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PODCAST

Civics In A Year

The Center for American Civics

What do you really know about American government, the Constitution, and your rights as a citizen?Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. Over the course of a year, we’ll explore 250 key questions—from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation.Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series

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All Episodes

11:36

Electoral College Decoded

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/15

Dr. Sean Beienberg returns to examine the Electoral College through the lens of Federalist Paper 68, explaining the original intentions behind this complex system and how it rapidly evolved from its designed purpose. We explore how Hamilton's vision of a filtering mechanism for selecting "prudent statesmen" quickly transformed with the rise of political parties and changing electoral practices. • The Electoral College has two key features: the allocation of electors (balancing federal and na...

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7:07

Why America Has One President: Federalist No. 70...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/12

Dr. Beienberg explains Alexander Hamilton's arguments in Federalist No. 70 for establishing a single executive rather than a council or committee to lead the executive branch. Hamilton's case rests on the fundamental differences between legislative and executive power, with the former benefiting from diverse voices and the latter requiring efficiency and clear accountability. • Executive power demands unity for efficiency and clear accountability • Multiple executives create internal divisio...

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12:01

Hamilton's Vision: Understanding Executive Authority...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/11

Dr. Beienberg returns to explore Federalist No. 70, examining Hamilton's nuanced arguments for a strong executive branch within a balanced constitutional system. The discussion clarifies common misconceptions about the "unitary executive" theory and illustrates why the founders designed the presidency for efficient implementation rather than policy creation. • Hamilton's core argument in Federalist 70-72 emphasizes the need for a "strong and vigorous executive" but with specific limitations ...

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10:58

Federalist 51: Madison's Blueprint for American...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/10

Madison's Federalist 51 establishes separation of powers as a safeguard against tyranny while reintroducing the extended republic concept to prevent majority oppression of minorities. The paper forms part of a larger constitutional framework designed to balance power, promote the rule of law, and create effective government through the distribution of energy, stability, and republican liberty among different branches. • Separation of powers prevents tyranny by avoiding concentration of power...

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14:17

If Men Were Angels: Madison's Defense of...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/09

Dr. Alan Gibson continues his analysis of the Federalist Papers with a deep dive into James Madison's arguments for separation of powers in Federalist 51. Madison outlines his revolutionary approach to maintaining constitutional balance by harnessing human nature and self-interest rather than relying on parchment barriers or periodic constitutional revisions. • Madison rejected simply writing down powers on parchment as insufficient to prevent encroachment • Jefferson's proposal for constitu...

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11:29

Madison's Blueprint: Understanding Federalist 51 and...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/08

Dr. Alan Gibson returns to examine Federalist 51, Madison's definitive document on separation of powers and checks and balances within the American governmental system. Madison's argument across Federalist Papers 47-51 culminates in a sophisticated explanation of how to preserve liberty through proper distribution of governmental authority. • Separation of powers is described by Madison as "a sacred maxim of free government" • American system differs from parliamentary systems where executiv...

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12:20

Unpacking Federalist 39: Madison's Blueprint for...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/05

Dr. Beienberg explores Federalist 39, Madison's comprehensive explanation of how the Constitution blends federal and national elements to create an effective yet balanced government structure. • Federalist 39 first defends the Constitution as establishing a republican government where all offices are filled directly or indirectly by the people • Madison distinguishes between federal systems (power flows up from states) and national systems (power flows down from central authority) • The Cons...

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24:14

Unpacking Federalist 10

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/04

Dr. Alan Gibson delves into James Madison's groundbreaking argument in Federalist 10 that challenges traditional thinking about republics and factions. Madison innovatively argues that a large, diverse republic better protects against majority tyranny than a small, homogeneous one by using the multiplicity of interests as a stabilizing force. • Madison boldly challenges the small republic thesis prevalent in classical republican theory • Factions form around opinions, passions, and interests...

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15:44

Madison's Revolutionary Idea: How Large Republics...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/03

Dr. Alan Gibson explores Madison's revolutionary idea in Federalist 10 that republican government works better over large territories with diverse populations rather than small ones. This concept directly challenged centuries of traditional republican theory that insisted republics must remain small to function properly. • Madison argued large republics naturally check faction formation, particularly majority factions that threaten minority rights • Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists cons...

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20:06

The Anti-Federalists: America's Overlooked Founding...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/09/02

Dr. Carrese returns to explore the Anti-Federalists, an overlooked yet crucial group of America's founders whose opposition to the Constitution led directly to the Bill of Rights and continues to shape constitutional debates today. • Anti-Federalists opposed the 1787 Constitution because they feared the federal government would become too powerful and remote from the people • They criticized the presidency as concentrating too much power in one person elected for a lengthy four-year term • T...

