来自《耶鲁大学开放课程：现代社会理论基础 第4集 第4集》

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  who is the sovereign?
  来区分不同的政体
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  Montesquieu changes somewhat the discourse.
  孟德斯鸠稍微改变了这种论述
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  He is interested in the manner of governments,
  他的兴趣点在于政府的品质
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  how people who are in authority rule;
  在于掌权者如何统治
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  the real basic distinction,
  在于真正的基础性区别
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  whether a government is moderate or whether it is despotic.
  即政府是宽和抑或暴虐
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  Well,what are the questions when you try to judge
  当你试图判断一个政府的性质
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  the nature of a government?
  你将面临什么问题
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  One important question he said you should ask:
  孟德斯鸠认为 首先你应该问
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  Are the various powers separated or not?
  这些不同的权力是否分立
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  Irrespective who rules--whether it can be a king,
  不管谁来统治 国王也好
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  it can be an elected president,
  民选总统也好