2004-10-24
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VOICE ONE:
Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA, in VOA Special English. I'm Steve
Ember.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Faith Lapidus. Our subject this week is civics in the
United States.
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VOICE ONE:
Civics is a subject that deals with the rights and duties of
citizens. It brings together law, history and political science.
In the nineteen sixties, a non-profit group called the Center for
Civic Education got started. Its job is to help people in the United
States and other countries learn about the ideas of democracy. Its
work includes an international civic education exchange program,
Civitas.
In nineteen ninety-four, the Center for Civic Education developed
five questions for teaching about civics and government. We will use
these questions to guide our program. The answers will combine our
own reporting with information from the center.
Question one: "What are civic life, politics and government?"
VOICE TWO:
The simple answer is that people have their personal life, but
they also have a civic life. This involves issues that affect their
community and their nation.
Politics is a process. It is a way for people with opposing
interests and beliefs about issues to reach decisions.
Government is the organization in society with the power to put
these decisions into effect. It also has the power to enforce them.
In the United States, the
Constitution limits the power of government. The founders of the
nation wanted to protect individual rights. At the same time,
however, they also wanted to work for the common good.
Under the Constitution, government officials must follow the rule
of law. This means they must follow the same rules as everyone else.
The Constitution is the highest law in the land.
VOICE ONE:
Constitutions are also vehicles for change. One example involves
the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The
Fourteenth Amendment took effect in eighteen sixty-eight, after the
Civil War.
It guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law. It
meant that former slaves had the same rights as other Americans.
Black Americans used this amendment to seek better treatment during
the civil rights movement of the nineteen fifties and sixties.
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VOICE TWO:
The second question presented by the Center for Civic Education
asks: "What are the foundations of the American political system?"
The system is built on the Constitution, which guarantees the
right to life, liberty and property. The Constitution also
establishes a system of checks and balances on government power.
Congress passes bills for the president to sign into law. If the
president refuses, Congress has the power to reject the veto. The
Supreme Court has the power to strike down laws if it finds they
violate the Constitution.
VOICE ONE:
The Constitution also recognizes the powers of the states. In
fact, the American political system is built on the idea that states
have any powers not given to the federal government. The system was
also built on the idea that the different groups in society would
all share a common identity as Americans.
And several intellectual traditions have influenced the American
political system. One is classic liberalism. Classic liberalism
represents the idea that governments are created by the people, for
the people.
This theory had its roots in Europe, through writers like John
Locke. The American Declaration of Independence is an example of a
document that supports the main ideas of classic liberalism. It
guaranteed the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness."
VOICE TWO:
Another theory that influenced early America is classic
republicanism. A republic is a state governed by elected
representatives instead of directly by the people. The United States
is known as a constitutional representative democracy.
Classic republicanism links the idea of civic virtue to the
common good. Civic virtue means that people put the interests of
society before their own.
But a belief in the public good may conflict with a desire for
the protection of individual rights. So classic republicanism and
classic liberalism can sometimes clash.
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VOICE ONE:
Here is question number three from the Center for Civic
Education: "How does the government established by the Constitution
embody the purposes, values and principles of American democracy?"
There are many ideas behind American democracy, but one of the
most important is federalism.
Early leaders wanted to create a government system that would
prevent the misuse of power. So they created several levels of
government. Power and responsibilities are divided among the
national, state and local governments.
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The federal government is organized into the legislative,
executive and judicial branches. The legislative branch is Congress,
made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The judicial
branch is the Supreme Court and the federal court system.
The executive branch is the president and the fifteen
cabinet-level agencies. The federal government also has about sixty
independent agencies.
VOICE ONE:
State governments are established by state constitutions. Each of
the fifty states has its own legislative, executive and judicial
branch. State and local governments provide police and fire
protection, education, public works and other services. To pay for
services, taxes are collected at all levels of government.
The American political system also provides citizens with the
ability to influence how laws are made. Some people become involved
in political or public interest groups. Others are civically active
through groups such as unions or religious organizations.
The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press.
So the media also play a part in civic life and shaping public
opinion.
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VOICE TWO:
"What is the relationship of the United States to other nations
and to world affairs?" This is the fourth question asked by the
Center for Civic Education.
At times, the United States has closed itself off from the world.
At other times, it has been an active leader. National politics and
the guiding ideas of the Constitution have shaped and reshaped
relations. Disagreements over foreign policy have led to difficult
periods in American history.
The United States declared its independence from Britain on July
fourth, seventeen seventy-six. Today, it is often called the last
remaining superpower, after the fall of the Soviet Union. But
military strength is only one measure of power. Economic power also
influences relations between countries. And the United States has
the largest economy in the world.
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VOICE ONE:
The final question asks: "What are the roles of citizens in
American democracy?"
In the words of the Center for Civic Education, "democratic
citizens are active." They must know what their personal, political
and economic rights are. And they must know what responsibilities
come with those rights.
The center says those responsibilities include voting in
elections and giving time to community organizations. It says
another responsibility is serving as a helpful critic of public
organizations, officials and policies. But, above all, it says
people must see how democracy depends on knowledgeable citizens who
care about other citizens and their country.
This is what Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president, said in
eighteen fifty-four: "If there is anything which it is the duty of
the whole people to never entrust to any hands but their own, that
thing is the preservation and perpetuity of their own liberties and
institutions." In other words, to keep democracy alive, citizens
must do it themselves.
VOICE TWO:
The Center for Civic Education organized its teachings around
questions because, in its words, "democracy is a discussion."
Citizens exchange ideas. They search for new and better ways. The
use of questions is meant to show that the process is never-ending.
The center provides materials to schools. It also trains teachers
and organizes community programs. For more information, you can
write to the Center for Civic Education at five-one-four-five
Douglas Fir Road, Calabasas, California, nine-one-three-zero two,
U-S-A.
Internet users can go to civiced.org. Civiced is spelled
c-i-v-i-c-e-d. And the e-mail address is c-c-e at civiced.org.
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VOICE ONE:
Our program was written by Jill Moss and produced by Caty Weaver.
This is Steve Ember.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Faith Lapidus. Join us again next week for THIS IS
AMERICA, in VOA Special English.