Why is the Veteran important? A first reaction might be, “who would ask such a thing? Of course, Veterans are important! But, have you ever given thought to why this is so? It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s talk about it. I first heard of this subject when it became the VFW’s Voice of Democracy […]
Threats to Democracy?
We’re hearing rumblings about “threats to democracy.” Exactly, what does that mean? First, let’s define “democracy.” Founder James Madison called it “mob rule.” It’s a majority vote, no debate. That’s why our Founders adopted a Constitutional Republic where debate occurs, not a revolving door of hot-headed legislation. Recently, democracy has been described as “three wolves […]
Term Limits
There are term limits! We can vote out any Representative after a 2-year term, a Senator after a 6-year term, or a President after a 4-year term. We don’t think of elec-tions as term limits, but our Founders did. The blame for career politicians rests solely on We the People because we vote for the […]
Building a Strong Nation
A strong nation starts with family, then friends, then communities and cities, then regions, then a strong country built on the solid support of ties that bind, not ones that break us down into petty groups with all our differences. Let’s talk about how to build a strong nation. Build Relationships First Do you have […]
North American Union and You
There is a movement afoot that seldom, if ever, makes national news. It’s called the “North American Union.” It is a long-range plan that’s been in the works for years. The goal is to erase the borders between contiguous countries to the north and the south of the U.S., leaving one ginormous nation called the […]
How Do You Select Leaders?
When you cast your ballot, what factors determine who you choose to lead? How do you select leaders? That was the topic in my Jr. High civics class this week. It sounds so simple, but then again, it’s not easy, as my ‘tweens discovered. Maturity I asked the students what “maturity” meant. One child answered, […]
The Doctrine of Separation of Powers
Chess pieces on chess board illustrate the separation of powers.
What Is a Convention of States?
What’s all this talk about a Convention of States? What is it exactly? It is an agreement of at least 2/3 of the state legislatures (34 states) to call a meeting (convention) to discuss SPECIFIC proposals regarding an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
October Surprises
We hear a lot about anticipated “October Surprises” at this time of the year. These events may change our minds, focus, or direction rather suddenly.
Global, National, and State Issues Affecting Your Life
Let’s apply common sense civics and citizenship to global, national, and state issues affecting your life. These subjects have been rolling around in my brain because they affect my life, country, and my world. A State Issue Affecting Your Life We’ve talked about gerrymandering, the controversial but legal practice of redrawing elec-toral districts to gain […]
How Can You Know a Candidate?
Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship! We are a month away from elections, so it’s time to be thinking about the candidates, their credentials, but most of all, finding out who they are from reliable sources-namely the candidate’s own actions. Let’s jump right in! How can you know a candidate? You […]
Making Article 1 Interesting Again
How do you make the U.S. Constitution’s Article I interesting enough for Americans to pay attention to it? Let me tell you. It’s a challenge! This week, I will teach 7th and 8th graders an overview of the Constitution. A few hours later, I teach Article I to homeschooled high schoolers. The next night, I […]
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. […]
