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.
Civics In A Year
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 for the people—remain relevant for aspiring leaders of all ages today.
• Founders worried about giving one person too much power while still needing a strong leader
• Washington demonstrated honesty by refusing to become king despite popular support
• Hamilton emphasized the importance of wisdom and knowledge of laws, history, and military affairs
• Madison believed presidential power must come from the people, not from the office itself
• Lincoln exemplified these qualities during the Civil War through his honesty, constitutional wisdom, and courage
• The qualities that make a good president—honesty, wisdom, courage, respect—can apply to leadership at any level
• These same characteristics can make someone a good friend, classmate, or future leader
Remember, the qualities that make good presidents can help you become a better leader in your own life!
Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum!
School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
Hi friends, welcome back to Civics in a Year Kids Edition. Today's big question is what do the founders say are the key qualities of a good president? Let's start with a little imagination. Think about your school. What if you got to pick a class president to help make decisions, represent the students and maybe even talk to the principal for the whole class? Would you pick a kid who always brags or one who never does their homework? Probably not. You'd want someone who's honest, responsible and willing to work hard for everyone, not just themselves.
Speaker 1:Well, when the founders of the United States were writing the Constitution in 1787, they had a similar challenge what makes a good president for the whole country? Founders, people like George Washington, alexander Hamilton and James Madison, worried about giving one person too much power. They didn't want another king, but they also knew the country needed a leader who could act quickly and wisely when important decisions had to be made. So what qualities did they say were the most important? First of all, honesty and character. A president should be trustworthy and set a good example. Washington showed this by refusing to become a king even though people wanted him to. Secondly, wisdom and knowledge. Alexander Hamilton wrote that the president needs to understand laws, history and even the military, so they can protect the country. Third, courage Leaders have to make hard choices, even when they aren't popular. Lastly, respect for the people. James Madison believed presidents must remember that power comes from the people, not from themselves.
Speaker 1:Let's fast forward about 70 years to another famous president, abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln became president in 1861, the country was divided and headed into the Civil War. Talk about a tough job, but the qualities the founders had written about helped guide him. Lincoln was known for his honesty. His nickname was Honest Abe. He showed wisdom in studying the Constitution and searching for the right way to keep the country together. He showed courage by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation even though he knew not everyone would support it. And, most importantly, lincoln reminded the nation that the government's power comes from the people, famously saying at Gettysburg that our country is of the people, by the people and for the people.
Speaker 1:So what do the founders say make a good president? Honesty, wisdom, courage, respect for the people. So what do the founders say make a good president? Honesty, wisdom, courage, respect for the people. And leaders like Abraham Lincoln showed that these qualities aren't just words on paper. They were qualities that could hold the nation together during his hardest time. So the next time you hear about presidents past, present or future think about those qualities. They're not always about being the loudest, the most popular or the most powerful. They're about serving others with character and courage. I'm Liz, and this has been Civic City, your Kids Edition. Thanks for listening and remember the qualities that make a good president can also make a good friend, classmate or even future leader. Who knows, maybe it's you.
