Nearly all living Americans grew up taking democracy for granted. Until recently, many believed--and acted as if--the constitutional system was unbreakable, no matter how recklessly politicians behaved. No longer. Americans watch with growing unease as the political system threatens to go off the rails: costly government shutdowns, stolen Supreme…

This paper considers the functions and effects of "representation" in politics and education. The voting age for public elections in Japan has been lowered from 20 or older to 18 or older, calling for a shift in the curriculum to the basics of political participation and competence. In this paper, while focusing on the political issues…

The world is experiencing a democratic recession, and in the United States, core democratic beliefs are under attack. As a key social organization, academic institutions have a central role in the protection of democracy. Boards, presidents, faculty, and students have the ability--and responsibility--to protect and advance democracy. A course in…

While the model of deliberative democracy gives a crucial role to dialog, empirical evidence has not yet established if discussion helps to reach a better understanding of political issues and, above all, if individuals are prepared to change their views. It is still unclear when the deliberative model, and more specifically discussion, could be…

In this Q&A, NEJHE Executive Editor John O. Harney asks Mary K. Grant, president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, about the institute's work connecting postsecondary education to citizenship and upcoming elections.

Commitment to democracy and democratic norms is declining to the point where many Americans question the current political system as a form of democratic governance. Americans are deeply divided along lines of social identity, political preferences, and lived experiences (Pew Research Center, 2017a). The rhetoric and divisiveness of the 2016…

The theoretical changes required to encompass organizational democracy cannot be contained within liberal democratic theory itself. Thus, the logic of some of the central arguments of the theory leads to its transformation into a theory of participatory or self-managing democracy. (Author)

Researchers have been studying children's knowledge, thinking, and attitudes about government for several decades. However, the studies focusing on elementary students, and especially primary students, have little or nothing to say about children's ideas about democracy or democratic government. That is because children at these ages have not yet…

Discusses a study of the voting attitudes of students at several southwestern New Mexico high schools. Reports that most respondents had not voted on an issue of particular importance to themselves while in school. Indicates that most expected to vote in the next presidential election, but few were able to define democracy. (SG)

This article describes several websites that can be used to encourage students to vote. These include "The Democracy Project: Inside the Voting Booth" sponsored by PBS. This site addresses three elementary topics: how one vote has made a difference in U.S. history, how the right to vote has gradually been expanded to include minorities (African…

States that three new developments related to the Internet can assist teachers in encouraging students to participate in democracy throughout their lives: (1) online voting and advocacy; (2) online political information; and (3) online civic activism. Provides two activities that use resources from Speakout.com. (CMK)

This paper analyses the data obtained from the findings on Hong Kong, as a part of the IEA second civic study. Because the survey was conducted two years after Hong Kong's return to China, the findings reflect concepts and attitudes toward citizenship among Hong Kong students shortly after the change of sovereignty. The study shows that Hong Kong…

Posits a skeptical critique of the early claims of increased and efficient citizen participation in government due to information technology. Recent experiments have been costly and only marginally successful. Further research suggests that advanced information technology will have little effect on voter apathy. (MJP)

Reiterates the importance of voting and education to the democratic process. Praises President Clinton's efforts to increase voter participation and access including his support of the motor voter law. Briefly summarizes Clinton's vision for the future of the country. (MJP)

This guide is targeted to teachers of intermediate or advanced English as a Second Language (ESL). It provides three 1-hour lesson plans on the topic of the importance of participation in the 2000 U.S. census. The paper asserts that it is critical for minorities who have historically been undercounted and under-represented in the U.S. Congress to…