The Constitution solution
Congressman tells local students all answers to federal government lie in one important document
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| Elizabeth A. Lehnerer photo U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) discussed the Constitution and his job in Congress with students at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Collinsville on Monday. |
If there's one thing U.S. Rep. John Shimkus wanted to convey to the eighth-graders at Holy Cross Lutheran School on Monday it was that if they had a question about the federal government, they could find the answer in the Constitution.
"If I don't know the Constitution, I don't know my job responsibilities," Shimkus told students at the Collinsville school.From the branches of government to the significance behind his Congressional pin, Shimkus conveyed to the students in Nancy Lochmann's class the importance of the document that established America's government over 200 years ago.
But the lesson wasn't just about listening. Shimkus, who is a former teacher at Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, grilled the students on their own knowledge about the goings-on in Washington, D.C.
He asked how many members there were in the House of Representatives (435), how many senators were in the senate (100, or two per state) and where they all work (the Capitol building) and the length of their terms (two years in the House, six years in the Senate).
He also showed students his identification card, which is also used when he votes on resolutions, and explained the voting process where a red button means "no," a green button is "yes," and an orange button is "present."
"I don't get sent to Washington to vote 'present'," he said. "'Present' is the wimpiest of all the votes."
Shimkus said there are some instances, like when there's a conflict of interest, where voting 'present' is all right. But that doesn't happen often.
"Most of the time, there's no good reason to vote 'present'," he said.
Shimkus' son David, who is in eighth grade at the school, felt the pressure. He said it was good to have his dad visit the class but "I just don't know (the answers) to any of his questions."
Shimkus visits about 30 schools each year to discuss politics and government with students.
