最近，美国政府又部分关门了，并且这次关门还没结束就已经创下了美国政府关门时间最长的历史纪录。那么，美国的政府关门到底是怎么回事呢？
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. 联邦的
partially /ˈpɑːʃ(ə)li/ adv. 部分地、不完全地（由partial加后缀-ly变成副词）
shutter /ˈʃʌtə(r)/ v. 关门、关闭
Democrat /ˈdeməkræt/ n. 民主党人
impasse /ˈæmpɑːs/ n. 僵局、僵持
bill /bɪl/ n. 议案、法律草案
in regards to 跟…有关
funding /ˈfʌndɪŋ/ n. 经费
border security 国界安全（指防止非法移民穿越国界进入美国）
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. 关闭（由shut和down组成）
occur /əˈkɜː(r)/ v. 发生
Congress /ˈkɒŋɡres/ n. 国会
fail /feɪl/ v. 没有做某事
appropriation /əˌprəʊpriˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 拨款
determine /dɪˈtɜːmɪn/ v. 确定、决定
specific /spəˈsɪfɪk/ adj. 特定的
agency /ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/ n. 政府机构
operation /ɒpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 运作、运转（由operate加后缀-ion变成名词）
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. 扩展、展期
resolution /ˌrezəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ n. 决议
temporary /ˈtemp(ə)r(ə)ri/ adj. 临时的、暂时的
measure /ˈmeʒə(r)/ n. 措施
lawmaker /ˈlɔːmeɪkə(r)/ n. 立法者（由law和maker组成；指国会议员）
negotiate /nɪˈɡəʊʃɪeɪt/ v. 谈判、协商
remaining /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/ adj. 剩下的、遗留的
threaten /ˈθret(ə)n/ v. 威胁（由threat加后缀-en变成动词）
veto /ˈviːtəʊ/ v. 否决
seek /siːk/ v. 寻求（sought是过去分词；long-sought意思是寻求了很长时间的）
"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. 层级
employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ n. 雇员、员工
vital /ˈvaɪt(ə)l/ adj. 至关重要的
senior /ˈsiːniə(r)/ adj. 资深的、高级别的
policy /ˈpɒləsi/ n. 政策
committee /kəˈmɪti/ n. 委员会
responsible /rɪˈspɒnsəb(ə)l/ adj. 负责任的
budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ n. 预算
bipartisan /baɪˈpɑːtɪzæn/ adj. 两党的（指共和党和民主党都参与的）
nonprofit /nɒnˈprɒfɪt/ adj. 非营利性的（由profit加上表示否定的前缀non-）
educate /ˈedʒukeɪt/ v. 教育
the public 大众、公众
fiscal /ˈfɪsk(ə)l/ adj. 财政的、公共资金的
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 无薪休假
presidential /ˌprezɪˈdenʃ(ə)l/ adj. 总统的（由president加后缀-ial变成形容词）
appointee /əpɔɪnˈtiː/ n. 被任命者（presidential appointee指由总统任命的官员）
exempt /ɪɡˈzempt/ adj. 被豁免的
postal /ˈpəʊst(ə)l/ adj. 邮政的（由post加后缀-al变成形容词）
TSA 交通运输安全局
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 相当于我国的社保
Medicare 相当于我国的医保
food stamp 食物券（可以用来购买食物，是美国政府发给贫困人口的一种福利）
VA 退伍军人事务部（VA benefits指退伍军人享受的各项福利）
unemployment /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ n. 失业（由employment加上表示否定的前缀un-）
subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/ n. 补贴
tax refund /ˈriːfʌnd/ 退税
"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. 工资支票（由pay和check组成）
ultimately /ˈʌltɪmətli/ adv. 最后、最终
fund /fʌnd/ v. 提供资金
typically /ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li/ adv. 通常
back pay 拖欠的工资
shortly /ˈʃɔːtli/ adv. 不久、马上
The government has shut down 20 times since 1976, the year Congress introduced the Congressional（国会的） 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（指国会为某事拨款以后，总统扣住钱不发，使该事做不成）
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. 一届政府
Republican /rɪˈpʌblɪkən/ adj. 共和党的
be at odds 不和、起争执
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（停滞）. The shutdown cost the country $24 billion of lost economic activity, according to an analysis from ratings agency Standard & Poor's.
the House 指美国众议院（全称是the House of Representatives）
the Senate /ˈsenət/ 指美国参议院
lead to 导致
billion /ˈbɪljən/ n. 十亿
economic /ekəˈnɒmɪk/ adj. 经济的（由economy加后缀-ic变成形容词）
activity /ækˈtɪvəti/ n. 活动（由active加后缀-ity变成名词）
analysis /əˈnæləsɪs/ n. 分析
ratings agency 评级机构
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