About the Podcast: 60-Second Civics is a daily podcast that provides a quick and convenient way for listeners to learn about our nation’s government, the Constitution, and our history. The podcast explores themes related to civics and government, the constitutional issues behind the headlines, and the people and ideas that formed our nation’s history and government.
Get Involved: Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter. Or you can contact the show by emailing Mark Gage. Let me know what you think!
You Can Help: 60-Second Civics is supported by private donations. You can help keep the podcasts coming by donating, buying an ebook, or by writing a nice review in iTunes to help others discover the show. We love our listeners. You are the reason we created the podcast. Thank you for your kind support!
Music: The theme music for 60-Second Civics is provided by Cheryl B. Engelhardt. You can find her online at cbemusic.com. The song featured on the podcast is Cheryl B. Engelhardt's "Complacent," which you purchase on iTunes, along with all of Cheryl's music.
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60-Second Civics: Episode 5215, The Problem with Constitutional Government: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 12 As the Founders of the new American republic knew, constitutional government can take many forms. A constitutional government can have a single ruler, a group of rulers, or rule by the people as a whole. However, this system does have flaws. Learn more in today's podcast!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5214, Popular Sovereignty and Higher Law: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 11 In democracies, the sovereign people are the ultimate authority that grants all powers exercised by government. This is called popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty requires that the whole body of citizens consent to be governed by the constitution that they authorize and under which they live. Constitutions are forms of higher law.
60-Second Civics: Episode 5213, Constitutional Government Is Limited Government: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 10 A constitution limits the powers of government by defining and distributing its powers. However, just because a nation has a constitution does not mean that it has a constitutional government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 5212, What Is a Constitution? Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 9 A constitution is an authoritative law through which the sovereign people of a democracy authorize a government to be established and grant it certain powers. Learn more in today's episode!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5211, The Reason for a Representative Government: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 8 While the founders were supportive of democracy as a concept, they had their reservations about certain types. Learn more in this episode!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5210, James Madison and the Republic: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 7 What did James Madison think about the term andquot;republicandquot; and why is this significant for the foundation of the United States? Find out more in today'ss episode!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5209, The Mixed Constitution: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 6 From where did the American Founders learn about the idea of a ???mixed constitution???? Listen to today???s episode to learn about its Greek and Roman origins and more!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5208, Why Aristotle Wasn't a Fan of Direct Democracy: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 5 Aristotle identified democracy as a corrupt form of government by the many poor. By andquot;democracy,andquot; Aristotle meant direct democracy, where people make public policy directly. This is different from the type of government we call democracy today, in which, for the most part, we elect representatives to make public policy for us. Listen to today's episode to learn more!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5207, Aristotle's Right and Corrupt Forms of Government: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 4 Aristotle distinguished between what he called the andquot;right formandquot; and the andquot;corrupt formandquot; of government. Listen to today's episode to understand the difference!
60-Second Civics: Episode 5206, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Functions: Ideas that Informed the American Founders, Part 3 Aristotle observed that every state, or country, must perform three functions: legislative, executive, and judicial. The American Founders were well acquainted with these functions, and formed the three branch system around them. Listen to today???s episode to learn more!
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