Most people are not corrupt. For those ordinary citizens who are involved, it is more likely to be petty corruption, perhaps paying a bribe to avoid a speeding ticket, than they are to get involved with grand public corruption. In 2013, Transparency International reported that seven percent of Americans surveyed reported paying a bribe. For […]
What Kinds of People Become Corrupt? Read More »
The Constitution’s framers intended to insulate the federal courts from political pressure. They therefore required that: Similar protections exist for state court judges – with some caveats. Next week, we will look at how the judiciary can put limits on some government officials.
Judicial Independence Read More »
One definition of public corruption, from Transparency International, is “the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain.” We expand upon that in a way that lets us address some specific aspects of public corruption. Public corruption is the abuse of official positions or public trust for illegitimate partisan and/or private gain. We take this definition
What is Public Corruption? Read More »
The U.S. judicial system is more than a referee for private disputes. Courts also shape how the three branches of government balance power, and they set limits on what officials can and cannot do. Understanding these relationships explains why the judiciary matters to every citizen. These checks and balances are not abstract—they affect how laws
The Courts & Other Branches of Government Read More »
Public corruption does real harm, often to people just like you. When those in governmental power abuse their offices for any of the many reasons defined in this course, then citizens are always hurt, whether from higher prices, lower living standards, threats to personal safety and freedom, or greater national security risks. The perpetrators of public corruption
Why Care About Corruption? Read More »
Until 2025, it was common for one or more district court judges to issue “universal injunctions” to block specific federal policies, which were often issued in the form of executive orders from the Office of the President. The Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. CASA (2025) that universal injunctions exceed the power granted to the
Can District Courts Block Federal Policies? Read More »
This short course has three parts: (1) an introduction to public corruption, including the harm it does to democracy and your finances, (2) a review of what makes corruption more likely, and (3) how you can fight against corruption. There are also two annexes, one of which provides details about the many kinds of public
New Course: Public Corruption Read More »
The United States has not one but two court systems: state and federal. They run side by side, each with trial courts, appeals courts, and a high court at the top. Most of the time, your daily legal issues—family disputes, traffic tickets, property fights, or criminal charges—are handled by state courts. Federal courts step in
How Is the Judicial System Organized? Read More »
How much do you know about the U.S. judicial system? We offer you a roadmap, along with information useful to any citizen about how the courts affect each of us – and how we can help shape the courts.
Big Court Ruling! But … Read More »
Why is this important? The judicial system is more than legal drama on the news. The judicial system shapes far more of our daily lives than we realize. It is the part of government that interprets the rules, protects our rights, and keeps power in check. Understanding how it works helps all of us see
Judicial System Roles Read More »
This year, the country holds mid-term elections. Congressional, legislative, gubernatorial, and statewide offices are on the ballots in 46 states. The first step will be primary elections, where candidates compete to be the face of their political party. If you are interested in helping to select a candidate for your favored party, you can find
2026 Mid-Term Elections Read More »
Why is this important? You want to be treated fairly. At the same time, our communities depend on a deeper foundation: We can only live together peacefully if we treat each other fairly. These two levels—personal and societal—capture the essence of justice. The judicial system is where fairness is tested, enforced, and often contested. There
This short course offers an introduction to the U.S. judicial system, why it should matter to every citizen, and what your role can be within the system. It begins by exploring different ideas of justice—fairness, protection of rights, accountability, social good, and fair process—showing that our courts are where these principles are tested in daily
New Course: Introduction to the American Judicial System Read More »
In a government of, by, and for the people, people need to trust that they will be treated fairly. They need to know they can vote like anyone else, that they will be treated just as well as anyone else, and that elected officials will feel as accountable to them as anyone else. It’s a
We have answers! The answers to all these questions and more can be found right here: CFFAD.org All our courses are short reads, nonpartisan, and reviewed by experts on the left AND right. And hang on because more is coming soon!
