Federalism

President Trump announced on Fox News September 13, 2025, that he would deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, claiming Mayor Paul Young was "happy" about it. Young immediately contradicted Trump, saying he was "certainly not happy" and never requested federal troops. On September 15, Trump signed a presidential memorandum in the Oval Office creating the "Memphis Safe Task Force" with Governor Bill Lee present, who said he was "tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back." The deployment includes National Guard troops plus FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE, and Homeland Security agents, replicating Trump's Washington D.C. model where over 2,000 troops were stationed. Memphis had the nation's highest violent crime rate in 2024 among cities over 100,000 population, but police reported significant decreases across all major crime categories in early 2025, with overall crime hitting a 25-year low. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris called the deployment "anti-democratic" and a "threat to democracy," while over 100 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers were also authorized for the mission.

Know when and how to invoke your constitutional protections. Helps you stand up for yourself in any formal situation.

Figure out what the Constitution actually says about modern issues. Think like a judge when making fair decisions.

Spot when authorities exceed their legal powers. Apply this to any situation where someone abuses their authority.

Knowledge of how power is divided between branches of government

See how different parts of government limit each other's power. Useful for understanding any organization's structure.

Know your basic freedoms and what government can and cannot do to you.