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 […]
What Would the Founders Think about AI?
What would the Founders think about AI expansion in America? This gives us a modern-day test of constitutional issues that still matter today: centralized power, factions, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Federal Power Was Meant to Be Limited James Madison explains in Federalist No. 45 that constitutional federal power is limited, while the […]
9/11 Remembrance: Honoring Courage and American Resolve
How does a nation commemorate a surprise attack on its own soil by invaders who wished to take down our country decisively? What has history shown? I was thinking of 9/11/21. I also thought of times like the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the overwhelming power of the British during our […]
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists: Key Differences in Constitutional Debate
Who were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? As we consider the Constitutional debates, let’s clarify these two groups of patriots. Yes, that’s right. Both groups were patriotic Americans and supported the Constitution. They raised different but compelling concerns over what type of Constitutional government would best serve Americans then and in the future. Why the […]
Labor Day: Honoring the American Work Ethic
Before Calvin Coolidge became president, he was governor of Massachusetts. He wrote the following eye-opening statement on September 1, 1919: Calvin Coolidge on the Value of Toil “I cannot think of anything characteristically American that was not produced by toil (work). I cannot think of any American man or woman preeminent in the history of […]
Constitution Day 2026: Why the U.S. Constitution Still Matters for ‘We the People’
Welcome back to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship, where we are highlighting Constitution Day (September 17). It’s vital that Americans remember the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land.” Even amid distractions, We the People are responsible for the direction of our government. Its success or failure rests with us. Let’s reflect on this […]
What Was at Stake? The Constitutional Debate
We think today’s political climate is contentious, but what about the Constitutional debates prior to adopting and ratifying our U.S. Constitution? At stake was whether we would have a national government or a loose confederation of states. The Birth of American Government: A Story o f Dialogue and Debate Each side had pros and cons. […]
Why Are Young People Voting for Communism?
Understanding Today’s Youth Political Trends I’m still sorting out why so many young people are voting for communists these days. The thought resonated with me that, for this generation, supporting communism (what they call “democratic socialism”) vocally and by voting, these young people feel like they are doing something to fix America’s problems. In other […]
Preserving American Values: Lessons From the Founders
“It has been often said that the people of this country will decide the important question of whether societies can establish a good government by careful thought and choice. Or whether people are forever destined to be governed only by accident and force.” (Webster, Mary E. The Federalist Papers in Modern Language. 2018. p. 1) […]
Guarding Liberty: Why Americans Must Reclaim Responsibility
During the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, many Americans refused to comply with a mask ordinance, not believing in its effectiveness. Perhaps in that day and at that time, Americans didn’t look to the elected to run their lives. They didn’t believe that the rich and powerful knew more than they did. They respected the elected, […]
Is Your College Degree Really Worth the Cost?
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?” Passion vs. Paycheck: Choosing the Right Major Our younger generation firmly believes that they should study subjects that indulge their passions. So, they attend a […]
