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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

19:17

Origins of Liberty: Uncovering America's Natural...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/15

Natural rights form the cornerstone of American constitutional democracy, establishing that all individuals possess unalienable rights endowed by their Creator that no government can legitimately take away. Dr. Paul Carrese explores how these rights originated from philosophical traditions from ancient Greece to the Enlightenment and explains why they remain relevant to modern citizenship. • The Declaration of Independence directly articulates America's understanding of natural rights • "Una...

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6:54

Kids Edition- What's a constitution?

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/14

We explore what a constitution is by comparing it to creating rules for a clubhouse. We explain how the U.S. Constitution outlines government structure, leadership selection, and citizens' rights. Our conversation takes listeners back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, revealing how the founding fathers debated and compromised to create a document that still guides our nation today. • The Constitution defined as the most important set of rules for a country • The U.S. Constitution was...

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21:48

The Silent Architect: Washington's Crucial Role in...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/13

George Washington's crucial role at the Constitutional Convention goes far beyond simply presiding over the meeting, serving as the vital legitimizing force that made radical constitutional reform possible. Washington championed constitutional reform as early as 1783, recognizing the Articles of Confederation's fatal weaknesses and advocating for stronger central government while maintaining his reputation as a defender of liberty. • Washington's personal credibility was essential to the Con...

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13:44

These Are the Times: Thomas Paine and the Power of...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/12

Dr. Aaron Zubia explains how Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" revolutionized colonial thinking in 1776 by presenting independence as the logical solution for America. This radical pamphlet sold 100,000 copies and helped catalyze support for the Declaration of Independence through accessible, powerful language that spoke directly to ordinary citizens. • Thomas Paine came from England to America to escape debtor's prison and met Benjamin Franklin who set him up at a Philadelphia printing shop • P...

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20:54

Separation of Powers: Montesquieu's Blueprint for...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/11

The separation of powers doctrine formulated by Baron de Montesquieu profoundly shaped America's constitutional foundation and remains central to our political system today. Dr. Paul Carrse explains how this French philosopher's revolutionary ideas about dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches provided the blueprint for American democracy. • Montesquieu's "Spirit of Laws" (1748) served as the political science textbook for America's founding generation • While ...

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11:56

Colonial Foundations: The Journey from British...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/08

Dr. Beinberg explores how colonial charters formed the foundation for American democracy and evolved into state constitutions after independence. Colonial experiences with local self-governance created the blueprint for America's revolutionary approach to divided sovereignty that continues to shape our federal system today.• Colonial charters were agreements between the British monarch and colonists, while constitutions were created by the people themselves• Colonies were established for

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7:01

Kids Edition: From Mayflower to Mohawks: How America...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/07

The US Constitution draws inspiration from numerous sources including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, colonial documents, and Native American governance systems. These influences shaped core American principles like federalism, representative government, and individual rights. • Declaration of Independence (1776) established ideals of freedom, equality, and self-government • Articles of Confederation provided lessons on balancing state and national power • Mayflow...

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11:54

From English Declarations to American Freedoms: The...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/06

Dr. Beienberg explores how the English Bill of Rights shaped American rights philosophy more indirectly than commonly believed, revealing fundamentally different understandings between British and American views on rights protection.• Americans and British took different lessons from the Glorious Revolution – British focused on parliamentary supremacy while Americans emphasized fundamental rights• English Bill of Rights primarily restricted the monarch rather than all government institutions•

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20:04

The Common Law Revolution That Shaped Modern Democracy

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/05

The Magna Carta established the revolutionary concept that even kings must operate under the rule of law, becoming a cornerstone of American democracy despite its humble origins as a political concession in 13th-century England.• Originally just one of many royal charters when signed by King John in 1215• Gained importance over centuries as a symbol of English constitutional liberty• Establishes that rulers cannot wield absolute power and must recognize certain rights• Became central to English

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24:07

An Apple of Gold: Lincoln's Vision Shaped the Nation...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/04

Abraham Lincoln viewed the Declaration of Independence as America's moral foundation and the Constitution as the means to achieve the Declaration's principles of liberty and equality for all. Dr. Paul Kreis explains Lincoln's understanding that the Constitution must be guided by the Declaration's self-evident truths, particularly regarding slavery and freedom.• Lincoln saw the relationship between the Declaration and Constitution as the most important political question of his

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6:47

From Magna Carta to Madison: The Ideas That Frame...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/08/01

Democracy rests on fundamental principles that evolved over centuries before becoming enshrined in America's founding documents. This episode introduces our series on the Principles of American Democracy, exploring the philosophical foundations and key figures that shaped our constitutional system. • Lincoln described the Declaration as "an apple of gold" and the Constitution as its "frame of silver" • The Magna Carta (1215) established that even rulers must follow the law • The English Bill...

