60-Second Civics Podcast
972 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 76 ratings60-Second Civics is a daily podcast that provides a quick and convenient way for listeners to learn about our nation's government, the Constitution, and our history. The podcast explores themes related to civics and government, the constitutional issues behind the headlines, and the people and ideas that formed our nation's history and government.
60-Second Civics is produced by the Center for Civic Education. The show's content is primarily derived from the Center's education for democracy curricula, including We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, Project Citizen, Foundations of Democracy, and Elements of Democracy.
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Episodes
60-Second Civics: Episode 4401, Supreme Court Decisions about the General Welfare Clause: American Fundamentals, Part 24
August 04, 2021 07:00 - 1 minutePeople disagree over what powers the general welfare clause gives Congress to spend taxes. Under our Constitution, the Supreme Court of the United States is given the power to interpret the meaning of the Constitution. Learn more about how the Court has interpreted these powers in today's episode! Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4400, The Debate Over the General Welfare Clause: American Fundamentals, Part 23
August 03, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteEven before the Constitution was ratified in 1788, people disagreed over what powers the Constitution gives to Congress to promote "the general Welfare." The topic is still debated today. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4399, The Meaning of "General Welfare" in the Constitution: American Fundamentals, Part 22
August 02, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteThe Preamble to the U.S. Constitution states that one of its purposes is to promote the general Welfare. Article I, Section. 8. 1. of the Constitution says "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4398, Shays' Rebellion and the U.S. Constitution: American Fundamentals, Part 21
July 30, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteAs the Annapolis Convention met in September 1786, to ???Remedy Defects of the Federal Government,??? Shays' Rebellion had just begun. This extensive, sometimes bloody conflict began in Massachusetts began in August 1786 and stretched into 1787. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4397, Farmers' Demands, Debt, and Social Disorder: American Fundamentals, Part 20
July 29, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteBy the mid-1780s, acts of violence protesting the poor economic conditions for American farmers had become commonplace. Farmers had borrowed money to raise crops to support the high demand during the Revolutionary War. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4396, Social Disorder After the Revolutionary War: American Fundamentals, Part 19
July 28, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteSocial disorder after the Revolutionary War was caused mainly by economic conflict between farmers and merchants. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4395, How Does the Constitution Provide for Domestic Tranquility? American Fundamentals, Part 18
July 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 minuteThe Preamble to the Constitution states that one of its purposes is to "insure domestic Tranquility." What does this term mean, and why was it included in the Preamble? Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4358, Protection Against Unreasonable Search and Seizure: The Right to Privacy, Part 6
June 10, 2021 07:00The protection against unreasonable search and seizure was in part a reaction against the general warrants issued by the British that so enraged American colonists in the prelude to the Revolution. The Fourth Amendment and state constitutions protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4357, John Adams and James Otis: The Right to Privacy, Part 5
June 09, 2021 07:00John Adams claimed that James Otis's speech against general warrants was the first act of colonial resistance to British policies. Despite his fame, Otis's career would be ended by a violent attack by a British customs official. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4356, James Otis Speaks Against General Warrants: The Right to Privacy, Part 4
June 08, 2021 07:00General warrants were unpopular in the American colonies, where they were used to search for evidence of smuggling. In a five-hour speech in February 1761, James Otis spoke out against them, saying that they would "totally annihilate" the British common-law tradition that "A man's house is his castle." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4355, General Warrants and the American Revolution: The Right to Privacy, Part 3
June 07, 2021 07:00American colonists' strong objections to British trade laws and the use of general warrants contributed to the American Revolution. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4354, The Problem with General Warrants: The Right to Privacy, Part 2
June 04, 2021 07:00General warrants allowed British officials to search people, businesses, homes, and property indiscriminately. British officials in the American colonies used such warrants to collect taxes, to recover stolen goods --including enslaved people -- and to prosecute smugglers. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4353, Historical Origins of the Right to Privacy: The Right to Privacy, Part 1
June 03, 2021 07:00Americans inherited from British history the principle that "a man's home is his castle." This idea can be traced to the opinion of Sir Edward Coke in Semayne's Case in 1604. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4352, Freedom of Association and American Citizenship: Freedom of Expression, Part 30
June 02, 2021 07:00More than one hundred fifty years ago, French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville commented on Americans' habitual practice of joining together to solve common problems. The exercise of freedom of association was, Tocqueville believed, one of the outstanding characteristics of American citizenship. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4351, Discrimination and Government Interference: Freedom of Expression, Part 29
