Citizenship and Government

By Michael Foster
Minnesota Department of Education
Instructional Specialist

Civic education in a democracy helps students gain the knowledge and skills needed for informed, responsible participation in public life. It is the study of constitutional principles and the democratic foundation of our national, state and local governments, and institutions. In the earliest grades, this might mean naming the president, the governor and the principal of the school.

Civic education also focuses on political processes and the structures of government, grounded in the understanding of constitutional government under the rule of law. In middle school, study moves to the three branches of government and how they serve as checks and balances. High school classes may include a visit to a local town meeting or the state capitol to view a legislative hearing, or participation in a petition movement on a local topic of interest.

Students who study civic education will know how to make a difference in their world. They will learn and practice the skills required for competent participation in the political process, including the capacity to influence policies and the ability to monitor and evaluate the performance of elected and appointed public officials. The aim of civic education is not just any kind of participation by any kind of citizen; it is the participation of informed and responsible citizens, skilled in the arts of deliberation and effective action.

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