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5:32

Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest: America's...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/29

Civic holidays are days set aside to commemorate important events or values in our nation's history. They serve as reminders of our shared past and principles rather than just opportunities for celebration. Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday in September, originated in the late 1800s when workers organized into unions to demand better working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable hours. • Civic holidays include Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Constitution Day • Labo...

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16:50

The Crucial Role of Federalist Papers

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/28

The Federalist Papers served as crucial persuasive documents during the Constitution's ratification debates, particularly for securing New York's pivotal approval, without which many feared the entire system would collapse. Dr. Beienberg explains how these essays engaged with sophisticated criticisms from writers like Brutus in respectful intellectual debate rather than dismissive rhetoric. • Each state needed to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect independently • Rhode Island and ...

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25:13

Behind the Pseudonym: Hamilton's PR Genius and the...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/27

The Federalist Papers emerged as a strategic response to critics of the newly drafted Constitution. Alexander Hamilton organized James Madison and John Jay to write under the pseudonym "Publius" to advocate for ratification. • Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published 85 essays defending the Constitution against critics who were already writing under Roman pseudonyms like Cato, Brutus, and Federal Farmer • Hamilton demonstrated PR genius by claiming the positive title "Federalist" while opponents...

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11:23

Unpacking the Federalist Papers

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/26

Dr. Sean Beienberg returns to explore the origin and purpose of the Federalist Papers as persuasive political documents designed to convince New York citizens to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Written primarily by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, these influential essays functioned as op-eds responding to constitutional critics while explaining the document's benefits and protections. • Originally written as persuasive pieces explicitly aimed at New York state ratification • A...

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18:45

The Father of the Constitution: Madison's Vision

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/25

Dr. Colleen Sheehan explains why James Madison deserves the title "Father of the Constitution" and explores how this quiet, scholarly founder shaped American democracy through his preparation, vision, and belief in self-government. • Madison was uniquely prepared for the Constitutional Convention, having studied the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • The Virginia Plan, based on Madison's ideas, set the agenda for the Constitutional Convention • Madison combined the roles of states...

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10:16

The Blueprint: Understanding America's Limited...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/22

What makes the American system of government unique in world history? Dr. Justin Dyer, professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin and dean of the UT Austin School of Civic Leadership, returns to our podcast to unpack the founders' vision for limited government. Dr. Dyer reveals how the founders created two distinct models of limited government operating simultaneously. At the state level, governments possessed broad authority over "health, safety, and morals," limited prima...

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18:51

Locke's Ideas of Life, Liberty, and Property Changed...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/21

Dr. Paul Carrese explores John Locke's profound influence on the Declaration of Independence and American founding principles. Locke's philosophy of natural rights - that all humans possess inherent, equal rights to life, liberty, and property - provided the intellectual foundation for revolution and continues to shape American politics 250 years later. • Locke was an Enlightenment philosopher whose Second Treatise of Government (1692) became central to American revolutionary thinking • The ...

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19:49

How Philosophy Shaped a Nation: The Enlightenment's...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/20

America's political philosophy emerged from a complex interplay of Enlightenment thought, with both radical and moderate strands shaping our founding documents and constitutional system. • Multiple influences shaped American political thought—biblical Christianity, English common law, classical philosophy, and the Enlightenment • The Enlightenment had two main strands influencing America: radical (emphasizing new ideas) and moderate (blending modern thought with tradition) • Three key Enligh...

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18:29

Republic vs Democracy: America's True Political Identity

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/19

Our fearless leader Dr. Paul Carrese explores republicanism—small r republicanism—and how it is reflected in the US Constitution. • We are a democratic republic, not simply a democracy • The Constitution guarantees every state a "Republican form of government" in Article 4, Section 4 • A republic means a more complex form of government with representation of the people • Ancient Rome provided the model for American republicanism, while Athens represented direct democracy • Our complex system...

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11:18

Social Contracts: Our Civic Foundation

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/18

Dr. Phillip Muñoz explores the concept of social contracts and explains how they formed the foundation of American governance. He illustrates how these agreements transform potential chaos into ordered liberty, allowing diverse individuals to live together peacefully and prosperously. • Social contracts/compacts address how we form political communities when we are all equal by nature • Unlike families where authority is natural, political communities must establish governance through mutual...

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152 results

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