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 […]
The Economy IS a Civics Issue
Recently, I was informed by a participant that my article, “DOGE, Dividends, and Debt” (https://civicsandcitizenship.org/doge-dividends-and-debt/ )was political and not a civics issue. I say economic issues are civics issues. Let’s discuss. The Economy Impacts Our Lives Comprehending how your government taxes you, spends your money or grows the economy is essential to understanding how our […]
Stinking Thinking in America and the Path Forward
Have you heard? Some Americans are sympathizing with, even claiming to love, a CEO killer they neither know nor have met. This is not normal. Yet, in the twentieth century and today, certain Americans evaluate suspects based solely on their outward appearance, disregarding the alleged crime entirely. This blind affirmation of physicality over facts or […]
What the State of the Union Is Meant to Be
Article II, Sec. 3 requires that the President of the United States inform Congress of the State of the Union. Through our elected representatives, We the People are: 1. to be informed about how our country is doing 2. to be given any recommendations the President thinks are necessary. The Constitution says it this way: […]
Travel Is a Civics Lesson
Travel is a great way to enhance your civics knowledge. It’s a fascinating way to learn about America through the lens of hikes, road trips, and really any mode of travel. Recently, I taught my Jr. High civics students a lesson about travel using three principles: 1. You leave home (travel) to find things different, […]
What Kind of Government Do You Want?
Do you want a centralized government where the federal government has the power and most of the control? Or do you prefer a national government with a constitution that divides federal power with regional entities (like states)? Think about it carefully. What Are the Arguments? The argument for a centralized authority sounds something like this: […]
Adopting the House of Representatives Rules
Now that we have a Speaker, what happens next in Congress? The House of Representatives must adopt rules that govern their operations every two years. The 118th Congress votes on those rules as the second order of business. (The Constitution requires the House to elect a Speaker as the first order of business). It’s important […]
Speaker of the House: Chaos? Or Constitutional Republic At Work?
The election of the Speaker of the House is going on and on and on. That’s a good thing. It’s our Constitutional Republic at work. Article 1, Section 2 lists the first order of business for the House: Elect a Speaker. It doesn’t say the process is microwavable. Instead, there are no time limits on […]
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, […]
A Road Map for What’s Next
“These are the times that try men’s souls…”- Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense. As Americans, we can relate to Thomas Paine’s pain, if you will. We wonder, what will happen in the next days and weeks to our country? What will be the outcome? Since this is a civics education page, I will summarize […]
The Constitution Belongs to You and Me
Presidents come and go. They make their mark. For sure, not all had perfect personal lives. Take, for example, Grover Cleveland. He legally paid an immigrant $300 to take his place in the Civil War (legal for the sole supporter of a family at that time). He had a child out of wedlock when he […]
Simple Civics 101 National Party Conventions
Every four years, political party conventions convene to nominate their respective party’s candidate for President and Vice-President. These events very much resemble a giant party combined with business, specifically, the party platform—more on that below. Ok, I admit it. I’m a political party watcher, having done so since I was a tot. There’s a single […]
From the Mailbag
From my mailbag: Let’s take a peek inside my Common Sense Civics and Citizenship mailbag to see what is on a few fellow Americans’ minds. (There’s always a link on this website to “Join the Conversation” if you would like to see the responses and conversations we have on my social media education page). Question: […]
Simple Civics 101-The Executive Branch
Let’s do a basic civics review of the Presidency, which is the federal government’s Executive Branch. Qualifications: Must be at least 35 years old Natural born citizen of the United States Must be a resident of the United States for the past 14 years Term of Service: Four years Two-term limit Note: the Founding Fathers […]
Term Limits-Good or Bad?
How familiar are you with the idea of term limits for Congress? Do you even care? I hope you do. My purpose here is not to argue about term limits because both sides make a solid case for their position. I doubt if anything I say will change your mind. (People dig their heels in […]
