On the Importance of Civics

Sadly, what used to be considered a critically important subject in school, civics has been neglected of late. In 2018 it was reported that only one third of Americans could name the three branches of government. One third of Americans could not name a single one of the branches. Less than 20 percent of Americans are able to name a single justice of the United States Supreme Court. More sad than that, roughly 10 percent of college-educated people reportedly thought that Judge Judy was on the Supreme Court.

More than three-quarters of eighth graders are testing as less than proficient in civics, as reported by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Core civic knowledge is woefully missing these days. Just 18 percent of four-year colleges require what is recognized as foundational course work in U.S. history or government. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni reports that at 70 percent of top colleges today, not even history majors are required to study any U.S. history.

More disappointing still, young students are being taught that the founders were bad men, that this country is not exceptional, and that they should be ashamed to call themselves American. Our "educators" are purposely leading students astray with these teachings. This is damaging in the extreme, and it must end. We must instruct properly if we are to avoid creating citizens who are more than willing to discard our founding principles.

The decline of instruction in American civics has definitely begun to erode our republic. A majority of college students now say that protecting free speech is less important than making people feel welcome on campus. The importance of the liberties upon which this nation was established? We spend little to no time instilling an understanding of just how important liberty is in all of our lives.

Ronald Reagan famously said in 1964 that "freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. ... It must be fought for, protected, and handed on." Reagan continued on to warn that it is possible that "one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

So what can be done to turn this situation around? Luckily, there are resouces available to help instruct people about the precious gift that is the great American experiment. Here are listed a few.

OpenStax and the Bill of Rights Institute have teamed up to develop a free, digital, high-quality U.S. history textbook. This resource is fully integrated with the Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics course work. Every chapter includes material from academics on opposite sides of a question.
The National Constitution Center helps high-school and postsecondary students gain a solid understanding of our Constitutional governance through use of the Interactive Constitution. For virtually every clause of the document, two of the country's top experts from different points of view, nominated by the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society, explain where they are in agreement and where their views diverge.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor founded iCivics, of which she says "I have worked to promote civic education for young people through iCivics. I consider engaging the next generations of citizens to be my most important work yet and my legacy." These online games have been well recieved by teachers and students across the country. Educators continue to proclaim that iCivics can be used as a trusted educational resource that fosters much needed conversations in our classrooms.

Civics, then, provides all of us with a core understanding about our system of governance. It is able to answer some key questions that everyone should be able to answer.

Who acts as sovereign in these United States? Three words: We the People.
What powers have the people granted to those representing them in the federal government? The powers which federal office holders are expressly able to act on are stated in the Constitution (specifically in Articles I, II, and III). The Constitution is referred to as an "enumerated powers" document.
Why do we vote? Voting does not confer new powers to the people who we elect. Rather, it is meant to be used as a way to hold accountable those to whom we have entrusted power.
On what basis does our government run? No, it is not the case that we are a democracy, where the majority decides things. (Ben Franklin famously stated that "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what they are going to have for lunch"). We are a representative republic, and as John Adams so succinctly put it, ours is a "government of laws, not of men".

From where does ultimate authority come in our form of government? Despite what people might think, the Constitution is not the ultimate governmental authority. That role belongs soley to almighty God.
Here we note that there are four references to God in the Declaration of Independence:
1. The "laws of nature and of nature's God" entitle the United States to independence.
2. Men are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
3. Congress appeals "to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions."
4. The signers, "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence," pledge to each other their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.