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Learning Links

The resources here are provided to encourage and nurture personal education on the processes, values, ethics and responsibility of government to citizens as well as citizen to citizen. The United States has maintained one of the oldest established democracies in the world. The Founding fathers labored long to create the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution upon which our democratic republic was founded.

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
― H.L. Mencken, On Politics: A Carnival of Buncombe

Civics and Government

American Government: Constitutional Foundations

This course explores the origins of U.S. political culture, how that culture informed the Constitution, and how that framework continues to influence the country’s politics and policies. We will examine the Constitution’s provisions for limited government, the division of power between the federal and state governments, and the forces that have made federalism a source of political conflict and change.

Self paced course offered for free from Harvard University

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional democracy is not just what was written on paper nearly 250 years ago; it is a living activity. It’s about what citizens need to do to make democracy work, about identifying your civic beliefs and duties and what matters to you and why—and how you can become an active participant in your communities and influence your government.

Self paced course offered for free from Harvard University

Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media

Public opinion has a powerful yet inexact influence on elected officials. Politicians risk their careers if they ignore it, yet its power is not easy to capture nor quantify. This course will look at how political parties, campaigns, social movements, special interests, and the news media all play a role in influencing public opinion.

Self paced course offered for free from Harvard University

U.S. Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy

n this part of our series on American Government, we will examine the separation of powers among the three branches of government, and the role of voters, political parties, and the broader federal bureaucracy. We’ll explore how “the people” affect the behavior of members of Congress, what constitutes success in a president’s domestic and foreign policies, and how much power an unelected judiciary should have in a democratic system.

Self paced course offered for free from Harvard University

Civics for Life

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizenship. The Civics for Life initiative is a multigenerational online resource center for civics education, civil discourse, and civic engagement. The Institute invites you to explore this standalone website with free, self-paced micro-lessons and informative articles.

Sandra Day O'Connor Institute

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional democracy is not just what was written on paper nearly 250 years ago; it is a living activity. It’s about what citizens need to do to make democracy work, about identifying your civic beliefs and duties and what matters to you and why—and how you can become an active participant in your communities and influence your government.

Self paced course offered for free from Harvard University

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