60-Second Civics: Episode 3633, A Free Press in the Early Republic The First Amendment was created in part to help ease fears that the government would manipulate the press.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3629, Benefits of Freedom of Expression, Part 2 In addition to promoting individual liberties, the freedom of expression helps boost representative government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3625, Justice O'Connor on Free Exercise The Supreme Court case Rosenberger v. University of Virginia helped establish the idea of "bedrock principles."
60-Second Civics: Episode 3624, Two Cases Test the Free Exercise Clause These two Supreme Court cases helped establish the bounds of the free exercise clause.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3623, Testing Whether a Law Violates the Free Exercise Clause In order to determine if a law is in violation of the free exercise clause, the courts must ask themselves certain questions.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3622, Limiting Free Exercise of Religion In certain cases, the court will find it necessary to interfere with the free exercise of religion.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3621, The Free Exercise Clause The free exercise clause is another element of the First Amendment that protects religious freedoms.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3619, Interpreting the Establishment Clause People hold differing views about what rights the establishment clause gives and takes away.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3618, The Establishment Clause How this important piece of the Constitution came to be, and how it has been interpreted over time.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3615, The Reformation Before the United States was founded, religious turmoil in Europe paved a path for a religiously free nation.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3614, Ignorance of the Bill of Rights A 1991 survey of Americans revealed that not many know about the history and significance of the Bill of Rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3612, The Constitution As a Bill of Rights In addition to amendments, the Constitution itself was written to protect certain freedoms.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3604, Limitations on Government in the Virginia Declaration of Rights The Virginia Declaration of Rights was a trailblazing document that informed our Bill of Rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3602, Ordinary Legislation vs. a Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights of 1689 is important for understanding the evolution of bills of rights in the United States.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3601, Early Documents That Established Rights Before the U.S. Bill of Rights, there were a few other documents that helped pave the way for the protection of individual liberties.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3600, The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments These final pieces of the Bill of Rights deal with crime, punishment, and states rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3597, The First Three Amendments These three Constitutional amendments protect some of our most fundamental rights as citizens.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3593, Ballot Initiatives Initiative, referendum, recall are a trio of methods, begun during the Progressive era of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which allow citizens to participate in direct democracy in their states.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3590, How the Depression Changed Government The Great Depression changed the relationship between the federal government and state governments.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3587, Regulation of Commerce Regulation of commerce cases demonstrate the kinds of issues that are common in America's system of shared governmental authority.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3586, State Constitutional Amendments State constitutional amendments often reflect state responses to policy debates occurring throughout the United States.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3585, State Constitutions Since the first state constitutions were adopted in 1776, state constitutional conventions have resulted in new constitutions being adopted some 144 times.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3583, Municipal Governments There are three broad categories of local governments in the United States: Counties, municipalities, and special districts.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3582, County Governments State constitutions give legislatures power to create local governments, which receive charters, or grants of authority, to carry out a wide range of governmental responsibilities.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3581, Lieutenant Governors Lieutenant governors have been considered the fifth wheel of American politics. In reality, they have important responsibilities.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3580, State Executive and Legislative Branches Learn about the executive and legislative branches of state government on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3568, Presidents and Enforcement of Supreme Court Decisions Sometimes, presidents balk at having to enforce Supreme Court decisions.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3567, Presidential Influence Over the Supreme Court How do Supreme Court justices get nominated? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3566, Limits on the Power of the Supreme Court Are there limits on the power of the Supreme Court? We find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3565, Fundamental Principles and Modernism Today we look at the fundamental principles and modernism approaches to constitutional interpretation.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3564, Strict Construction and Original Intent Today we examine the strict construction and original intent methods of constitutional interpretation.