Civics In A Year
What do you really know about American government, the Constitution, and your rights as a citizen?
Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. Over the course of a year, we’ll explore 250 key questions—from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation.
Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series is a collaborative project supported by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen constitutional understanding, and encourage active citizenship.
Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, Civics in a Year will guide you through the building blocks of American democracy—one question at a time.
Episodes
50 episodes
Hamilton's Vision: Understanding Executive Authority in Federalist No. 70
Dr. Beienberg returns to explore Federalist No. 70, examining Hamilton's nuanced arguments for a strong executive branch within a balanced constitutional system. The discussion clarifies common misconceptions about the "unitary executive" theor...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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12:01
Federalist 51: Madison's Blueprint for American Democracy
Madison's Federalist 51 establishes separation of powers as a safeguard against tyranny while reintroducing the extended republic concept to prevent majority oppression of minorities. The paper forms part of a larger constitutional framework de...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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10:58
If Men Were Angels: Madison's Defense of Constitutional Design
Dr. Alan Gibson continues his analysis of the Federalist Papers with a deep dive into James Madison's arguments for separation of powers in Federalist 51. Madison outlines his revolutionary approach to maintaining constitutional balance by harn...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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14:17
Madison's Blueprint: Understanding Federalist 51 and Separation of Powers
Dr. Alan Gibson returns to examine Federalist 51, Madison's definitive document on separation of powers and checks and balances within the American governmental system. Madison's argument across Federalist Papers 47-51 culminates in a sophistic...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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11:29
Unpacking Federalist 39: Madison's Blueprint for American Power
Dr. Beienberg explores Federalist 39, Madison's comprehensive explanation of how the Constitution blends federal and national elements to create an effective yet balanced government structure.• Federalist 39 first defends the Constituti...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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12:20
Unpacking Federalist 10
Dr. Alan Gibson delves into James Madison's groundbreaking argument in Federalist 10 that challenges traditional thinking about republics and factions. Madison innovatively argues that a large, diverse republic better protects against majority ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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24:14
Madison's Revolutionary Idea: How Large Republics Solve Faction Problems
Dr. Alan Gibson explores Madison's revolutionary idea in Federalist 10 that republican government works better over large territories with diverse populations rather than small ones. This concept directly challenged centuries of traditional rep...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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15:44
The Anti-Federalists: America's Overlooked Founding Voices
Dr. Carrese returns to explore the Anti-Federalists, an overlooked yet crucial group of America's founders whose opposition to the Constitution led directly to the Bill of Rights and continues to shape constitutional debates today.• Ant...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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20:06
Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest: America's Labor Day Story
Civic holidays are days set aside to commemorate important events or values in our nation's history. They serve as reminders of our shared past and principles rather than just opportunities for celebration. Labor Day, celebrated on the first Mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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5:32
The Crucial Role of Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers served as crucial persuasive documents during the Constitution's ratification debates, particularly for securing New York's pivotal approval, without which many feared the entire system would collapse. Dr. Beienberg explai...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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16:50
Behind the Pseudonym: Hamilton's PR Genius and the Constitution's Defense
The Federalist Papers emerged as a strategic response to critics of the newly drafted Constitution. Alexander Hamilton organized James Madison and John Jay to write under the pseudonym "Publius" to advocate for ratification.• Hamilton, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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25:13
Unpacking the Federalist Papers
Dr. Sean Beienberg returns to explore the origin and purpose of the Federalist Papers as persuasive political documents designed to convince New York citizens to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Written primarily by Alexander Hamilton, James Madis...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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11:23
The Father of the Constitution: Madison's Vision
Dr. Colleen Sheehan explains why James Madison deserves the title "Father of the Constitution" and explores how this quiet, scholarly founder shaped American democracy through his preparation, vision, and belief in self-government.• Mad...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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18:45
The Blueprint: Understanding America's Limited Government System
What makes the American system of government unique in world history? Dr. Justin Dyer, professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin and dean of the UT Austin School of Civic Leadership, returns to our podcast to unpack the found...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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10:16
Locke's Ideas of Life, Liberty, and Property Changed the Course of History
Dr. Paul Carrese explores John Locke's profound influence on the Declaration of Independence and American founding principles. Locke's philosophy of natural rights - that all humans possess inherent, equal rights to life, liberty, and property ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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18:51
How Philosophy Shaped a Nation: The Enlightenment's Fingerprints on American Democracy
America's political philosophy emerged from a complex interplay of Enlightenment thought, with both radical and moderate strands shaping our founding documents and constitutional system.• Multiple influences shaped American political th...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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19:49
Republic vs Democracy: America's True Political Identity
Our fearless leader Dr. Paul Carrese explores republicanism—small r republicanism—and how it is reflected in the US Constitution.• We are a democratic republic, not simply a democracy• The Constitution guarantees every state a "Repu...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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18:29
Social Contracts: Our Civic Foundation
Dr. Phillip Muñoz explores the concept of social contracts and explains how they formed the foundation of American governance. He illustrates how these agreements transform potential chaos into ordered liberty, allowing diverse individuals to l...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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11:18
Origins of Liberty: Uncovering America's Natural Rights Philosophy
Natural rights form the cornerstone of American constitutional democracy, establishing that all individuals possess unalienable rights endowed by their Creator that no government can legitimately take away. Dr. Paul Carrese explores how these r...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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19:17
Kids Edition- What's a constitution?
We explore what a constitution is by comparing it to creating rules for a clubhouse. We explain how the U.S. Constitution outlines government structure, leadership selection, and citizens' rights. Our conversation takes listeners back to the Co...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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6:54
The Silent Architect: Washington's Crucial Role in Crafting the Constitution
George Washington's crucial role at the Constitutional Convention goes far beyond simply presiding over the meeting, serving as the vital legitimizing force that made radical constitutional reform possible. Washington championed constitutional ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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21:48
These Are the Times: Thomas Paine and the Power of Common Sense
Dr. Aaron Zubia explains how Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" revolutionized colonial thinking in 1776 by presenting independence as the logical solution for America. This radical pamphlet sold 100,000 copies and helped catalyze support for the De...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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13:44
Separation of Powers: Montesquieu's Blueprint for American Democracy
The separation of powers doctrine formulated by Baron de Montesquieu profoundly shaped America's constitutional foundation and remains central to our political system today. Dr. Paul Carrse explains how this French philosopher's revolutionary i...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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20:54
Colonial Foundations: The Journey from British Charters to American Constitutions
Dr. Beinberg explores how colonial charters formed the foundation for American democracy and evolved into state constitutions after independence. Colonial experiences with local self-governance created the blueprint for America's revolutionary ...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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11:56
Kids Edition: From Mayflower to Mohawks: How America Got Its Rulebook
The US Constitution draws inspiration from numerous sources including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, colonial documents, and Native American governance systems. These influences shaped core American principles like ...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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7:01