[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 162 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H4545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IS NOT FOR THE LAZY OR THE FAINT OF HEART

  (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked what 
type of government our founders had created with the U.S. Constitution, 
and his response was: ``A republic, if you can keep it.''
  Why? Because representative democracy is not for the lazy or the 
faint of heart. American democracy relies upon an informed, engaged 
citizenry. We require immigrants to pass a difficult test when they 
become citizens, but we currently require little to ensure that our 
children are prepared for that role.
  I have been a proponent of civics education for my entire life, and 
it is more important than ever to help our schools provide high quality 
civic education. Our young people need to understand how government 
works; how they can effectively advocate for themselves and their 
communities; and how to navigate the masses of disinformation found 
online.
  Last Friday, on Constitution Day, I introduced a bipartisan bill with 
Representative Meijer, the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act, to promote 
high-quality, evidence-based civic education and service learning 
programs in K-12 public schools.
  Our Constitution has a rich, complicated history. If we want to keep 
it, we need to teach it.

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