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3558, Federal Courts Today we present a one-minute overview the powers of federal courts under Article III of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3556, Courts and Federalism Check Administrative Agencies The courts and our federal system check the power of administrative agencies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3555, Congressional Oversight of Administrative Agencies The president has appointment powers, but Congress has the power to oversee administrative agencies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3553, Patronage vs. Civil Service In general, public employees can't be fired for refusing to support the political party in power.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3548, Expanding and Contracting Bureaucracy Sometimes, the bureaucracy shrinks. Learn about the expanding and shrinking of federal agencies on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3546, Limits on the Power of Administrative Agencies Administrative agencies are powerful, but their power is limited. Find out how on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3540, The President and America's Reputation Why is the president the preeminent figure in domestic and international politics? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3537, Differences Between Parliament and Congress There are critical differences between Parliament and Congress. Learn what these are on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3536, Parliament and the Prime Minister How do Parliament and the prime minister differ from the American system? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3535, Congress and the Supreme Court Limit the President Congress, the Supreme Court, and public opinion limit the power of the president.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3531, Recommending Legislation to Congress (rebroadcast) Find out about the president's role in lawmaking on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3529, Congress and the Court reign in the president Can Congress and the Supreme Court reign in the power of the president? You bet.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3528, Presidential Power in Emergency and Crisis What does the Constitution say about presidential powers during emergencies or crisis? The answer may surprise you.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3527, Wars, Emergencies, and FDR (rebroadcast) With the support of Congress, FDR responded to the multiple crises that occurred during his administration.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3525, The President and Treaties (rebroadcast) The president can make treaties with the approval of two-thirds of the Senate.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3524, The President As Commander in Chief (rebroadcast) The president is commander in chief, but only Congress can declare war.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3523, The President and Foreign Affairs (rebroadcast) The president's power is at its greatest when it comes to foreign affairs.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3522, The President As Leader in Foreign Policy The president has a number of important powers, but the president's powers are limited in important ways.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3521, Franklin D. Roosevelt Find out why Franklin D. Roosevelt was arguably the most influential president of the 20th century.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3520, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Wilson (rebroadcast) Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Wilson each contributed to the growth of presidential power.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3519, Jefferson and the Use of Presidential Power (rebroadcast) Thomas Jefferson sought to be a model of republican simplicity.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3518, The Rise of Presidential Power (rebroadcast) Some scholars trace the rise of the powerful modern presidency to Andrew Jackson.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3517, A Strong President, But Not Too Strong (rebroadcast) The Framers of the Constitution wanted the president to be strong, but not too strong
60-Second Civics: Episode 3516, Above Partisan Politics (rebroadcast) The Framers of the Constitution expected presidents to be above partisan bickering. It didn't work out that way.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3514, Presidential Power and the Courts (rebroadcast) Today we learn about Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson's opinion in Youngstown Sheet vs. Sawyer.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3511, Impeachment (rebroadcast) Any member of the House can initiate impeachment proceedings, but two-thirds of the Senate is required for removal from office.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3510, Investigations and the Balance of Power (rebroadcast) Congress uses its powers of investigation most frequently when the majority are of a different party than the president.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3508, The Authority of Congress to Conduct Investigations (rebroadcast) Even though it's not mentioned in the Constitution, Congress has the authority to carry out investigations.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3505, The Executive Branch as a Source for Laws (rebroadcast) The president has the constitutional authority to recommend measures for congressional consideration.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3504, Ideas for Legislation (rebroadcast) There is no shortage of sources of ideas for legislation available to members of Congress.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3503, Congress and Individual Rights (rebroadcast) Today we learn about the role of Congress in protecting individual rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3501, Lawmaking, Part 4: Conference committees and the veto (rebroadcast) What happens when the House and Senate versions differ? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3500, Lawmaking, Part 3: The committee vote (rebroadcast) What happens when a bill is passed by one chamber of Congress? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3496, President Pro Tempore (rebroadcast) Today we learn about the president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority whip of the House.