The Informed Citizen
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, 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 Bulletin using our Publication Order Form.
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America Embarks On An “Experiment”
by Jodi L. Miller It has been called a failed experiment, as well as a “noble experiment” depending on which side of the issue you favor. The “experiment” was Prohibition, a nationwide ban on the...
Taxing Income With 16th Amendment
by Jodi L. Miller Nothing may be more complicated (or snooze-worthy) than a discussion of taxes, but that is what the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is all about. The Amendment states: “The...
Fourteenth Amendment Slow to Grant Equality
by Jodi L. Miller After the Civil War, the United States was faced with the problem of how to incorporate four million newly freed people into a society that saw them as less than. For its part,...
Thirteenth Amendment Ends Slavery But Makes Way for a Different Kind
by Jodi L. Miller Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became the most well known African American leader of the 1800s, called slavery “the great sin and shame of America.” The United States still...
Taking a State to Court…Not So Fast
by Jodi L. Miller The Bill of Rights hadn’t been in place that long when another amendment to the U.S. Constitution was added. The 11th Amendment, ratified on February 7, 1795, states: “The Judicial...
Amendments That Define the Presidency
by Jodi L. Miller The President of the United States has a big job, which is outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. It makes sense that a few amendments would be needed over the years to...
Setting the Terms on Term Limits
by Jodi L. Miller No one likes the guest that stays too long at the party. But in terms of those that govern or adjudicate, how long is too long? The longest serving member of Congress was...
Does the U.S. Constitution Need a Re-Write?
by Jodi L. Miller As a rule, written constitutions don’t last that long. Legal experts estimate the lifespan of a constitution is less than 20 years. Indeed, the United States’ first foray into a...
First Amendment and the Pledge of Allegiance
by Jodi L. Miller To some, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is a sacred ritual that demonstrates American patriotism. The Pledge has been at the heart of several court rulings, however, most...
Equal Justice Under Law—Is Everyone Included?
by Jodi L. Miller “Equal Justice Under Law.” Those are the words inscribed on the front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. The words are derived from the 14th Amendment to the...
U.S. Needs Presidential Norms to Have Faith in Democracy
by Jodi L. Miller Article II of the U.S. Constitution spells out the powers of a U.S. president. Traditionally, the president has also been limited to some degree by what are called democratic or...
Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?
by Jodi L. Miller Every American is familiar with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Some may even be able to sing it or at least get through “O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light….” On March 3,...