How can an alleged would-be murderer be declared innocent until proven guilty, even with overwhelming evidence? What does the Constitution say about the presumption of innocence? Although you may not find the phrase “innocent until proven guilty” directly quoted in the U.S. Constitution, the principle forms the backbone of our justice system and is affirmed […]
Citizenship, Character, and Political Violence
What about the discipline and character of Americans who assassinate or attempt to assassinate high-profile people? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s examine it together. The first thing I notice, and maybe you do, too, is how much attention these murderers or attempted murderers get. The false, yet often repeated, saying, “negative attention is better […]
Teaching the Declaration Still Matters Today
As the school year winds down, I am preparing a Jr. High civics lesson on the reasons to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Why the Declaration Still Matters Today, many in our country don’t seem to understand the brilliance of the Declaration of Independence. Instead of embracing that our rights come from God, they place their […]
Power, Celebrity, and Impulsive Misconduct
I believe people who have been given power and control by We the People sometimes fall into sexual misconduct —not because they think they are so amazing, but because power and celebrity are fuel for impulsive behavior. It must come as a shock when these highly respected people are removed from power, when the cultural […]
American Courage: Triumphs, Resolve, Innovation
A supreme display of courage and American spirit in the last few weeks has taken the edge off the constant bombardment of negativity in the media. American greatness is a citizenship issue. Let’s discuss it. Artemis II Re-entry: A Nation Inspired The Artemis II crew and their high-stakes re-entry captivated Americans, especially those new to […]
Rediscovering Common Ground: Binding a Nation
What does it actually mean to find common ground in our nation today? Let’s continue our discussion based on the writings of Walter Isaacson in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (2025). Isaacson’s “Common Ground” and the Greatest Sentence In his chapter “Common Ground,” Isaacson asserts that the Declaration’s self-evident truths “became the creed […]
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 […]