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3494, Office of Speaker in England and America (rebroadcast) Today we contrast the speaker of the House of Commons with that of the House of Representatives.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3489, Rules for House Committees (rebroadcast) Rules, rules, rules. Your mom has them, your school has them, even the House of Representatives has them.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3488, The purpose of congressional committees (rebroadcast) The careful, deliberative work of Congress often occurs during committee meetings.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3487, Congressional committees (rebroadcast) Today we start our series on how Congress performs its functions in the American constitutional system.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3485, Communication with constituents (rebroadcast) On today's episode, we learn about how members of Congress communicate with their constituents.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3484, Delegate vs. trustee theory of representation (rebroadcast) Today on the podcast: the delegate vs. trustee theory of representation
60-Second Civics: Episode 3483, The size of Congress How large is the U.S. Congress compared to other national legislatures? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3479, Legislative districts What can you do if you don't like the way your congressional district is drawn? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3477, Inherent powers The power to conduct investigations and compel testimony goes back to Parliament and the colonial legislatures.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3476, Enforcement powers The enforcement powers of Congress have been used to enact sweeping civil rights, voting rights, and voting laws.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3469, How the Framers limited the power of Congress The Framers of the Constitution mistrusted concentrations of power in government, so they sought to limit the power of Congress.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3467, Lengths of terms of parliamentarians and members of Congress Elections to the UK Parliament can occur at irregular intervals, but members of Congress are elected at regular intervals.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3465, Parliamentary government prohibited The Constitution forbids establishment of a parliamentary system for the United States.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3461, The Townshend Acts On today's podcast, we learn about the Townshend Acts, and the response to these laws by the Daughters of Liberty.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3460, The Stamp Act Congress The Stamp Act Congress affirmed the colonists' desire that "no taxes be imposed on them ... but with their own consent."
60-Second Civics: Episode 3459, The Sons of Liberty On today's podcast, we learn about the surprising source of inspiration for the Sons of Liberty: an Anglo-Irish member of Parliament.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3458, The Stamp and Quartering Acts On today's podcast, we learn more about the Stamp and Quartering Acts, and why the colonists objected to them.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3456, The Sugar Act The Sugar Act hurt the rum industry in the American colonies, stirring up more colonial resentment of British taxation.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3455, The Proclamation of 1763 Rankles Colonists Britain's Proclamation of 1763 was the first in a series of actions that angered American colonists, ultimately leading the Revolutionary War.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3454, Salutary Neglect Is Abandoned, Causing Discontent in America After the Seven Years War, Britain abandoned its policy of "salutary neglect." This was not popular in America.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3453, Supreme Court Decisions about the General Welfare Clause Even today, Americans disagree over the spending powers of Congress.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3452, Controversy over the General Welfare Clause The Federalists and Anti-Federalists clashed over the interpretation of the general welfare clause.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3451, The Meaning of the "General Welfare" What does the general welfare clause of the Constitution mean? Today we provide some answers.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3449, Farmers Demand Relief from Debt after the Revolution Farmers faced increasing debts after the American Revolution. Land was confiscated and farmers faced prison for failing to pay their debts. This led to social disorder.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3448, Social Disorder After the Revolutionary War (rebroadcast) Decreased demand for agricultural products caused social disorder in the early American republic.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3443, Pursuing Happiness As an Inalienable Right According to the Declaration of Independence, you have the right to pursue happiness. No one can take that away from you.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3442, What the "Pursuit of Happiness" Is Today we further explore concept of the "pursuit of happiness" and learn how to help decide what is truly in our self-interest.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3437, Equality and the American Mind On today's 60-Second Civics, we learn how the idea of universal human equality spread in the colonies and early republic.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3436, Stoicism, Christianity, and Moral Equality The idea of universal human equality traveled from Stoicism to Christianity and influenced the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the Framers of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 3435, The Intellectual Origins of Americans' Sense of Political Equality On today's podcast, we learn about some of the intellectual influences behind Americans' sense of political quality.
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This site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965. Learn more.
