | 英[əˈraɪz]
vi. 出现；升起；上升；发生；起来
conservative [高考]
美[kənˈsɜːrvətɪv] | 英[kənˈsɜːvətɪv]
adj. 保守的；守旧的 n. 保守派(党)；保守的人
ample [高考]
美[ˈæmpl] | 英[ˈæmpl]
adj. 丰富的；宽敞的；充足的
in case [高考]
美[ɪn keɪs] | 英[ɪn keɪs]
conj. 万一，以防；如果
take on [高考]
美[teɪk ɑːn] | 英[teɪk ɒn]
承担；呈现；接受；从事；较量；开始雇用
clarity [高考]
美[ˈklærəti] | 英[ˈklærəti]
n. 清楚；透明
tenant [四级]
美[ˈtenənt] | 英[ˈtenənt]
n. 房客；佃户；承租人；[律]占用者 vt. 租赁；租借
administrative [四级]
美[ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtɪv] | 英[ədˈmɪnɪstrətɪv]
adj. 行政的；管理的
legislation [四级]
美[ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn] | 英[ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn]
n. 法律；法规；立法
broadly [四级]
美[ˈbrɔːdli] | 英[ˈbrɔːdli]
adv. 概括地；大体上；宽广地；广泛地；明白地；无礼貌地
authorize [四级]
美[ˈɔːθəraɪz] | 英[ˈɔːθəraɪz]
vt. 批准；委托；授权
attorney [四级]
美[əˈtɜːrni] | 英[əˈtɜːni]
n. (辩护)律师
advanced [四级]
美[ədˈvænst] | 英[ədˈvɑːnst]
adj. 先进的；高级的
doctrine [六级]
美[ˈdɑːktrɪn] | 英[ˈdɒktrɪn]
n. 学说；教义；主义；（政府政策的）正式声明
dissent [专四]
美[dɪˈsent] | 英[dɪˈsent]
n. 异议 v. 持异议
statute [考研]
美[ˈstætʃuːt] | 英[ˈstætʃuːt]
n. 法令；法规；条例
afoul [托福]
美[əˈfaʊl] | 英[əˈfaʊl]
adj. 相冲突的 adv. 相冲突地
pointed [托福]
美[ˈpɔɪntɪd] | 英[ˈpɔɪntɪd]
adj. 尖的；尖锐的；直截了当的；有针对性的
recurring [托福]
美[rɪ'kɜɪŋ] | 英[rɪ'kɜ:rɪŋ]
adj. 再发的；循环的
重点讲解
More broadly, the court was asked to address whether Congress must “speak with particular clarity when it authorizes executive agencies to address major political and economic questions.” That theory is often referred to as the “major questions doctrine,” and it played a key role in Thursday’s decision.
在更广泛的层面上，最高法院被要求回答国会“在授权行政机构处理重大政治和经济问题时”，是否必须“使用特别清晰的措辞”。这一说法通常被称为“重大问题原则”，在周四的裁决中发挥了关键作用。
authorize v.
1. 授权；委托
【例】I have authorized him to act for me while I am away.
我已授权他在我外出时代理我的职务。
2. 批准；许可；认可
【例】to authorize a housing project 批准一项住房建筑项目
【拓展】authority n. 权力；批准；当局；权威
unauthorized adj. 未经授权的
Chief Justice Roberts, employing the phrase for the first time in a majority opinion, said it applied in cases of unusual significance and was meant to address “a particular and recurring problem: agencies asserting highly consequential power beyond what Congress could reasonably be understood to have granted.”
首席大法官罗伯茨在主要意见书中首次采用了这一名称，他说，重大问题原则适用于具有不同寻常意义的案件，旨在解决“一个特殊且反复出现的问题: 某些机构维护自己极为重大的权力，而这种权力超出了国会为人所理解的合理授予范围。”
assert v.
1. 肯定地说；坚定地说
【例】She continued to assert that she was innocent.
她仍然坚称自己无辜。
2. 维护（权力或权威）
【例】to assert your independence/rights 维护你的独立性/权利
【搭配】assert oneself 显示自己的威力
【例】Justice will assert itself. 正义必会得到伸张。
grant v. & n.
1. 作动词
（1）（正式地）同意；批准
【例】The bank finally granted me a $500 loan.
银行终于同意给我贷款 500 美元。
【搭配】grant sb sth/grant sth to sb 同意给某人某物
（2）勉强承认
【例】I grant you (that) it looks good, but it's not exactly practical.
我承认你说的，它好看，可并不是很实用。
2. 作名词：拨款
【例】student/research grants 助学金/研究经费
The provision of the Clean Air Act the Biden administration pointed to was too oblique, and so ran afoul of the major questions doctrine, the chief justice wrote.
首席大法官写道，拜登政府指出的《清洁空气法案》条款过于拐弯抹角，因此与重大问题原则相抵触。
run afoul of 与……相抵触
（英文释义：to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule）
【例】to run afoul of the law 违犯法律
measured adj.
1. 整齐的；相同的
【例】the measured march of soldiers 士兵们整齐的步调
2. 慢而稳的
【例】He walked down the corridor with measured steps.
他迈着缓慢而沉重的脚步沿着走廊走去。
3. 慎重的；克制的；有分寸的
【例】She replied in a measured tone to his threat.
她以很有分寸的语气回应了他的威胁。
Chief Justice Roberts’s opinion advanced a central goal of the conservative legal movement, that of curtailing the power of the administrative state. But it did so in a characteristically measured way.