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11:41

A Government of Laws, Not Men

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/31

Professor Josh Dunn explains the rule of law as the alternative to tyranny and a means to prevent arbitrary power. He traces its origins from Aristotle's concept that "law is reason unaffected by desire" through the American founders' attempts to create institutions that force reflection on the common good rather than self-interest.• Rule of law requires three principles: constitutionalism, equality, and transparency• Constitutionalism establishes rules of governance ahead of

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9:42

Commercial Republic: Understanding America's Mixed...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/30

Dr. Trevor Shelley explains that America's economic system is best understood as a "commercial republic" rather than pure capitalism, revealing the philosophical tensions between unlimited commerce and the bounded nature of republican governance. The term "commercial republic" captures a balance between market-driven economic liberty and civic virtue that continues to define America's mixed economy. • The term "capitalism" was coined by Karl Marx and carries derogatory connotations not used ...

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19:09

The Declaration of Independence: America's Founding...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/29

The Declaration of Independence articulates uniquely American values, reflecting a society prepared to govern itself while respecting profound religious differences among citizens. Expert Matthew Brogdon explains how Jefferson's words captured "the American mind" while still resonating with today's diverse society. • Thomas Jefferson described the Declaration as expressing "the American mind" rather than creating original principles • The core principle of self-government reflects over 100 y...

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19:59

Liberty Divided: When Two Visions of the British...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/28

Dr. Beienberg illuminates how the American Revolution fundamentally began as a constitutional dispute between competing interpretations of British liberty, with each side drawing legitimately different conclusions from the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This sophisticated civil war of ideas centered not on the amount of taxation but on the profound question of where governing authority should properly reside in the British Empire. • British authorities viewed Parliament as supreme within the E...

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6:48

Why Jefferson's Words Still Matter Today: The...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/25

Dr. Justin Dyer, dean of UT Austin School of Civic Leadership, explores why the Declaration of Independence remains vitally important in modern America. He examines how the document's foundational principles transcend time and continue to guide our understanding of equality, governance, and human rights. • Declaration begins with universal truths about equality and rights that remain relevant today • Reform movements throughout American history have appealed to Declaration principles • Docum...

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9:58

The Living Declaration

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/24

Dr. Stephen Skultety, professor of philosophy and director of the Declaration of Independence Center at the University of Mississippi, explains why the Declaration of Independence remains vitally important 250 years after its creation. Responding to a fifth grader's question, he reveals three fundamental principles that continue to shape American identity and governance in ways that affect citizens of all ages. • The Declaration establishes Americans as "one people" with shared beliefs, emot...

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16:41

From America to the World: How the Declaration Shaped...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/23

The American Declaration of Independence created a model for self-government that inspired nations and movements worldwide, establishing principles that transcend time and borders. • The Declaration serves three primary functions: formally declaring independence, establishing natural rights principles, and listing specific grievances • France's Declaration of Rights of Man (1789) adopted similar natural rights language while focusing on national sovereignty rather than independence • Haiti b...

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17:27

From Declaration to Constitution: Tracing America's...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/22

A fourth-grader's question about how the Declaration of Independence influenced the U.S. Constitution reveals the complex relationship between America's founding documents. Dr. Beienburg explains how the Declaration's principles and criticisms of British rule directly shaped constitutional provisions and informed the development of state constitutions. • Declaration enumerated specific problems with British rule that the Constitution directly addressed • Many provisions in the Bill of Rights...

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17:17

Enlightenment DNA: The Philosophical Origins of...

Civics In A Year ·

2025/07/21

The influences on the Declaration of Independence extend far beyond John Locke to encompass a complex tapestry of philosophical traditions, religious thought, and legal principles. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams crafted a document that uniquely blends Enlightenment rationality with Protestant theology, Scottish moral philosophy, and English common law. • Both Jefferson and Adams received extensive liberal arts educations that exposed them to diverse philosophical traditions • The Declaratio...

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152 results

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