KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY: A Star on the Rise

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Lucy Butler, and Audra Butler, respectively, at Bexley Elementary School

Why is this 10-year-old a future leader of America? Because she is not throwing away her shot! Lucy Butler is in the fifth grade at Bexley Elementary School in Pasco County, Florida, and now she’s a winning essayist, too! Inspired by her love of the Broadway musical Hamilton, Lucy’s thoughts on “Why Is the United States Constitution Important?” took first place in the 2020 Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Essay Contest. She was presented with a trophy, medal, and gift card by Clerk Nikki Alvarez-Sowles. (Lucy blows us all away, especially her mom and our staff member, Audra Butler!)

“Why Is the United States Constitution Important?”

By Lucy Butler

Hamilton is my favorite musical, but before I was introduced to it, I really didn’t think about the U.S. Constitution. I didn’t know how important it was. So, I started researching!

I learned that the Constitution created the government as we know it, and it gave us the first set of laws for our society. Our government has three branches – the Legislative, the Judicial, and the Executive. They all work together to make sure our country operates and functions correctly. The Legislative branch makes the laws, the Judicial branch makes sure that the laws follow the rules of the Constitution, and the Executive branch enforces the laws. This process is called “checks and balances.”

The U.S Constitution protects the rights of American citizens. In our country, the government does not hold us back from being free. We can say or write what we want (unless it’s plagiarism), we can choose our religion, and we can protest things that aren’t fair. The Constitution also gives us the right to vote (but you have to be 18 or older and registered).

Alexander Hamilton was a defender of the Constitution. Along with Founding Fathers James Madison and John Jay, he wrote “The Federalist Papers” to help people understand the Constitution better and why they should support it.

Even though that was more than 230 years ago, the Constitution is still very important today. This year is an election year, and with COVID 19 happening as well, citizens need to vote for the good of the U.S.

Hamilton and our Founding Fathers worked so hard to create the Constitution and to make sure our country lived on after them. Now it’s time for us to do our part!

Lucy Butler reads her essay to her classmates and her mom, Audra Butler, at Bexley Elementary School

Lucy took something she loved and turned it into a winning essay, which is why she is a star on a rise! As a future leader, she is an inspiration to kids in the community! We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes, as she is sure to take after her mother Audra Butler!