Arizona Civics Podcast

In this episode, we dive into a pivotal moment in American history when Congress prepared to admit Arizona and New Mexico as the final contiguous states. We explore the intriguing and contentious relationship between President William Howard Taft and the progressive aspirations of Arizonans as they drafted their state constitution. Despite Taft's reputation as a trustbuster, his conservative...

Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes and some of the largest Indigenous populations and reservations in the United States, making up over one-quarter of the state’s land area. In this episode, we explore the unique relationship between tribal nations, Arizona’s state government, and the federal government. What does it mean for tribal nations to be considered “domestic dependent natio...

Education is one of the most vital roles of state and local governments, and in Arizona, this responsibility is enshrined in the state Constitution. In this episode, we explore how Arizona fulfills its obligation to provide public education through a mix of state and local partnerships. From public schools—both traditional and charter—to private school and homeschooling support, we’ll examine the...

How do you balance judicial independence with accountability? Arizona answers this question using a modified version of the Missouri Plan to select appellate and many lower court judges. In this episode, we explore the evolution of judicial selection in the United States, from competitive elections to the federal appointment model and the Missouri Plan’s hybrid approach. Learn why Arizona rejected...

Unlike the U.S. government, where the president leads the executive branch with centralized authority, Arizona takes a different approach. The state’s executive branch is divided among multiple elected officials, including the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, each chosen independently by voters. In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of Arizona’s decentralized leadership...

Arizona’s government mirrors the U.S. system with its Senate and House of Representatives, but its Constitution takes democracy a step further. With 30 districts electing one senator and two representatives each, the legislature works to craft state laws. Yet, Arizonans don’t stop at electing officials—they can also create, amend, or block laws themselves through direct democracy. In this episode,...

Not all democratic societies rely on formal written constitutions. The British model allows for flexible governance, while Arizona’s Constitution, the easiest to amend in the U.S., takes a similar approach—emphasizing responsiveness over restraint. In this episode, we explore how Arizona’s Founders embraced a progressive vision of constitutionalism that prioritizes majority rule and direct democra...

Did you know that some state declarations of rights predate even the Declaration of Independence? In this episode, we explore the rich history of state declarations of rights, including Arizona’s, and their critical role in protecting individual liberty. Unlike the federal government's limited powers, state governments have broader authority, making state bills of rights essential safeguards....

Arizona's Unique Constitution: Direct Democracy in Action In this episode, we delve into the fascinating relationship between the U.S. and Arizona constitutions. While the U.S. Constitution provides the broad framework for governance, state constitutions like Arizona’s go further, shaping governance to reflect local values and needs. Arizona’s constitution stands out for embracing direct demo...

In this episode, our guest, Dr. Andrew Porwancher, helps us explore how a founding father with Jewish roots shaped the early American landscape. This episode delves into Alexander Hamilton's fascinating Hamilton's overlooked Jewish heritage. Joined by an esteemed professor who has authoritatively written on the subject, we explore Hamilton's early life, Hamilton's education at...

Recorded initially on March 13th during a Civic Learning Week Webinar: Learn how to discuss policy and politics in your classroom with less stress! This panel features Dr. Bill Bianco, Research Lead of Policy vs Politics , and James Coan , Executive Director of More Like US. Elizabeth Evans, M.Ed., NBCT , Program Director for Civic Education, will moderate the discussion. Topics will include simpl...

Join us for this episode where we debunk common misconceptions about the United States Constitution and learn some cool new facts. In this episode, we will explore popular beliefs about the Constitution and separate fact from fiction. Our guest, Dr. Andrew Porwancher, a historian, will help us understand this vital document's true meaning and significance. Let's delve into the myths surr...

Tammy, Jeremy, Tara, and Liz reflect on the training and implementation of the EAD taskforce with the hopes that other entities can learn from their experience.  The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government! Follow us on: Twitter Linked In Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Econ...

This episode features Marshall Trimble, the official Arizona State Historian. Jeff and Liz are joined by Dylan Dalzotto, Veterans Program Director as we discuss Marshall's service in the Marines, how he got to be the historian, and a few colorful stories about Arizona.  The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government! Follow us on: Twitter Linked...

In this episode, we discuss the history and importance of Veterans' Day and how Veterans are the ultimate primary source, and why they should speak in classrooms!  The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government! Follow us on: Twitter Linked In Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic a...

Flowing Wells Teacher Erika Tornberg discusses blending Civics into World History using little tweaks instead of big steps. In this episode, Erika talked about how she took a lesson on Hammurabi's Code and elevated it using school rules and the Arizona Constitution in her 6th-grade classroom.  Read More Here The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Go...

In this episode, our intern, Emanuel, interviews two civic education rock stars to discuss what got them into teaching and what keeps them teaching. Allison Ekren is an 8th-grade social science teacher at Basha High School's Accelerated Middle School.  Ashley Crose is a social sciences teacher at Saguaro High School.  The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona Hist...

In this episode, Chryste Berda discusses how she and a team of educators took some of their pain points for 3rd grade Arizona History and utilized the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap to facilitate more inquiry in elementary classrooms.  Check out her post! The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government! Follow us on: Twitter Linked In Instagr...

This episode features one of our EAD Taskforce Educators, Maria James, an Elementary Social Studies and Science Specialist in Mesa. Maria discusses the importance of inquiry in elementary social studies and how her district brought more Indigenous history and sources into the classroom. Check out her piece on our website! The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona Histo...

In this episode, I am joined by Chantelle Taylor of Holbrook and Ryan Richins of Saint Johns, Arizona, to discuss the importance of civic outreach and civic engagement opportunities for Arizona’s rural area students and teachers.  Center for Political Thought and Leadership Website Rebuilding Arizona Civics Website Educating for American Democracy The Arizona Constitution Project Check Out Our Fre...

In this episode, we are joined by Sarah Suggs, President and CEO of Sandra Day O'Connor Institue for American Democracy . We discuss Justice O'Connor and how the Institute carries on her legacy of civic education, engagement, and civil discourse. We encourage you to celebrate and honor Justice O'Connor by ensuring civics is taught in schools and celebrating Sandra Day O'Connor...

In this episode, we talked to Dr. Luke Perez, an Assistant Professor at the School of Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. He shares his method for creating a quick summary for anything from Federalist 10 to a 1000-page book! This precis method helps students develop a summary to understand their reading and develop questions. This method is accessible to middle grades and...

In this episode, you will be introduced to Jeff Davis and Liz Evans, the Civic Education Program Directors at the Center for Political Thought and Leadership. We will talk about the projects we are working on and how we plan to move the needle forward on civic education in Arizona! Check out the blog for more fun facts about us! Center for Political Thought and Leadership Website Rebuilding Arizon...

Today is a very special episode as we speak with Jack Holder,  Pearl Harbor Survivor, WWII Veteran, US Navy Aviator, and Arizona Resident.  Following the Pearl Harbor Attack, Jack flew in well over 100 important U.S. Navy missions in World War II including: The infamous 1942 Battle of Midway. Guadalcanal and all the Solomon Islands. The English Channel and Bay of Biscay on the west coast of France...

Every meaningful change has challenges associated with it. This episode explores the tensions and dilemmas within the EAD Roadmap and how they are connected with the Seven Themes we've previously discussed. In this second part of the two-part podcast where we discuss design challenges 3,4, and 5. Five Design Challenges Educating for American Democracy Home Page Center for Political Thought an...