Constitution Song

(I'm no poet, obviously, but my niece and I worked this out for a Government class, and I liked it well enough to post it.  Some of the rhymes are bumpy, and of course the references to current government figures will mean nothing in ten years.  But here it is.)

Hail the Constitution

(to be sung or recited to the beat of “Yankee Doodle”)

In Washington there is a group

Of pols we call the Congress

They write our laws and pass the bills

That fix our federal messes.

Chorus:

Hail, oh Hail, the Constitution

Congressman will use it,

Boehner, Biden, but watch out!

Obama yet must sign it.

A new law may be introduced

In either house of Congress,

And starts upon its longish trail,

In subcommittee darkness.

If they approve, the subcommittee,

Pass to full committee

And go a-voting yes or no

The excitement makes us giddy!

Now each House of Congress must

Debate the pending measure,

Then take a vote that’s based upon

Its wisdom, need, or treasure.

Ohio’s Boehner pushes laws

As Speaker of the House

Or lets them languish in a drawer

Or stuffs them in his blouse.

If Veep Joe Biden’s out of town,

Pat Leahy takes his job

As President pro-tem he rules

The Senate and its mob.

House and Senate must agree

To pass the proffered law.

If debates and votes are yes,

Its given to Obama.

If President Obama likes

The bill, he then can sign it.

But if he thinks if won’t do good

His veto pen will kill it.

This president has yet to use

A veto on a bill

Unlike some other presidents;

G. Cleveland loved to kill!

If signed the bill becomes a law

And then, for worse or better,

The Republic must abide by it

(Unless the Courts think better!)

So this is how our laws are made .

You’d better not forget it!

‘Cause if you do you’ll get an F

And then be thought a nitwit!