According to Thomas Erlich, a higher education scholar, "to become invested and involved in a community to help make the world a better place," and "to gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be engaged citizens..." (McCready and Rowan-Kenyan). [Source]
Civics are the study or science of the privileges and obligations of citizens (League of Women Voters). [Source]
A native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it. [Source]
“Civic Literacy is the knowledge of how to actively participate and initiate change in your community and the greater society. It is the foundation by which a democratic society functions: Citizen Power as a check and as a means to create avenues for peaceful change” (Stambler). [Source]
Acts such as voting, paying taxes, casting educated votes, following the law, engaging in organized protest, staying informed on current events, participating in the U.S. Census, serving on juries, defending the country in the armed forces, and participating in civic organizations are all important to the continuation of the American constitutional republic (Center for American Civics; Pew Research Center). [Sources 1, 2]
The United States Election Assistant Commission (EAC) provides Glossaries of Election Terminology in 21 different languages, with over 1,300 terms and phrases used in the administration of elections in the United States. [English] [Spanish] [Chinese] [Vietnamese] [French] [Arabic]
Center for American Civics. (n.d.) Section 3: Rights and responsibilities. Arizona State University. https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum/section3.
League of Women Voters - Delaware. (n.d.) What is Civics? https://my.lwv.org/delaware/government/what-civics.
McCready, A., M., & Rowan-Kenyon, H., T. (2020). Civic engagement. In M. J. Amey & M. E. David (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Higher Education (1st ed.). Sage UK.
https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NTExODg=?aid=103617.
Pew Research Center. (2018, April 26). 9. The responsibilities of citizenship. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/04/26/9-the-responsibilities-of-citizenship/.
Stambler, L. G. (2013, July 8-12). Civic literacy defined. [Slides]. Literacies for the Digital Age to Teach in the K-12 Classroom, Yale University,
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