Visiting the State House and ... toots

The kids and I took a field trip yesterday to Augusta to participate in the
Liberty Kids Day program in Maine.

March 16th, 2006 is the 255th anniversary of the birth of James Madison, the 'Father of the Constitution,' and the official Liberty Day as recognized by the Congress of the United States. Kids will be going into their respective state capitols all over this country to give out free copies of the US Constitution and to quiz legislators, lobbyists, employees, visitors and guests with their factual questions from the text of the Constitution.

"Quizzing" people at the State House yesterday really taught them more about the historic document better than I ever could have imagined.



And I have to say, the lawmakers and visitors at the State House (lobbyists, lawyers, realtors there for a meeting and lots of other people) were really great. They stopped to answer the kids' questions and all seemed pleased to wear the "I got quizzed" stickers the kids gave out to thank them.

Here's a couple of questions the kids asked.

• What's the 19th Amendment?
  
• Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy?
  
• What are the five rights in the First Amendment?
  

Answers are below if you don't know them Out of all the questions the kids asked the one that very few knew the answer to was the five rights in the First Amendment. And after several adults didn't get it right (although the lawmakers knew, visitors could only name a couple), the kids took pleasure in telling them the answer because they did know. It's one Amendment I don't think they'll forget because of this experience. Of course, Bunny and Flat Stanley came with us. A view of the dome from the inside. We went in the Law and Legislative Reference Library just to look around and L. found a copy of the state's Constitution from 1821. "Take a picture with Bunny. Look at the old pages. It's like a million years old." she whispered. Well, we weren't at the State House to learn math... Then a helpful tour guide told us about the State House Dioramas in the basement so we went to check them out. "Look, the moose is sniffing Bunny!" After spending the morning at the State House, we had lunch and went to the State Museum. The kids loved exploring the museum but the highlight of the visit was the 1920s car display. It was classic "potty humor" and L. couldn't resist. "Mommy, you have GOT to see this. It is so funny!"
Quiz Answers:

19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

Commander-in-Chief is the President (many people thought it was a trick question because it seemed too easy)

1st Amendment - freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition