There are competing ideologies, and many Americans want it both ways.That is impossible! Today’s Competing Ideologies Our young people chant pro-death slogans against the innocent. Have these people ever studied real history or science? Perhaps if colleges taught an actual body of knowledge and promoted patriotism (i.e., love of one’s country), not tribalism (i.e., oppressor […]
Tariffs? Or Tariffed?
Tariffs are dominating the news in a big way. We the People are helping news networks and other media to make a lot of money when we engage in panic and fear, or choose ignorance. It’s a citizenship issue, so let’s discuss it. Understanding Tariffs and Their Impact on Americans I’m a civics teacher, not […]
Congress Basics: Names, Numbers
How much do you know about how Congress works? This week, my junior high is studying names and numbers about Congress and how it works. Here’s a quick quiz to see how much we adult Americans know. Below is an answer bank to help. Hint: there are more answers than you will need. Challenge: see […]
Executive Branch Powers, Judicial Branch Role
America is dealing with a constitutional problem: Executive Branch powers vs. the role of the Judicial Branch when they disagree. We the People need to stand back for a moment and examine the law and the facts, not the personal or political views we may have. The Question Before Us So, as news and very […]
National Debt and Government Shutdowns
Reality has come knocking on our doors. Action, not anger, is the way to deal with crisis. It’s hard to have a respectful conversation about this topic, so I turned to AI and was pleasantly surprised that the computer initiated a conversation with me. Here’s the short exchange I had with ChatGPT. Note the questions […]
DOGE, Dividends, and Debt
What should We the People do with the “DOGE savings?” The Department of Government Efficiency is identifying billions and billions of dollars that would cut federal spending. Where should that money go? I had an interesting discussion with my teen students the other day. Here are three ideas being “floated” lately: Spend the Money One […]
Constitutional Debates: Crisis or Controversy?
What is the definition of a Constitutional Crisis or Martial Law? What is the job of the National Archivist? Class is in session as we examine claims made by a few participants in one of my recent posts. What is a “Constitutional Crisis?” No clear definition exists for a constitutional crisis, at least not in […]
U.S. Intelligence Agencies Explained
You’ve probably heard a lot about the NSA, CIA, FBI, and the Secret Service. Do you know the difference between the work these agencies do? While their work may have some overlap, each agency has a distinct role in keeping you and me safe. Let’s refresh our knowledge of how these agencies serve We the […]
Senate Confirmation Hearings Teach Civics
There are civics lessons in Senate Confirmation hearings. Since we have hearings this week for Cabinet positions, this is an excellent opportunity to see how the confirmation process works. After all, these hearings are not only for the Senate but for We The People. You would be surprised at what you can learn in a […]
Goal, Law, or Executive Order?
Do you know the difference between a goal, a law, and an executive order? It is essential to understand that these terms are not interchangeable in civics. My high school class offered some definitions I’d like to share. Goal Law Executive Order It’s Important to Know the Difference When listening to commentators, officeholders, bosses, instructors, […]
Preserving the Peaceful Transfer of Power
As we prepare for the peaceful transfer of power in our nation on January 20, perhaps you thought the 2024 election was controversial. History shows our nation had other contentious moments but came together for a peaceful transfer of power. Controversy and Unity in the Election of 1800 Look up the election in 1800 between […]
Constitution Be Changed By Passing a Law?
The U.S. Constitution can be changed, but only by the Amendment process as outlined in Article V. A couple of people on the Common Sense Civics and Citizenship education page have argued that our legislators can pass a law that changes the Constitution. Not understanding how the Constitution works is a civics issue, so let’s […]
Another Government Shutdown??
Here we go again. Another Government Shutdown by Saturday? There are six bills that must be passed to avert a “shutdown.” These bills deal mostly with Homeland Security. There are broad disagreements over securing the border and immigration. What”s Behind a Government Shutdown Keep in mind what is behind a government shutdown. There’s the proverbial […]
Checks and Balances
Checks and balances prevent the abuse of power. We’re experiencing, live and in real-time, the checks and balances system of our government under scrutiny. Our Founders foresaw the need to “build in” a process that would take the country through peaceful transitions when the Constitution has been blatantly violated by “the President, Vice-President and all […]
Three Branches of Government and Why It Matters
How did our Founders arrive at the concept of three branches of government, and why does it matter? The Concept of Three Branches of Government Goes Way Back Have you ever heard of Polybius, the ancient Greek historian? Me neither, until today. He found the three popular forms of governance in his day to have […]
