13.The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights (1791)，became the first ten amendments to the constitution of the American constitutional—the Bill of Rights.By then,it is agreed, the foundation of the American constitutional system was completed.
Safeguards for individual liberty under the Constitution: the Bill of Rights. It is the term used for the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

The Thirteenth Amendment,which banned slavery,was added to the Constitution in December,1865.( Abraham Lincoln)

14. the Great Depression(1929-1937) and the New Deal
Stock market crash (1929): America’s stock market crash came on October 24,1929, called the black Thursday. The gross national product(GNP) shrank
Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal
His “fireside chats” 炉边谈话
the New Deal: Measure of the New Deal include
establishment and strengthening of government regulation and control of banking;
Federal government management of relief and security system;
recovery of industry and agriculture;
passage of federal labour laws;
improvement of the situation of minorities and members of certain religious groups.
These measures,was to “save American democracy”.and help overcome the most serious economic crisis of the capitalist system up to that time.
15. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
杜鲁门主义和马歇尔计划
the Truman Doctrine: the U.S government should support any country which said it was fighting against commuism. It was put forward by the U.S. President Truman in 1947
The Marshall Plan: In order to protect Western Eutope from possible Soviet expansion, the U.S. decided to offer Werstern European countries economic aid. It was annouced by Secretary of State George Marshall on June 5, 1947.

16. Political Institution
a federal system of government
eparation of powers with checks and balances under the Constitution: The Constitution divides the government into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. Each branch has only part of the powers but not all the powers

17. Powers of the American president
The president is the head of the executive branch
He is also head of state elected by the whole nation.
He has some legislative powers;
He is responsible for the relations of the United States with foreign nations;
He signs Bills passed by Congress into law.
He appoints fedeal officials;
He has some judicial powers; commander-in-chief(总司令)
He can serve for no more than 2 term.

18 Powers of the House of Representatives:
the House of Representatives can
①    introduce legislation,
②    revenue bills and
③    bring charges against officials, including the President
Powers of the Senate:
the Senate has the power to
①    introduced legislation on any subject except revenue bills (除了税收法案).
 It has the authority to ②confirm or reject predidential appointments(总统任命) of high officials as well as the U.S. foreign treaties. ③Its chairman is the Vice President

19. The judicial system has evolved into the present structure: According to the Constitution, the judicial power of the U.S shall be vested in one Supreme Court. The judicial system has evolved into the present structure: the Supreme Court, 11 court of appeals, 91 district courts, and 3 courts of special jurisdiction. U.S.judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

20. education
需要注意：the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution said education was included among the responsibilities which were “reserved to the states or the people”, This makes it clear that education is a function of the state, not the federal government.

Elementary and secondary education
The elementary school curriculum mainly consists of mastery of the “basics” ， such as reading, writing, and arithmetic or mathematics.
Secondary Schools
High schools are made up of comprehensive, academic, vocational and technical schools with somewhat different tasks. There are 21000 public secondary schools and a number of private secondary schools in the US.
Different types of colleges and universities:
①research universities
②    doctoral universities
③    master’s comprehensive colleges and universities.
④    Liberal arts colleges
⑤    junior colleges
⑥    specialized institutions

21.Holidays and Festivals
New year’s Day
Valentine’s Day
Independence Day(July 4)
Halloween(October 31) 万圣节
Thanksgiving Day
Chrismas(December 25)













Canada
the capital: Ottawa
Self-government and the foundation of the Confederation:
①    sir John Macdonald was the first prime minister.During his time, Canada expanded in territory to its present size
②    Canada became an independent nation from a former dominion in 1931, by the Statute of Westminster.Since then Canada became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Australia(capital: Canberra)
composition of Australia’a population
Australia has a population of 18 million, 1.5% of which, that is 250000 are Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander people.is one of the most urbanized counties in the world.80% of Australians live in the suburbs of coastal cities and towns

New Zealand(capital: Wellington)
The size of the country is similar to Britain or Japan.It has two main islands:North Island and South Island
Three volcanic mountains in North Island: Ruapebh, Ngeaurohoe and Tongariro.
the largest lake: Lake Taupo(托波湖)
the highest peak: Mt Cook in South Island南岛的库克山
New Zealand is just west of the International Date Line,so it is the first country to get the new day.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are the most serious potential natural disasters.
Kiwis（几维鸟）: symbol of New Zealand.
The anniversary of the signing, February 6, is celebrated as New Zealand National Day, Waitangi Day, and is a national holiday.

Ireland(Capital Dublin)
Languages in Ireland:two offical languages—Irish(Gaelic盖尔语) and English.
Irish Catholicism: predominates in Ireland and Catholic religious practice is extremely high in Ireland.
the issue of Northern Ireland: As a result of the conflict ,in 1921, the British signed the Anglo—Irish Treaty ,establishing an Irish Free State with dominion status, with a separate government in the Protestant-dominated North Ireland