Instructions: 

1. Watch and listen to the 60-Second Civics video below. If you'd like, you can also read along using the script that appears below the quiz. Or you can turn on the video's subtitles and read while watching the video.
2. Take the Daily Civics Quiz. If you get the question wrong, watch the video again or read the script and try again.

Episode Description:
Of all the duties of citizens, perhaps none is more important than doing your part to ensure the healthy functioning of American constitutional democracy. What can you do to support the survival of our constitutional democracy? Find out today!

Promoting a Healthy Democracy: Building Your Skills as a Citizen, Part 5

Welcome to 60-Second Civics from the Center for Civic Education. I’m Mark Gage.

Of all the duties of citizens, perhaps none is more important than doing your part to ensure the healthy functioning of American constitutional democracy.

After all, if our system of government were to descend into a nondemocratic form of government, such as a dictatorship or autocracy, everyone's freedoms would be at risk, and our country's centuries-long experiment in self-government would come to an end.

So, what can you do?

First, you can stay informed about political issues.

Second, you can learn about the meaning of America's core constitutional principles.

Listening to this podcast every day is a good start, but there are many other resources. 

The Center for Civic Education offers some key terms to know about concepts found in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the Constitution on its website. 

The link is in the show notes on the YouTube version of this episode.

Third, it's your obligation to monitor the words and actions of public officials and hold them accountable for upholding fundamental American constitutional principles.

If a public official falls short, you can hold them accountable by removing them from office through peaceful, orderly, and legal means, such as by voting in the next election or in a recall election.

Remember, it's up to informed and engaged citizens like you to ensure the survival of our constitutional democracy.

This episode was made possible by the support of T-Mobile.

60-Second Civics, where civic education only takes a minute.