Civics in Washington

We live in a constitutional democracy.  Respect for the rule of law is essential to a safe, orderly and peaceful society. As citizens we tend to be aware of our rights, but we need to be conscious of key concepts like separation of powers and the checks and balances between the three branches of government.  We need to appreciate the significance of judicial independence, the presumption of innocence and the right to an attorney in criminal matters.  We also need to be conscious of our responsibilities as citizens, and take those responsibilities seriously.  This section is explores rights and responsibilities, key civics concepts, civics education, and opportunities to be involved with civics organizations.