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
61 episodes
Constitutional Interpretation: Why Judges Still Turn to Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
Why do Supreme Court justices turn to 235-year-old political essays when deciding modern cases? This riveting exploration with Dr. Sean Beienberg reveals how the Federalist Papers continue to shape constitutional interpretation centuries after ...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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10:16
Breaking Barriers: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's Legacy
Few Americans have transformed our nation's trajectory quite like Sandra Day O'Connor. Born on an Arizona ranch where she learned resilience and grit, her journey to becoming the first woman on the Supreme Court reveals both personal determinat...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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9:43
Kids Edition: The Great Debate That Built Our Democracy
We explore the critical debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists that shaped America's founding and governmental structure in the late 1780s after the Revolutionary War. Their competing visions for the new nation's power structure ultima...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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4:50
The Art of Disagreement: What America's Founding Debates Teach Us Today
Dr. Paul Carrese returns to Civics in a Year for a profound conversation about what modern Americans can learn from the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the Constitution's ratification. This eye-opening discussion reveals...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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24:26
Constitutional Insights Through the Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers stand as America's original political science—a blueprint for constitutional government that remains surprisingly relevant 240 years after its creation. In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Paul Carrese, we explore w...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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20:43
Hamilton vs. Brutus: The Battle Over Judicial Power in Federalist 78
Dr. Sean Beienberg examines the historical debate between Alexander Hamilton and Brutus regarding judicial power and independence in the American constitutional system. Hamilton's Federalist 78 defends judicial review as necessary for enforcing...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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13:35
Separation of Powers: Madison's Blueprint for American Governance
We explore Federalist Papers 47 and 48 with Dr. Sean Beinberg, examining Madison's sophisticated understanding of separation of powers and the subtle distinction between separated powers and checks and balances.• Dr. Beienberg identifie...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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14:21
Kids Edition Constitution Day: How a Document Changed the Course of History
We explore why Constitution Day matters by comparing the U.S. Constitution to the rulebook of a sports team, showing how both prevent chaos and establish fair play. On September 17, 1787, the founders created not just a document but a revolutio...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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5:17
Kids Edition: What Makes A Good President?
We explore the essential qualities of a good president according to America's founding fathers and how these same virtues helped Abraham Lincoln lead during the Civil War. These timeless leadership traits—honesty, wisdom, courage, and respect f...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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4:56
Electoral College Decoded
Dr. Sean Beienberg returns to examine the Electoral College through the lens of Federalist Paper 68, explaining the original intentions behind this complex system and how it rapidly evolved from its designed purpose. We explore how Hamilton's v...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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11:36
Why America Has One President: Federalist No. 70 Explained
Dr. Beienberg explains Alexander Hamilton's arguments in Federalist No. 70 for establishing a single executive rather than a council or committee to lead the executive branch. Hamilton's case rests on the fundamental differences between legisla...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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7:07
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