cross-posted from the Texas Tenth Amendment Center

One, two, three
One, two, three,
One, two, three

STOP! STOP! STOP!

Barrack, I swear…  You must have two left feet.

Don’t snicker George, if Barrack has two left feet, you surely must have two right ones.

Again…  From the top…

The Constitutional Three Step…

One, two, three
One, two, three
One, two, three

STOP!  STOP! STOP!

I see with the dunderheads in this class, I will AGAIN have to explain these steps.  Now, Tom and James were such excellent dancers.  Will I ever have students like them again?

I had hoped since our last class, you all would take home your pocket Constitution and read it.  Show of hands.  How many did their homework?

That is what I thought.  None of you.

*cough*

Step One:
The Federal Government can only pass the type of laws listed in Article I: Section 8.

Step Two:
Article IV: Clause 2 mentions the Supremacy Clause.  It must be noted, that the Supremacy Clause only applies to what is listed in Article I: Section 8

Step Three:
The Tenth Amendment states that if it isn’t listed in Article I: Section 8, therefore it falls back to the States and to the People.  Since this is part of the Bill of Rights and thus, an Amendment…   It takes precedent over the prior dance steps.

Yes Barrack, even over step two.

Now is that so hard?

*Sigh*

It must be with this lot…

Now, again from the top…

One, Two, Three
One, Two, Three
One, Two, Three

STOP! STOP! STOP!

No Nancy, you can’t just pass a bill without reading it.  Take your pocket Constitution and have a seat and read it again and FOCUS on Article I: Section 8.

Franklin, the Supremacy Clause doesn’t allow you to tell a man what to do with wheat that he grows on his own land.  Neither does the Commerce Clause in Article I: Section 8. Now join Nancy and read your pocket Constitution as well.

George, you and your Patriot Act just doesn’t disrupt the Constitutional Three Step, but the Bill of Rights Waltz as well.  In the corner with the Dunce Cap for you!

Anthony, you clearly got GONZALES v. RAICH wrong.  You missed all three steps with that one!  Go join Nancy and Franklin.

Actually…

I give up for today.  HOMEWORK!  I want all of you to read your pocket Constitution.  Maybe… Just maybe the steps of this dance will start to sink in.

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