June 01, 2021 07:00Over the years, the courts and legislators have grappled with the question of whether the right to associate means that one has the right not to associate with certain people. The difficulties reflect the tension between two important ideals: (1) eliminating unfair discrimination in American life and (2) the right of each individual to live his or her own life as free as possible from government interference. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4350, Freedom of Association: Freedom of Expression, Part 27
May 31, 2021 07:00The right to associate freely with other citizens is part of living in a free society. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4349, Freedom of Assembly Does Have Limits: Freedom of Expression, Part 27
May 28, 2021 07:00The Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of the right to assemble in a free society, but it has approved certain restrictions. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4348, The Importance of Freedom of Assembly and the Right to Petition: Freedom of Expression, Part 26
May 27, 2021 07:00Freedom of assembly was effectively used by the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to bring about societal change. The right to petition government for a redress of grievances is widely used today at the local, state, and national levels. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4347, How American Women Have Used the Right to Petition: Freedom of Expression, Part 25
May 26, 2021 07:00Throughout the nation's history, American women have used their right to petition government for a redress of grievances to secure their rights and effect societal change. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4346, Silencing Critics: Freedom of Expression, Part 24
May 25, 2021 07:00The use of the right to petition has been an important way for people who were denied the right to vote to communicate with public officials, but the U.S. government has sometimes tried to silence its critics. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4345, Abolitionists and the Gag Rule: Freedom of Expression, Part 23
May 24, 2021 07:00The right to petition government for a redress of grievances, guaranteed by the First Amendment, was an important tool used by Americans to communicate their opinions to public officials. Nevertheless, public officials have at times sought to limit the right to petition. One infamous example is the gag rule in the House of Representatives, which prohibited debate on certain topics, including slavery. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4344, The Right to Petition in the Colonies: Freedom of Expression, Part 22
May 21, 2021 07:00The right to petition played an important role in politics in the American colonies. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4343, Origins of the Rights to Assemble and Petition: Freedom of Expression, Part 21
May 20, 2021 07:00The rights of assembly and petition were part of English common law for hundreds of years and were seen by Americans as fundamental to a constitutional democracy. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4342, The Rights to Petition and Associate: Freedom of Expression, Part 20
May 19, 2021 07:00Freedom of expression is protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments and applies to the states as well as the national government. The right to associate, which is part of freedom of expression, arose out of cases in the 1950s and 1960s challenging the efforts of some states to limit the activities of civil rights groups, such as the NAACP. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4341, The Right to Peaceably Assemble: Freedom of Expression, Part 19
May 18, 2021 07:00The Supreme Court held in the 1937 case of De Jonge v. Oregon that the right of peaceable assembly "cannot be denied without violating those fundamental principles of liberty and justice which lie at the base of all civil and political institutions." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4340, Rights to Assemble, Petition, and Associate: Freedom of Expression, Part 18
May 17, 2021 07:00The First Amendment protects people's right to form their own opinions, including those about politics and religion. It also protects the right to communicate those opinions to others. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4339, Brandenburg v. Ohio: Freedom of Expression, Part 17
May 14, 2021 07:00In the 1969 case of Brandenburg v. Ohio the Supreme Court adopted an approach to free speech and press that was much more tolerant of provocative, inflammatory speech than past approaches. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4338, Limitations on the Power to Restrict Speech: Freedom of Expression, Part 16
May 13, 2021 07:00The federal government can restrict free speech and press, but there are several limitations to this power. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4337, How Supreme Court Decisions Regulate Free Speech: Freedom of Expression, Part 15
May 12, 2021 07:00The Supreme Court always has permitted some regulation of speech and the press. The Court's approach to analyzing restrictions on speech and press has been described as both "dynamic" and "unpredictable." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4336, Government Regulation of Free Speech: Freedom of Expression, Part 14
May 11, 2021 07:00The American government regulates free speech in three ways: through regulations, prohibitions, and punishments. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4335, Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions: Freedom of Expression, Part 13
May 10, 2021 07:00Some laws limiting freedom of expression do not violate the First Amendment. These laws are created to protect other important values and interests Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4334, Some Exceptions to Free Speech: Freedom of Expression, Part 12
May 07, 2021 07:00Governments at all levels in the United States make laws that limit freedom of expression to protect other important values and interests. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4333, Can Freedom of Speech Be Limited?: Freedom of Expression, Part 11
