Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the fundamentals of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Understanding the 25th Amendment and Presidential Succession

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Have you heard rumblings about the 25th Amendment in the past few days? I sure have, and from different sources, too.  To be "in the know," let's quickly review this section of the Constitution. You may find one or more of the sections to be of great interest. The Twenty-fifth Amendment concerns presidential succession and disability. "In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice-President shall become President.” Why Do We Have the 25th Amendment? So, why do we have the 25th Amendment? It's a crucial part of our Constitution, designed to ensure the smooth functioning of our government in times of crisis or incapacity. At the dawn of the 20th century, the President's responsibilities increased as the nation grew in population and prominence. The world became more dangerous. Mobility made tragedies more possible. Medicines were developed, and life expectancy was extended. It became possible in the mid-20th century to have a …

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Timeless Workplace Decorum: Lessons from George Washington

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In an age where incivility feels normal, George Washington’s teenage rules offer a surprising guide to workplace and public decorum. Some years ago, followers of Common Sense Civics and Citizenship studied George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” (Applewood Books, 1988). We learned about the rules of life that George Washington adopted for himself at the young age of fourteen. He has a lot to teach us in this day and age, where uncivil behavior has almost become a “given.” Let’s do a refresh of one timeless lesson from Washington’s book. One Timeless Rule: Don’t Argue with Your Superiors Rule #40 says, “Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.” The question I ask you (and me) is this: Are we teachable people? If the boss corrects us or asks us to redo something, do we think it is not their place to do so?  In life, we may not like what authority tells us to do or …

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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

Understanding the 25th Amendment and Presidential Succession

Have you heard rumblings about the 25th Amendment in the past few days? I sure have, and from different sources, too.  To be “in the know,” let’s quickly review this section of the Constitution. You may find one or more of the sections to be of great interest. The Twenty-fifth Amendment concerns presidential succession and […]

Timeless Workplace Decorum: Lessons from George Washington

In an age where incivility feels normal, George Washington’s teenage rules offer a surprising guide to workplace and public decorum. Some years ago, followers of Common Sense Civics and Citizenship studied George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” (Applewood Books, 1988). We learned about the rules of life that George […]

United by Founding Principles: Restoring Common Ground

Walter Isaacson, in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster), talks about how the self-evident truths (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) in the Declaration of Independence became the foundation of the American government. He writes, “These truths became the creed that bound a diverse […]

Restore Majority Rule: End the Filibuster

Does it bother you that TSA and other federal workers go unpaid during shutdowns?” It does me. Let’s look at this issue. Origins: How the Filibuster Began (1806) At the heart of the matter is the filibuster rule, which was established in 1806 by accident (!) You see, the U.S. Senate unintentionally eliminated a rule […]

Action Over Anger Always

What good comes from fretting our nation? Action, not anger, offers a far better chance of changing things than venting and complaining. I’ve recently been asked by fellow citizens why “Congress doesn’t do something about this or that!” Here is one example: “Why doesn’t Congress stop third parties from ‘jacking up’ the price of concert […]

Understanding and Preserving Our Fundamental Rights

If someone were to ask you what your fundamental rights as an American are, how would you answer? Many people cite freedom of religion or the right to bear arms as their fundamental American rights. However, those rights are in the Constitution, specifically, the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. Our country was born in […]

Parchment and Promise: American Founders’ Courage

Standing before the original Declaration at the National Archives, I felt the quiet gravity of the moment—56 pens poised to risk everything to birth a nation. It’s Summer, 1776. The signers of the Declaration of Independence gather for an overwhelming task. What kind of guts does it take to start a nation that puts The […]

Unalienable or Inalienable: Which Right Is Correct?

In this year of America’s 250th birthday, we continue our study of the Declaration of Independence. Do you say “inalienable” or “unalienable”? Origin of “unalienable” in the Declaration of Independence Walter Isaacson, in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster), points out that the word “inalienable” […]

Avoid Tribal Media: Choose Civic Unity

Problems caused by partisan, manipulative, and low‑quality media What kind of media should Americans avoid if they don’t want to break up into a tribal nation (a nation where citizens divide politically, economically, socially, and go to war against each other and eventually break apart)? See also https://civicsandcitizenship.org/americas-challenge-preventing-a-tribal-future/ Don’t consume a steady diet of media […]