Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the notions of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Reviving the Declaration: Its Modern Relevance

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Exploring the Declaration of Independence Americans may have learned about the Declaration of Independence at some point, but what they genuinely want to know is its relevance to today.  I conduct workshops on this very subject. People come with high expectations to review or to learn for the first time what's in this founding American document. We learn together, line by line. The discoveries made and the questions participants ask always make for a lively discussion. Questions about the Declaration of Independence One interesting question I recall was about the time Supreme Court nominee (now Justice) Amy Coney Barrett was asked about the role the Declaration of Independence plays in interpreting the Constitution. Justice Barrett answered that the Declaration of Independence is not binding law. I agree. I explained to my audience that the Declaration lays out the "why" of our separation from Great Britain ("Let the facts be submitted to a candid world…"). It is …

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Celebrate and Cherish Independence

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We are celebrating the Declaration of Independence, where our Founders declared that we have unalienable rights, “that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (including your property rights).” We learn of the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and that “all” means “ALL.” Yet, we find a significant number of Americans who prefer the Communist way of tyranny like it is some bright, shiny, new object to behold. A simple search of Khrushchev, his words, the USSR, or dictators of the twentieth century would make any American want to celebrate July 4 every day of the year. Do We Know What We Have in the Declaration of Independence? In 1956, when Nikita Khrushchev said, “We will bury you,” and, “Your grandchildren will live under communism,” I believed he was serious- especially when he wielded his shoe, pounded on the table, shook his finger at his audience or his fist in the air. I was a child under the age of 6.  While other kids collected …

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I educate Americans on who we are, what we stand for, and how to communicate with one another!
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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

Reviving the Declaration: Its Modern Relevance

Exploring the Declaration of Independence Americans may have learned about the Declaration of Independence at some point, but what they genuinely want to know is its relevance to today.  I conduct workshops on this very subject. People come with high expectations to review or to learn for the first time what’s in this founding American […]

Celebrate and Cherish Independence

We are celebrating the Declaration of Independence, where our Founders declared that we have unalienable rights, “that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (including your property rights).” We learn of the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and that “all” means “ALL.” Yet, we find a significant number of […]

United We Stand: The Power of Participation

Recently, a relatively new American citizen, whose agenda includes abolishing prisons and defunding the police, won the nomination for New York City mayor. In California, there is a mayor, via social media, allegedly calling upon criminal gang members to stand up to ICE. Apply the Principles of Self-Government We the People get the government we […]

Understanding Civics: What is History’s Role?

My recent articles have generated an interesting question. As an example, see https://civicsandcitizenship.org/who-controls-america-states-or-federal-government. History buffs want me to include former times to show where and how they believe our country deviated or went off the rails in their opinion. They strongly desire me to shed the light they have on the issues. Why would I […]

Unity Over Division: A Call to Action

Washington’s Warning: A Timeless Truth George Washington, our first president, warned against Americans dividing into political parties and factions in his farewell address, on Saturday, September 17, 1796.  “However [political parties or factions] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by […]

Embrace America’s Founding: A Call to Unity

Many Americans wonder, “How did we get where we are today?” They acknowledge that things have gone “off the rails.” We the People must embrace America’s founding principles instead of trying to change her into something she is not. Let’s challenge ourselves for a moment.  The Imperfection of Generations Accept the fact that no generation […]

Your Guide to Legislative Engagement

How can the American people do their due diligence with legislation that is too voluminous for even the congressmen and their staff to get through? That is the question from one of our patriot participants this week. She writes: “What about keeping up with contemporary legislation? Our Representatives – who are paid to do this […]

Embracing the Spirit of Flag Day

(This post had over 3,500 “likes” this week on Facebook, so I’m repeating here and in my weekly update. I hope you find it encouraging. 🇺🇸) “As long as we stand united under the American flag, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. It is a symbol of our resilience and strength.” – Unknown Flags for […]

Who Controls America? States or Federal Government?

Have you noticed the protestors who believe the states ultimately control America? Are these people correct? Who controls America? It’s not a “who” but a “what,” as we are a nation of laws, not of elected officials’ desires. The U.S. Constitution and the duly elected officials governing under its authority control our government. See Article […]