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 important responsibility. The Enduring Relevance of the U.S. Constitution Do you think the Constitution applies to all times in American history? Or, should its meaning deviate from the original intent of the Founders and "live and breathe" with changing times in history? Some argue that only academics or legal scholars can truly interpret the Constitution. However, the document was written for all Americans, not just the intellectual elite. The Founders, who were themselves highly capable, designed the Constitution to serve as the organic law of the land for everyone. Importantly, they included a method to amend the Constitution when …
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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. An agreement on how our nation would operate had to be reached. Compromise was the answer, but reaching an acceptable conclusion that benefited both sides proved challenging. We can learn something from these first U.S. citizens and leaders. Why the Founders Valued Civil Disagreement As in any disagreement, these eighteenth-century citizens took sides. On one side were the Federalists. The Anti-Federalists represented the other side. The Federalists wanted a strong national government. The Anti-Federalists wanted strong states and a limited central government. No one wanted to return to a monarchy that gave one person all the power over …
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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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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) […]
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Is Your College Degree Really Worth the Cost?
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The Rise of Communism: Its Impact on American Values
You may find the news increasingly upsetting lately. There is more coverage of murder, more surveys showing that young people under 40 want communism (socialism, Marxism, etc.), and free stuff. There are more lawsuits, more declines in public education, and more sexual issues at the forefront of the news. Why does everything around us seem […]
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How do you want to be governed? Today we are seeing people elected or running for elected office who profess communism. A Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leader said a few weeks ago that the goal of the DSA is communism. Note: socialism, democratic socialism, and various pseudonyms are sellable versions of the same endgame- […]
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If you care about the future of our country, it makes sense to learn about the current cultural shift toward socialism and away from a Constitutional Republic. I’ve been hearing a lot about the revised Democratic Socialists of America platform that is to be made public in a few weeks at the Socialists Summit. This […]
