Civics & Citizenship

Founding-documents-based American civics education

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Candace teaches the fundamentals of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Should Voting Be Mandatory? Exploring Universal Voter Participation

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Should you have a legal obligation to vote? Have you heard about Universal Civic Voting? I wrote about it two years ago ( https://civicsandcitizenship.org/common-sense-applied-3/). Connecticut did not pass this bill, but there is still interest in potentially reaching 100% voter participation in Connecticut by 2030. The Push for Voter Participation It seems the COVID pandemic and mail-in voting have led some states to consider making this arrangement permanent. In my state, I received a mailed questionnaire asking whether I wanted to vote by mail-in ballot permanently. I would then receive a ballot automatically by mail every year.  Mail-In Ballot: Convenience and Concerns One problem is that if I died, the ballots could keep coming indefinitely. Of course, I gave a resounding “NO!” to this idea. However, I talked to a man whose relative doesn't want to go out to vote and thinks mail-in ballots are a great idea. I proposed using an absentee ballot (more reliable than …

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Three Common Misconceptions About America’s Founding Documents

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I've heard it more times than I can count… “Judges are appointed for life.”  This is not true! I showed my Jr. high students a copy of Article III in the Constitution. I had them see it for themselves: “The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior…” The Truth About Judicial Appointments: Good Behavior, Not Life Terms United States v. Hatter, 532 U.S. 557, 567 (2001), explains the Good Behavior Clause, which grants federal judges the practical equivalent of life tenure unless the House of Representatives impeaches them and the Senate convicts them. In the minds of tweens and young teens, “if you behave, you stay. If you misbehave, you can be impeached, but only the Senate can throw you out of office.” Beyond “Taxation Without Representation”: The Full List of Colonial Grievances Here’s another misnomer: If you ask the average American why the colonies took up arms against England in the War for Independence, aka the …

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I educate Americans on who we are, what we stand for, and how to communicate with one another!
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Candace has a variety of teaching experiences and is a certified instructor for adults and homeschoolers through the Institute on the Constitution. Her hobbies include walking, world travel, Pilates, writing, and spending time with her grandsons. …

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Recent Articles

Should Voting Be Mandatory? Exploring Universal Voter Participation

Should you have a legal obligation to vote? Have you heard about Universal Civic Voting? I wrote about it two years ago ( https://civicsandcitizenship.org/common-sense-applied-3/). Connecticut did not pass this bill, but there is still interest in potentially reaching 100% voter participation in Connecticut by 2030. The Push for Voter Participation It seems the COVID pandemic […]

Three Common Misconceptions About America’s Founding Documents

I’ve heard it more times than I can count… “Judges are appointed for life.”  This is not true! I showed my Jr. high students a copy of Article III in the Constitution. I had them see it for themselves: “The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior…” […]

How Character, Consistency, Constitution, and Courage Should Guide American Voting

Why Race, Gender, and Class Dominate Election Choices Based on the news, Americans seem to make race, gender, or class a litmus test for voting for a candidate. Shouldn’t we emphasize character, consistency, the Constitution, and courage? If so, why don’t we make this the norm? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s discuss it. The […]

Uncovering the Real Christopher Columbus: Facts, Myths, and His Impact

(This is an updated version of the original article) Think you know a lot about Columbus? After all, many of us rely on childhood stories or contemporary professors to assess Columbus. Will the real Columbus please stand? Enter historian Bill Federer. His uncanny knack for explaining historical facts with words, pictures, and word pictures is […]

Know Your Rights: The Bill of Rights Made Easy

Do you know what rights the Bill of Rights guarantees to you as a U.S. citizen? If you ask around, you might be surprised how many Americans aren’t sure. Let’s change that!  -The Bill of Rights is a part of the Constitution, not a separate document.  -Our rights are God-given, not government-granted.  -The five freedoms […]

Quick Quiz on U.S. Constitutional Basics for Students and Learners

Think you know the foundations of American government? Put your knowledge to the test with this quick quiz on the basics of the U.S. Constitution. Whether you’re a student, a lifelong learner, or just brushing up on your civics, these questions will help you review essential constitutional principles in a fun and interactive way. Quiz […]

Why Constitutional Process Still Matters

Power and Control Power and control are magnets for human beings. Anyone who is tuned in to our world today can see the attraction at work in industry, education, media, and politics. Our Founders knew this, so they structured our government with horizontal separation of powers and vertical boundaries between local, state, and national government […]

What Are Checks and Balances? A Teen-Friendly Guide

How would you explain checks and balances to high school students? This concept goes over the heads of many adults, let alone teenagers, so let’s review it. What Are Checks and Balances? First, our Founders developed checks and balances to avoid tyranny, plain and simple. If the government is divided in its responsibilities, each branch […]

Why Knowing the Three Branches of Government Matters for Americans

Alarming Statistics: Americans and Civic Knowledge One in three Americans cannot name the three branches of government. Only 11% can name two of the three branches of government. Also, 16% cannot name any branch of government. (1) Why should you care? The Role of Citizens in a Representative Government Since We the People run the […]