May 06, 2021 07:00Despite the statement in the First Amendment that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech," most people argue in favor of limiting freedom of expression in certain situations. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4332, Government Suppression of Unpopular Ideas: Freedom of Expression, Part 10
May 05, 2021 07:00There has been pressure at many times throughout history to suppress unpopular ideas. Restrictions generally have been imposed during times of war or when the government has felt threatened. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4331, Jury Nullification in the John Peter Zenger Case: Freedom of Expression, Part 9
May 04, 2021 07:00The John Peter Zenger case provided an early example of jury nullification, which means that a jury reaches a verdict of not guilty, despite overwhelming proof that the defendant committed a particular act, because the jury believes that the law making the act a crime is immoral or wrong. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4330, John Peter Zenger: Freedom of Expression, Part 8
May 03, 2021 07:00Many Americans believe that the John Peter Zenger case not only established an important right of freedom of the press but also proved the importance of the jury as a check on arbitrary government. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4329, "Our Liberty Depends on Freedom of the Press": Freedom of Expression, Part 7
April 30, 2021 07:00By 1800, freedom of speech and press were beginning to be considered an essential part of free government. As Thomas Jefferson put it, "Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4328, The English Common Law of Seditious Libel: Freedom of Expression, Part 6
April 29, 2021 07:00The English common law of seditious libel made it a crime to publish anything that might injure the reputation of the government. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4327, Free Expression and Seditious Libel: Freedom of Expression, Part 5
April 28, 2021 07:00Modern Americans' expectations about free expression differ markedly from those of Americans and the English during the colonial period. The law of seditious libel in England dates to 1606 and the case of "De Libellis Famosis." Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4326, English Origins of American Ideas about Freedom of Expression: Freedom of Expression, Part 4
April 27, 2021 07:00Many ideas about the importance of freedom of speech and of the press were brought to America from England. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4325, A Necessary Part of Representative Government: Freedom of Expression, Part 3
April 26, 2021 07:00If the people are to instruct government properly, then they must have access to information, ideas, and various points of view. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4324, 2 Big Reasons for Free Expression: Freedom of Expression, Part 2
April 23, 2021 07:00Two big arguments in favor of freedom of expression are (1) it promotes individual growth and human dignity and (2) freedom of expression is important for the advancement of knowledge. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4323, 5 Arguments for Free Expression: Freedom of Expression, Part 1
April 22, 2021 07:00Today we kick off a miniseries on freedom of expression, part of our continuing examination of the rights protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On today's podcast, we present five arguments in favor of freedom of expression. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4322, The Supreme Court's Test for Free Exercise Cases: Freedom of Religion, Part 8
April 21, 2021 07:00Here is the current test the justices use to judge laws limiting free exercise of religion: 1. The law must be neutral and apply to everyone; 2. If the law is not neutral and does not apply to everyone, the government must have a compelling interest for enacting it. Furthermore, the government must adopt the least restrictive means for furthering that compelling interest. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4321, When Bedrock Principles Collide: Freedom of Religion, Part 7
April 20, 2021 07:00According to former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, there are three "bedrock principles" from which to begin the analysis of establishment clause cases. Learn what these are on today's 60-Second Civics. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4320, How the Supreme Court Ruled in Two Free Exercise Cases: Freedom of Religion, Part 6
April 19, 2021 07:00Two Supreme Court cases provide an illustration of how the Court has ruled on tests of the First Amendment's free exercise of religion clause. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4318, How Court Decisions Limit Free Exercise of Religion: Freedom of Religion, Part 4
April 17, 2021 07:00The Supreme Court will sometimes limit the free exercise of religion, particularly when the health of a minor is involved. It is less likely to interfere with the right of mentally competent adults to make their own decisions based on their religious beliefs. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4317, Free Exercise of Religion: Freedom of Religion, Part 3
April 16, 2021 07:00The free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution protects the right to believe in any religion or none at all. It also protects the right to practice one's religion, but this right does have limits. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4316, Interpretation of the Establishment Clause: Freedom of Religion, Part 2
April 15, 2021 07:00There are three common methods of interpreting the establishment clause of the First Amendment: (1) broad interpretation, (2) narrow interpretation, and (3) literal interpretation. Most American agree that church and state should be separate, but they are no closer today to defining the proper scope of separation of church and state than they were in 1791. Center for Civic Education
60-Second Civics: Episode 4315, The Establishment Clause: Freedom of Religion, Part 1
April 14, 2021 07:00Today we launch a new series on freedom of religion as protected by the First Amendment by examining the very first part of the amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." Center for Civic Education