Pass That Civics

Yeah,

FCLE,

we got this,

Constitution,

court cases, let’s lock this in.

Popular sovereignty — people have the say,

Consent of the governed — that’s the American way.

Rule of law — everybody follows rules,

Limited government — power has its tools.

Separation of powers, three branches in the mix,

Checks and balances keep the balance fixed.

Federalism splits power — state and federal,

Due process keeps procedures fair and legal.

Legislative — makes the laws,

Executive — enforces laws,

Judicial — interprets laws,

Three branches, remember them all!

Congress, President, Supreme Court,

Checks and balances keep power short.

“We the People,” Constitution strong,

Remember these words and sing along!

Declaration — 1776,

Natural rights are in the mix.

Life and liberty, government by consent,

Independence was the document’s intent.

Articles came first but the government was weak,

So the Constitution was the change they’d seek.

Federalist Papers said, “Ratify!” Anti-Federalists wanted rights supplied.

Then came the Bill of Rights — amendments one through ten,

Protecting individual freedoms again.

First — speech, press,

religion, petition, assembly, Second — bear arms,

remember it carefully. Fourth — search and seizure needs protection,

Fifth — due process,

self-incrimination. Sixth

— speedy and public trial,

Eighth

— cruel punishment? Not the style.

Tenth

— powers not federal can stay with the states,

Thirteenth ended slavery — remember that date.

Fourteenth — citizenship, due process,

equal protection, Fifteenth — race can’t block voting participation.

Nineteenth — women gain voting protection,

Twenty-sixth — 18 is the voting-age connection.

Marbury v. Madison — judicial review,

Courts can check constitutionality too.

McCulloch v. Maryland — federal power wins,

Necessary and Proper Clause kicks in.

Brown v. Board — school segregation struck down,

Equal protection helped turn things around.

Gideon v. Wainwright — attorney if you need,

Miranda v. Arizona — rights before they proceed.

Tinker v. Des Moines — student speech has protection,

New York Times v.

U.S. — press and First Amendment,

United States v. Nixon — President follows law,

Executive privilege isn’t above it all.

Who makes laws?

— CONGRESS!

Who enforces?

— PRESIDENT!

Who interprets?

— COURTS!

Highest law? — CONSTITUTION!

Power from the people?

— POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY! Power divided?

— SEPARATION OF POWERS!

State plus national? — FEDERALISM!

Court checks constitutionality? — JUDICIAL REVIEW!

Legislative — makes the laws,

Executive — enforces laws,

Judicial — interprets laws,

Now I know my civics laws!

Founding documents, amendments too,

Landmark cases — I know what they do.

FCLE,

I studied it all,

Read that question and RECALL! (recall!)