首席大法官罗伯茨的意见将保守派法律运动的一个核心目标向前推动了一步，即限制这个国家的行政权力。但是保守派的做法一如既往地审慎。
run afoul of 与……相抵触
（英文释义：to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule）
【例】to run afoul of the law 违犯法律
measured adj.
1. 整齐的；相同的
【例】the measured march of soldiers 士兵们整齐的步调
2. 慢而稳的
【例】He walked down the corridor with measured steps.
他迈着缓慢而沉重的脚步沿着走廊走去。
3. 慎重的；克制的；有分寸的
【例】She replied in a measured tone to his threat.
她以很有分寸的语气回应了他的威胁。
In a full-throated 19-page concurring opinion, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, joined by Justice Samuel Alito Jr., elaborated on what the chief justice had written.
大法官尼尔·戈萨奇和大法官小塞缪尔·阿利托在一份长达19页的协同意见书中，详细阐述了这位首席大法官所写的内容。
elaborate v. & adj.
1. 作动词：详细描述
【例】Could you elaborate on your proposals?
你可以详细说明一下你的那些建议吗？
【拓展】elaboration n. 详细描述
【例】The importance of the plan needs no further elaboration.
这个计划的重要性无须赘述。
2. 作形容词：复杂的；精心制作的
【例】an elaborate design/computer system 精心做出的设计/精密的计算机系统
take matters into one’s own hands 亲自处理某事
【例】When the police failed to catch her son's murderer, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
警察没能抓住杀害她儿子的凶手，于是她决定自己去追凶。
“When Congress seems slow to solve problems, it may be only natural that those in the executive branch might seek to take matters into their own hands,” Justice Gorsuch wrote. “But the Constitution does not authorize agencies to use pen-and-phone regulations as substitutes for laws passed by the people’s representatives.”
“当国会在解决问题上行动迟缓时，正常的做法可能就是行政部门设法自己动手解决问题，”大法官戈萨奇写道。“但宪法没有授权行政机构使用笔头和口头规定来代替人民代表通过的法律。”
elaborate v. & adj.
1. 作动词：详细描述
【例】Could you elaborate on your proposals?
你可以详细说明一下你的那些建议吗？
【拓展】elaboration n. 详细描述
【例】The importance of the plan needs no further elaboration.
这个计划的重要性无须赘述。
2. 作形容词：复杂的；精心制作的
【例】an elaborate design/computer system 精心做出的设计/精密的计算机系统
take matters into one’s own hands 亲自处理某事
【例】When the police failed to catch her son's murderer, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
警察没能抓住杀害她儿子的凶手，于是她决定自己去追凶。
In dissent, Justice Kagan wrote that the statute at issue in the case had given the agency ample authority.
大法官卡根提出异议并写道，作为本案焦点的法规已经赋予了环保局充分的权力。
at issue 讨论的焦点
（英文释义：to be the most important part of the subject that is being discussed）
【例】What is at issue is whether she was responsible for her actions.
议论的焦点是她是否对自己的行为负有责任。
as and when （表示特殊情况）在……的时候
【例】We don't own a car—we just rent one as and when we need it.
我们没有车，需要用的时候我们就去租一辆。
“The Clean Air Act was major legislation, designed to deal with a major public policy issue,” she wrote, adding: “Congress knows what it doesn’t and can’t know when it drafts a statute; and Congress therefore gives an expert agency the power to address issues — even significant ones — as and when they arise.”
“《清洁空气法案》是一部重大法规，旨在解决一个重大的公共政策问题，”她写道，并补充，“国会在起草法规时很清楚自己不知道和无法知道哪些事情；因此，国会赋予专门机构在问题出现时去解决这些问题的权力，甚至包括意义重大的问题。”
at issue 讨论的焦点
（英文释义：to be the most important part of the subject that is being discussed）
【例】What is at issue is whether she was responsible for her actions.
议论的焦点是她是否对自己的行为负有责任。
as and when （表示特殊情况）在……的时候
【例】We don't own a car—we just rent one as and when we need it.
我们没有车，需要用的时候我们就去租一辆。
She added that**** the agency**** was best**** suited**** to**** take**** on**** climate change****.**** “This is**** not the attorney**** general regulating**** medical care****,**** or**** even**** the C.D.C.**** regulating**** landlord****-tenant**** relations,” she wrote.**** “It is**** E.P.A.**** (that’s the Environmental Protection**** Agency****,**** in**** case**** the majority**** forgot****)**** acting**** to**** address the greatest**** environmental challenge of**** our time****.”
她补充说，环保局是应对气候变化最合适的机构。“这不是总检察长在监管医疗问题，甚至也不是疾控中心在监管房东和租客之间的关系。” 她写道，“而是EPA（也就是环境保护局，以防多数派法官们忘记了这是什么机构）要采取行动，应对我们这个时代最大的环境挑战。”
课后练习
The major question doctrine is designed to ____.
A. emphasize the importance of clarity in legislation
B. protect the authority of executive agencies
C. offer guidance on how to solve major political issues
D. prevent agencies from exceeding their authority
The ruling of the majority justices shows that ____.
A. the Clean Air Act fails to address climate challenges
B. the conservative legal movement is of great importance
C. the conservative justices intend to limit administrative power
D. the majority justices are cautious about reducing emissions
According to Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, ____.
A. Congress is slow to adapt to new reality
B. executive agencies are allowed to act independently
C. administrative regulations are opposed by people
D. ignoring congressional laws is unacceptable
What does Justice Kagan think of the case?
A. Congress has noticed the potential weakness of Clean Air Act.
B. E.P.A. has both authority and duty to deal with carbon emissions.
C. E.P.A. enjoys a wider scope of power than the C.D.C.
D. The ruling reveals the majority’s indifference to climate risks.