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.

Guest

Dr. Zachary German

Zachary German is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of American Civics at the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is an expert in American political and constitutional thought, early modern thought, statesmanship, political culture, politics and religion, and constitutional design. His published and ongoing research includes work on figures such as James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass.

German teaches courses on political thought, constitutionalism, and leadership with an emphasis on American civic life. He most recently taught at Arizona State University and holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Notre Dame.

Guest appearance on:

Tocqueville’s Take On Individualism