Why should we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17? The Constitution offers Americans a profound gift, but one that also brings responsibilities. We Americans are free thinkers and thus have many differences of opinion on what needs fixing and how and who should do it. The Constitution with all of its amendments offers a way […]
Constitution Day 2026 Read More »
The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “Why Governments? What Could Governments Do for Us?” In this post, we discuss issues related to government deficits and borrowing. Some national governments seek balanced budgets, but most run deficits. A fiscal deficit arises when total spending exceeds revenues. That deficit must be financed by
Ins & Outs of Government Borrowing Read More »
This is a question our founders debated endlessly as they looked to realize a vision self-governance absent a monarch. This is a question that is still debated everywhere–from the chambers of your state legislature, to the quarterly meeting of your local school board, to the meeting room of your homeowner’s association. Every government needs a
What Is the Absolute Minimum a Government Needs? Read More »
From 1820 to 1870, millions of immigrants from Ireland and Germany came to the U.S.A. due to extreme hardship at home. These immigrants were not well received by some Americans. Part of the reason for the opposition was religious. Many were Roman Catholic while most of the U.S. at the time was Protestant. Religious discrimination,
Bloody Monday Election Riots of 1855 Read More »
If you’re interested in how U.S. elections work and how well, we have got you covered! Each of the topics listed below has been reviewed by a conservative expert and a progressive expert.Click on the topics that interest you. We cover many other topics as well. Click on the button below to see what is
Elections Explainer Read More »
In our April 5, 2026, blog, we proposed six points that could be added to standard civic education for people of all ages. Continuing in that spirit, we propose several more. Write to us at team@cffad.org and let us know what you think. Discussing these realities helps motivate two fundamental questions:
More to Add to Civics? Read More »
Public corruption can harm you and all Americans in many ways. The more the government’s leaders and public officials steal from the public purse, the less public resources are available for all manner of social services, for foreign aid, and for national security. The more corrupt acts distort the allocation of public resources, favoring bribe-payers
What Do We Lose from Corruption? Read More »
While courts can review congressional laws, Article III of the Constitution also gives Congress some power to limit the federal courts, such as deciding which kinds of cases the courts are allowed to hear. (See Article III, Section 2, Clause 2, Sentence 2 of the Constitution.) This push-and-pull is part of the ongoing balancing process
Congress and the Courts Read More »
Memorial Day is more than a holiday. It is a solemn day of remembrance—an opportunity to honor the men and women who served in our armed forces and sacrificed their lives and limbs in defense of the values we aspire to uphold as a nation. They served with courage, believing in a country where the
All Americans gain from being able to participate in a regular schedule of free and fair elections to choose those who govern us. If you want to learn more about how elections work, check out our short read “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.”
Universal Voting Rights Read More »
How much public corruption is there in the USA? Public corruption was notably present in the Gilded Age from the end of the Civil War through the 1890s, before a public backlash led to several key reforms. At the start of the 21st century, the U.S. was counted among the less corrupt countries. The situation
Public Corruption in the USA 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 and Immunity Read More »
Two weeks ago, we posted a civics quiz. We also offered it to 520 respondents in a sample selected by SurveyMonkey. It was not your usual “who, what, when, and where” test. Instead, we asked how key aspects of American democracy can have value to all Americans. The results suggest that our K-12 programs
Many Americans Are Not Seeing Value in Democracy Read More »
July 4, 2026 was the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.But what did you gain from that, and why does it matter? Tell us what you think – take the short quiz below!
Can You Pass Our Civics Quiz? Read More »
Should the six points below be part of civic education, for people of all ages? Write to us at team@cffad.org and let us know what you think. 1. There will always be people who disagree on what the problems are and how to solve them. 2. Most of us operate under a consensus bias, which
Add This to Civics? Read More »
What does it mean when something is unconstitutional? Why does it matter? Find out here!
What aspect of federalism could impact polarization? Find out here!
Federalism & Polarization Read More »
Does American federalism promote or prevent tyranny? Find out here!
Federalism & Tyranny Read More »
How does federalism affect equality between states? Find out here!
Federalism & Unequal States Read More »
What are the president’s war powers? Find that out – and more – here!
The President’s War Powers Read More »
Is accountability helped or hindered by federalism? Find out here!
Federalism & Accountability Read More »
How does federalism encourage policy innovations? Find out here!
Federalism Pros & Cons #3 Read More »
Can federalism help competition? Click here to find out!
Federalism Pros & Cons #2 Read More »
Is federalism always win-win? We start the discussion today. Click here.
Federalism Pros and Cons Read More »
Can the states influence national policies? Find out here!
States & National Policy Read More »
How was revenue sharing a reaction to coercive federalism? Click here to find out!
Coercive Federalism #2 Read More »
In what ways is federalism coercive? Click here to find out!
Coercive Federalism Read More »
How does cooperative federalism differ from dual? Get the answer here!
Cooperative Federalism Read More »
Which makes a better legislator? Fighting or working together? Find out here.
What Does Doing a Good Job Mean? Read More »
