Is Civics a constitutional right?
How is the United States government set up, and how do the people keep it working?
Recently students in the State of Rhode Island filed a federal lawsuit claiming that their Constitutional rights were being violated because they were not receiving a civics education.
In the College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) defines the subject of civics as follows:
In a constitutional democracy, productive civic engagement requires knowledge of the history, principles, and foundations of our American democracy, and the ability to participate in civic and democratic processes. People demonstrate civic engagement when they address public problems individually and collaboratively and when they maintain, strengthen, and improve communities and societies. Thus, civics is, in part, the study of how people participate in governing society
Below are some resources that will offer some insight into the debate.
In the College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) defines the subject of civics as follows:
In a constitutional democracy, productive civic engagement requires knowledge of the history, principles, and foundations of our American democracy, and the ability to participate in civic and democratic processes. People demonstrate civic engagement when they address public problems individually and collaboratively and when they maintain, strengthen, and improve communities and societies. Thus, civics is, in part, the study of how people participate in governing society
Below are some resources that will offer some insight into the debate.
Legal Resources
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Copy of the Rhode Island Lawsuit
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The United States Constitution
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General Resources The Center for Civic Education has also developed academic standards for a civic education. Click here. A 2018 paper published by the Brown Center Chalkboard offers some interesting research on civics education in the United States. Click here. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) civics assessment is designed to measure the civics knowledge and skills that are critical to the responsibilities of citizenship in the constitutional democracy of the United States. Read their report here. |
More Resources:
The Constitution Center has many online resources including text from the Constitution, original documents that inspired it, and current issues that relate to it. You can access their website here.
iCivics, a website started by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, has information and games about the many parts of the U.S. government. You can access it by clicking here.
BrainPOP has a great game you can play about the three branches of government. You can play it by clicking here.
TEDED has a video about the three branches of government and separation of powers. You can watch it by clicking here.
Maryville University offers a very comprehensive site on the three branches of government with loads of great links. A very special thanks to Ms. Abigail and her awesome students for sharing this resource. Click here
The United States Department of Homeland Security describes "citizenship" and a citizen's rights and responsibilities on their Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage. What do you think about this explanation? What perspective does it show? What would you add? Take a critical look here.
People taking action today to stand up for rights the Constitution promises:
Click here to watch immigrants and community leaders in North Carolina shut down the entrance to Governor Pat McCrory's mansion by assembling together to protest a bill that hurts immigrants.
The Constitution Center has many online resources including text from the Constitution, original documents that inspired it, and current issues that relate to it. You can access their website here.
iCivics, a website started by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, has information and games about the many parts of the U.S. government. You can access it by clicking here.
BrainPOP has a great game you can play about the three branches of government. You can play it by clicking here.
TEDED has a video about the three branches of government and separation of powers. You can watch it by clicking here.
Maryville University offers a very comprehensive site on the three branches of government with loads of great links. A very special thanks to Ms. Abigail and her awesome students for sharing this resource. Click here
The United States Department of Homeland Security describes "citizenship" and a citizen's rights and responsibilities on their Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage. What do you think about this explanation? What perspective does it show? What would you add? Take a critical look here.
People taking action today to stand up for rights the Constitution promises:
Click here to watch immigrants and community leaders in North Carolina shut down the entrance to Governor Pat McCrory's mansion by assembling together to protest a bill that hurts immigrants.