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. John Harner

John Harner is a cultural geographer whose work focuses on creating place, U.S.-Mexico connections and integration, and the American urban landscape. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Geography from Arizona State University and his B.S. in Geography from The Pennsylvania State University. A longtime educator, he has taught courses in urban geography, cultural landscapes, GIS, and the geography of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Harner is the author of Profiting from the Peak: Landscape and Liberty in Colorado Springs, which received the 2021 J.B. Jackson Award from the American Association of Geographers. His scholarship also includes work on sustainability, urban growth, participatory mapping, and digital geo-humanities. A Fulbright Scholar in Guadalajara, Mexico, he has also been recognized with the University of Colorado Thomas Jefferson Award and the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award.

Guest appearance on:

Place Shapes Civics