英語学習

英語ニュース教材：It’s showdown time for the Fed’s independence at the Supreme Court（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The independence of the Federal Reserve, often referred to as the Fed, is currently being tested in the United States Supreme Court. This situation began when former President Donald Trump attempted to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s governing board. The Federal Reserve has a long history of autonomy, having operated independently from political influence for over 112 years. The case raises significant questions about the separation of powers and the extent to which a president can interfere with the operations of the Federal Reserve.

Lisa Cook, an experienced economist, was appointed to the Federal Reserve’s board to help guide the country’s monetary policy. Her removal by President Trump is controversial because it challenges the established norms and laws that have protected the Fed from political pressure. The Supreme Court’s decision on this matter will not only affect Lisa Cook’s position but could also set a precedent for future interactions between the government and the Federal Reserve.

The Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in the American economy by managing interest rates and regulating banks. Its independence is vital to ensure that economic policies are made based on data and expertise, rather than political agendas. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of President Trump, it could lead to increased political influence over the Fed, potentially affecting the stability of the U.S. economy.

The outcome of this case is being closely watched by economists and policymakers around the world. It is expected to have far-reaching implications, not just for the United States, but for global financial markets as well. A decision that undermines the Fed’s independence could lead to economic uncertainty, influencing everything from stock markets to international trade agreements.

📝 Vocabulary

  • independence: freedom from control or influence of another party
    例文: “The country’s independence from colonial rule was celebrated annually.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • maintain independence
    • declare independence
    • gain independence
    独立
  • precedent: an earlier event or action regarded as an example or guide
    例文: “The court’s decision set a new legal precedent.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • legal precedent
    • set a precedent
    • follow a precedent
    前例
  • autonomy: the right or condition of self-government
    例文: “The university was granted autonomy from the state education system.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • grant autonomy
    • maintain autonomy
    • seek autonomy
    自治
  • monetary: relating to money or currency
    例文: “The government implemented new monetary policies to control inflation.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • monetary policy
    • monetary system
    • monetary authority
    貨幣の
  • influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something
    例文: “The politician had a significant influence on public opinion.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • exert influence
    • political influence
    • influence over
    影響

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Perfect Tense – “The independence of the Federal Reserve, often referred to as the Fed, is currently being tested in the United States Supreme Court.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
現在完了形は、過去から現在に至るまでの状態を表します

💡 使用場面

現在完了形は、過去から現在に至るまでの継続的な状態や経験を表す際に使用されます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The Supreme Court case is about President Trump attempting to appoint Lisa Cook to the Federal Reserve.
  2. MCQ: Who was Lisa Cook?
    a) A Supreme Court judge
    b) An economist on the Federal Reserve board
    c) A member of Congress
    d) A financial advisor to President Trump
  3. MCQ: What is at stake in this Supreme Court case?
    a) The independence of the Supreme Court
    b) The autonomy of the Federal Reserve
    c) Lisa Cook’s future career in politics
    d) The stability of international trade agreements
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) An economist on the Federal Reserve board
  3. b) The autonomy of the Federal Reserve

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is the main issue being addressed in the Supreme Court case?
  2. Why is the independence of the Federal Reserve important?
  3. What does the word “precedent” mean in the context of this article?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. The main issue is President Trump’s attempt to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve board, challenging its independence.
  2. The independence ensures that economic policies are made based on expertise and data, not political agendas.
  3. Precedent means an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

この裁判は、アメリカの金融政策を担う連邦準備制度（FRB）の独立性が問われる重要な事件です。トランプ前大統領がFRB理事会のリサ・クック氏を解任しようとしたことが発端で、法と先例に反する行動とされています。FRBの独立性は、政治的圧力から自由であることが求められ、経済政策が専門知識とデータに基づいて行われるために重要です。この裁判の結果次第では、政治的影響が強まり、アメリカ経済だけでなく、世界の金融市場にも不確実性をもたらす可能性があります。

Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/nx-s1-5674893/supreme-court-federal-reserve-lisa-cook

RELATED POST