The Courts and the States

Rafa: Mom, everything comes from Washington: the schools, the police… even the driver's license.

Lupe: Name one power that is only for the states.

Rafa: Easy: printing money. Each state makes its own money, right?

Lupe: Mmm… Print money?

Rafa: … Not that either?

Grandpa: Rewind.

Grandpa: The third branch is the judicial branch: the courts. The highest one is the Supreme Court.

Grandpa: The courts review the laws and decide if a law goes against the Constitution.

Grandpa: The Supreme Court has nine justices. To decide a case, usually five are needed. And they serve for life, to be independent of politics.

Grandpa: Now, power is shared. Only the federal government prints money and declares war.

Grandpa: And only the states provide schools, the police… and the driver's license. I know a little about that one.

Grandpa: The Tenth Amendment says it: powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

Rafa: Fifty! One per state.

Grandpa: Rafa! Fifty again? Count the chairs, Lupe.

Lupe: Nine.

Grandpa: Good. Another one: How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

Lupe: For life.

Rafa: For life? What a great job!

Grandpa: It's so nobody can pressure them, kiddo.

Lupe: Your turn, mijo: Name one power that is only for the federal government.

Rafa: Mmm… Print paper money?

Grandpa: Now you got it, kiddo.

Lupe: My fourth stamp in the passport!

Grandpa: Four out of twenty, Lupe. That's a fifth of the way.

Grandpa: Now, your ear. Listen to the officer, answer out loud… then repeat after me.

Officer: What is the highest court in the United States?

Grandpa: Supreme Court. suh-PREEM KORT.

Officer: How many seats are on the Supreme Court?

Grandpa: Nine. NINE.

Officer: How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

Grandpa: For life. for LIFE.

Officer: What does the judicial branch do?

Grandpa: Reviews laws. ri-VYOOZ LAWZ.

Officer: Name one power that is only for the federal government.

Grandpa: Print paper money. PRINT PAY-per MUN-ee.

Officer: Name one power that is only for the states.

Grandpa: Give a driver's license. giv uh DRY-verz LYE-sens.

Lupe: Nine justices for life… and the state gives the license!

Grandpa: And the money, the federal government. Say them out loud every day, Lupe.

Rafa: Okay, okay… the license doesn't come from Washington. Got it.