James Madison, the Father of our Constitution, once said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
The Informed Citizen, a civics blog of the NJSBF, tackles civics-related topics with the goal of arming all citizens with the knowledge of how the Founding Fathers created the nation and what every citizen’s rights are under the U.S. Constitution.
Posts are added to the blog periodically. All posts contain Discussion Questions and Glossary Words, providing a complete lesson plan. To suggest a civics-related topic for the blog, contact Jodi L. Miller at jmiller@njsbf.org.
For more on civics, check out the Civics Publications toggle on our Publications Page, download a copy of the Special Civics Edition of The Legal Eagle or order one of our civics-related publications, including the Bill of Rights Up Close or Beyond the Bill of Rights using our Publication Order Form.
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Are States “Labs of Democracy?” Yes and No
by Jodi L. Miller In civics education, generally the U.S. Constitution gets all the attention, but every state has its own constitution too and some of them pre-date the federal constitution. An...
Freedom of Speech Vital to Democracy
by Jodi L. Miller Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo wrote in a majority opinion that freedom of speech “is the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom.” Other...
Freedom of the Press Guards Against Tyranny
by Jodi L. Miller Thomas Jefferson once said, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” He also said, “Nothing can now be believed which is...
Allowing the Freedom to Practice Religion or Not
by Jodi L. Miller There are more than 300 religious denominations in the United States. From those who believe in one God, to those who believe in multiple Gods, to those who don’t believe in God at...
First Amendment Freedoms Allow For Dissent
by Jodi L. Miller From the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to the Black Lives Matter Movement today, Americans have met oppression with protest. The Founding Fathers believed strongly in a citizen’s right...
The Evolution of the Second Amendment
by Jodi L. Miller “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” These 27 words that comprise the...
No Quarter Given
by Jodi L. Miller Can you imagine being forced to shelter someone you don’t know in your home indefinitely? We’re not talking about a distant cousin that annoys you by borrowing your stuff without...
Protecting Privacy in the Past and the Future
by Jodi L. Miller In 1763, William Pitt, the 1st Earl of Chatham, gave a speech in Parliament’s House of Lords where he said: “The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of...
Fifth Amendment All About Protecting Individual Rights
by Jodi L. Miller Of all the amendments in the Bill of Rights, you may be most familiar with the Fifth, especially if you’re a fan of cop shows or courtroom dramas. You’ve probably heard the term,...
Protecting the Rights of the Accused
by Jodi L. Miller The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is all about criminal prosecution. The amendment contains seven rights afforded to the accused, including the right to a speedy trial;...
Everyone Equal When Seeking Civil Justice
by Jodi L. Miller The principle of the Seventh Amendment is that, under America’s civil justice system, everyone has equal access to a civil jury trial. The amendment states: “In Suits at common...
Defining What is Cruel and Unusual
by Jodi L. Miller At just 16 words, the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the shortest. It states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and...