Can the Government Even Work for Us? Read More »
What is an ally? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an ally can be understood in two ways. It can mean a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league, such as America and its allies, where the Allies were the nations that fought together against Germany in World War I or World War
Allies Make Us Stronger Read More »
Time to refresh your knowledge? The answers to all these questions and more can be found right here: CFFAD.org All our courses are short reads, nonpartisan, and reviewed by experts on the left AND right. And hang on because more is coming soon!
New Year’s Resolution? Read More »
December 15 is Bill of Rights Day. Why is that important? Back when the Constitution was written, some people did not trust the new federal government that the framers created. Those who felt this way, the so-called Anti-federalists, were especially concerned that the new government would tyrannize the people or the state governments. Here is
Bill of Rights Day 2025 Read More »
The Supreme Court took up a difficult issue on December 8, 2025. On the one hand, there is the need for presidents to fully control their executive branch staff so that they faithfully execute the laws of the land. On the other hand, there is a need to insulate some essential functions in the service
Faithfully Execute the Law without Partisanship Read More »
Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. Here are a few things we are grateful for. We are grateful for the framers of our Constitution. They meant to create a new form of government that loyalists and patriots alike could live with – even if flawed in many ways much discussed since
Things to Be Thankful For Read More »
Is American-style democracy truly worth the trouble? On paper, according to our Constitution, our republic has two notable features: accountable representation through regular elections and protection against government tyranny. The protection is achieved through the separation and sharing of powers (so no part of government can get too strong), due process and the rule of
Worth the Trouble? Democracy in Our Republic Read More »
Power really does change hands in the federal government – and it is hard to keep for more than a few years. And, because power does change hands, it is foolish to give your leaders more power than you would trust to your political rivals. If you value freedom and fairness, then it is important
Power Does Change Hands Read More »
A good part of the magic of representative democracy in our republic is that losing an election does not mean losing power forever. Just like in most modern sports, there are always opportunities to compete again and again. This has been true ever since our Constitution went into effect in 1789. It has been true
Can Losers Compete Again? Read More »
October 20 to 26 is Free Speech Week. In that spirit, we are reposting and updating a blog from September 2019. You will find many quotes from American leaders on the right and left in support of free speech – protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ** Decades ago, when this blogger
Famous People on Freedom of Speech Read More »
This article reviews what the Federal Reserve does and why it is independent. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution makes clear that power over fiscal and monetary policy resides exclusively with the Legislative Branch and that it may delegate these powers to agencies beyond its direct control. In practice, Congress has largely maintained its
The Federal Reserve Read More »
If your goal is solving a national or state-level problem, you will want to work with voters and lawmakers on all sides to get results that most people will accept as legitimate and useful. To achieve this, you will rely on fact-seeking and brainstorming. If your goal is for your side to win, you will
The Problem with Winning Read More »
In today’s tight races, it makes sense for both major parties to try to earn new votes. Showing respect for rural versus urban differences should be part of that strategy. At least some of our differences arise quite naturally from geography and demography – rural and urban situations are quite different. We review some differences
Winning Votes from Our Urban and Rural Cousins Read More »
Recent news reports indicate the two major political parties are getting ready for a gerrymandering war that will further undermine the quality of democracy in our republic. Leaders in several “red” and “blue” states are contemplating redistricting for partisan advantage in advance of the mid-terms rather than under the usual ten-year census cycle. The very
The 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is a time to celebrate the founding of our nation—an ambitious, imperfect, and ongoing experiment in self-government. We have come a long way since 1776. Today, the United States is one of the world’s most free, powerful, influential, and wealthy nations. Even so, we can always be
249 Years Later: The Power & Price of Self-Government Read More »
The following is a summary of material available in our short course on the presidency as a branch of the U.S. government and how it has changed over time. It is not about any one person. In Part One of our course, you will learn that the framers of our Constitution had a lot of
Presidential War Powers and More Read More »
