Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the notions of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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The Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land

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Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. As I teach my  adult students, I realize how many have little knowledge of what the Constitution actually says and what it does for We the People of the United States. That’s the subject of today’s articles. Let’s dive right in! A cornerstone is the first stone laid in a structure. It is the reference stone by which all other stones in that building are laid. It is only one stone of a large structure but it is the most important because it carries the weight of the structure. The U.S. Constitution combined with the Declaration of Independence serve as our cornerstone of our American government. Here are some cornerstone facts about our Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land: Our Constitution limits and defines the federal government’s powers so we do not come under tyranny from any one group or individual. Our Founders did not want us to be subject to a tyrant. We are subject to the Constitution. We are …

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Think and Do, Not Feel and Repeat

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Are you tired of arguing? Have you lost friends and relatives over your opinions?  Let me ask you: What's the difference between a debate question and a policy question? Not knowing the answer separates the closest of friends these days in our country. We must understand the difference to lay the groundwork for a civil conversation about our government. Let's think this through. First, know or be willing to look up information in the Constitution itself. Many people may argue with you, but they're claiming the viewpoint of the politician, press, or professor. They actually don't know what the document says! You are automatically one up if you know even a small amount about our founding documents! I can help with that as we study together here on the Common Sense Civics and Citizenship page. Next, learn this fact like the back of your hand: If the Constitution doesn't give the federal government the power to do something, it can't be done. As I tell my students, "If the …

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I educate Americans on who we are, what we stand for, and how to communicate with one another!

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

The Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land

Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. As I teach my  adult students, I realize how many have little knowledge of what the Constitution actually says and what it does for We the People of the United States. That’s the subject of today’s articles. Let’s dive right in! A cornerstone is the […]

Think and Do, Not Feel and Repeat

Are you tired of arguing? Have you lost friends and relatives over your opinions?  Let me ask you: What’s the difference between a debate question and a policy question? Not knowing the answer separates the closest of friends these days in our country. We must understand the difference to lay the groundwork for a civil […]

Constitution Day, 2022

Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, where we’ve been thinking about Constitution Day (September 17). I hope Americans never lose sight of the fact that the Constitution remains the “Supreme Law of the Land.” In all the distractions, we still want to remember that We the People run the U. S. […]

We Miss Us

American citizens generally like order, not confusion. We appreciate beauty, aspire to be an exceptional country, and want to see respect given to whom it is due. We don’t see these attributes in the news. It’s like we are being shielded from the good. The world appears lop-sided, and we are bystanders to the fray. […]

Americans Want Personal Freedom

Who wants to be told who, where, and how to associate with other people? Or how to socialize with them? Or have our every word screened and scrutinized? I was given one of these scoldings recently, constantly being corrected and placing motives on me that are not now or ever intended.

Civic Duty

What qualities of citizenship are we passing on to the next generation? Is it not our civic duty? I hear all sorts of interesting adjectives to describe Queen Elizabeth II as people pay tribute to her following her passing. She was the Queen for about 30% of the time our country has existed, as well […]

Name-Calling

What is a semi-fascist? A significant number of people think selected Americans should be labeled with that moniker. I have a philosophy about public name-calling. Such behavior is devoid of intellect, ideas, or personal responsibility. It is character assassination. The way of our American forefathers is to think before you speak or write. When you […]

Who Should Pay Your Debt?

How much is your degree worth?  Isn’t that the question Americans should be asking themselves, rather than  “Can I get my fellow Americans to pay off some of my debt?” Our younger generation firmly believes that they should study subjects that indulge their passions. So, they attend a college that holds classes only Mondays through […]

Labor Day 2022

Labor Day– a time to celebrate the fruits of your hard work. How will you be celebrating Labor Day? Hats off to all of you who work or give your support to those who do.  I looked at a list of occupations and began thinking about the people who make my life easy. Take, for […]