US History – In Our Law
“In Our Law” covers the basic structure, function, and principles of the United States Constitution.
“In Our Law” Lyrics:
Constitutional principles, separation of powers
And the Unwritten Constitution
It’s all part of our laws
In our Law: Principles of the Constitution
In our Law: Separation of Powers too
In our Law: There’s unwritten implied inclusions
And the document can be changed
With amendments to keep improving
Follow along closely so it won’t get convoluted
The Supreme Law of the Land is called the Constitution
Here’s a list of principles made up by those who devised it
To help keep it unbiased and ultimately guide it
The first major principle is called Federalism
It explains the State vs. National power division
The Federal Government had powers they said “are ours”
This list is known as the Delegated Powers
It includes declaring war still true currently
Regulating interstate commerce and printing currency
Now the States had powers for themselves preserved
Powers not belonging to the Federal Gov. are Reserved
These include making drivers license regulations
Laws for marriage and divorce and standards for education
There are some laws that both the Federal and State service
These simultaneous powers are called the Concurrent
They can both levy taxes and have a system of courts
Have their own system of roads that they fix when there’s holes
Then there’s a set of powers not specifically assigned
To either the State or Federal and these are called Implied
Congress has the power to pass all necessary laws
This is protected by the Elastic or the Necessary and Proper Clause
The Elastic or the Necessary and Proper Clause
In our Law: Principles of the Constitution
In our Law: Separation of Powers too
In our Law: There’s unwritten implied inclusions
And the document can be changed
With amendments to keep improving (2x)
But how to keep the powers separate? We need answers
The Constitution divided the government into Three Branches
Each branch has a list of powers they call their own
And a federal building for business that they call their home
Let’s start with the Legislative law-making end of it
It’s Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives
They possess the power to tax the country’s residents
Declare war on foreign nations and impeach the President
The President has its own branch: it’s the Executive
Composed of the Chief Executive and the Vice-President
The Commander-in-Chief during times of conflict
Gets office by winning the majority in the Electoral College
The third: the scales of justice are a useful symbol
The Supreme Court makes up the branch called the Judicial
They interpret the law according to the Constitution
And can exercise the power of Judicial Review, son!
This Separation of Powers addressed the greatest challenges
Ensured equal branch power with Checks and Balances
This includes vetoes and Judicial Review
Two-thirds override in Congress to prevent power abuse
In our Law: Principles of the Constitution
In our Law: Separation of Powers too
In our Law: There’s unwritten implied inclusions
And the document can be changed
With amendments to keep improving (2x)
There are ideas and processes not written in the document
But they are as essential to the government as the populace
This includes the keeping of a Presidential Cabinet
The group of close advisors on all sorts of subject matters
Also unwritten are committees in Congress
They champion certain causes and get bills into process
Political Parties aren’t in the Constitution too
We could have an abundant amount but seem to prefer two
(Boo!) That makes it simple to choose
Marbury v. Madison produced Judicial Review
All these unwritten laws keep the Constitution bending
And one of the most important features is the power to amend it
Amendments are the ability to change and adapt
The Constitution as time moves away from the past
What’s that?
Amendments are the ability change and adapt
The Constitution as time moves away from the past
Let’s bring it back.. . .
Principles of the Constitution (it’s always changing)
Separation of Powers (it’s a living document)
The Unwritten Constitution
That’s right (We the People)
The Law of the Land
In our Law: Principles of the Constitution
In our Law: Separation of Powers too
In our Law: There’s unwritten implied inclusions
And the document can be changed
With amendments to keep improving (2x)
