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We the People

Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy

Danielle Allen

When you read the Declaration of Independence do you feel inspired? Do you question those words? Do you think about what this means today?

Constitutional democracy is not just what was written on paper nearly 250 years ago; it is a living activity. It’s about what citizens need to do to make democracy work, about identifying your civic beliefs and duties and what matters to you and why—and how you can become an active participant in your communities and influence your government.

In We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy, you will gain a foundational knowledge of American constitutional democracy and understand how to encourage others to explore their own civic paths, while in parallel crafting your own civic voice and identity. You'll learn about rights and responsibilities, constitutionalism, the philosophical foundations of democracy, and the levers of change. This course is built on more than ten years of academic research through the Democratic Knowledge Project, an initiative of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University.

Don’t sit back—your civic actions are just beginning.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Tell a story of self that explains what you value and why and the kind of communities and government in which you’d like to live
Understand what it looks like when rights are not protected and how constitutional democracies are designed to secure rights
Understand how and why u.s. democracy was built as it was, how it has changed over time, and what the levers of change are in this constitutional democracy

Move from “i” to “we” in order to connect your own interests with those of broader communities, with awareness of how a diversity of perspectives and experiences can be integrated in the story of what u.s. democracy has been historically and can be in the future
Differentiate and choose among the civic roles available to people who live in a constitutional democracy
Express your opinions in public forums and create your next step plans as a civic participant

Tell a story of self that explains what you value and why and the kind of communities and government in which you’d like to live
Understand what it looks like when rights are not protected and how constitutional democracies are designed to secure rights
Understand how and why u.s. democracy was built as it was, how it has changed over time, and what the levers of change are in this constitutional democracy
Move from “i” to “we” in order to connect your own interests with those of broader communities, with awareness of how a diversity of perspectives and experiences can be integrated in the story of what u.s. democracy has been historically and can be in the future
Differentiate and choose among the civic roles available to people who live in a constitutional democracy
Express your opinions in public forums and create your next step plans as a civic participant

Good to know

Know what's good

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, and possible dealbreakers

Uncovers the significance of rights, constitutionalism, and democracy, fostering a deep understanding of their role in shaping a democratic society

Promotes active civic participation by guiding learners to identify their civic beliefs and duties, empowering them to become engaged citizens

Rooted in extensive academic research, providing a solid foundation in American constitutional democracy and its historical evolution

Facilitates the exploration of diverse perspectives and experiences, fostering a nuanced understanding of the complexities of civic engagement

Empowers learners to develop their own civic voice and identity, enabling them to make informed decisions and contribute to their communities

Provides a platform for learners to connect with others and engage in meaningful civic discussions, fostering a sense of community and collective action

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy with these activities:

Review constitutional theory

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Build a foundational understanding of the concepts surrounding constitutional theory to equip yourself for the course

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Read the textbook chapters on constitutional theory
Review notes and materials from previous courses on related topics
Attend a lecture or workshop on constitutional theory

Explore online resources on civic engagement

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Broaden your understanding of civic engagement and related topics through online resources

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Visit websites of organizations dedicated to civic engagement
Read articles and blog posts on civic participation
Watch videos and documentaries on civic movements
Follow social media accounts that promote civic engagement
Engage in online discussions and forums on civic topics

Attend a guest lecture or workshop on civic engagement

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Gain exposure to expert perspectives and practical insights on civic engagement

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Research upcoming guest lectures or workshops on civic engagement
Attend the event and take notes
Reflect on the key takeaways from the event

12 other activities

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Create a Digital Collection of Course Resources

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Organize and categorize digital materials such as lecture notes, readings, and assignments for easy access

Browse courses on Course Management

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Download and save course materials
Categorize and label materials using a logical system

Participate in Online Civic Engagement Webinars

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Attend virtual sessions led by experts to enhance your understanding of civic engagement

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Identify and register for relevant webinars
Attend and actively participate in the webinars

Attend a Local Community Dialogue

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Engage with your community at a local dialogue to discuss and contribute to local decision-making

Browse courses on Community Building

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Identify upcoming community dialogues
Attend and actively participate in the dialogue

Engage in Constitutional Comprehension Exercises

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Participate in exercises designed to enhance your understanding of constitutional principles and concepts

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Review key constitutional documents
Analyze case studies related to constitutional issues
Complete practice questions on constitutional law and history

Participate in Online Discussion Forums

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Engage in discussions with fellow students to share perspectives, clarify concepts, and deepen understanding

Browse courses on Collaborative Learning

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Join the course discussion forum
Read and respond thoughtfully to discussion prompts

Develop a Civic Engagement Plan

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Create a personalized plan outlining how you will actively engage with your community and government

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Identify areas of interest and concern
Research different civic organizations and opportunities
Set specific goals and timelines for your engagement

Write a self-reflection essay

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Engage in self-reflection and articulation of your values to enhance your understanding of your civic role

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Identify the core values and principles that guide your actions
Reflect on your past experiences and identify how they have shaped your civic beliefs
Write a personal essay that explores your civic identity and aspirations

Create a Mind Map

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Summarize and reinforce your understanding of the key concepts and principles of constitutional democracy by creating a visual representation of the relationships between them.

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Identify the main concepts and principles
Brainstorm connections and relationships between concepts
Create a visual representation of the mind map

Explore 'The Federalist Papers'

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Gain invaluable insights into the debates surrounding the formation of the U.S. Constitution

View Foundations of Freedom: Common Sense, the... on Amazon

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Read selected essays from 'The Federalist Papers'
Analyze the arguments for and against ratification

Participate in a class discussion forum

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Engage with classmates to share perspectives, learn from diverse experiences, and deepen your understanding of course concepts

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Read the assigned discussion prompts and materials
Post your thoughts and insights on the discussion board
Respond to the posts of your classmates

Design a Civic Engagement Project

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Develop a proposal for a civic engagement project that addresses a specific issue or need in your community

Browse courses on Social Impact

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Identify a local issue or challenge
Research potential solutions and strategies
Draft a project plan outlining goals, activities, and evaluation methods

Develop a civic action plan

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Practice applying the principles of civic engagement by creating a plan to address a community issue

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Identify a specific issue or problem that you are passionate about
Research the issue and potential solutions
Develop a plan of action that outlines your goals, strategies, and timeline
Seek feedback and support from others
Implement your action plan and track your progress

Career center

Learners who complete We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Political Scientist

This course, We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy, can help prepare you for a career as a political scientist. This career is all about studying the principles, history, and operation of government and political systems. Studying U.S. democracy, rights, and responsibilities can help prepare you for your future career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Lawyer

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help build a foundation for a career as a lawyer. The legal system is based on a foundation of laws and rights. This course introduces students to the U.S. constitution, rights, responsibilities, and levers of change. This will be useful for building a foundation of legal principles for a future career as a lawyer.

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Public Administrator

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful for public administrators. These professionals work in the public sector to manage and implement government policies and programs. This course will help you understand the foundations of the U.S. government, democracy, and the levers of change. This will prepare you to implement policies and work within the U.S. government.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Administrator

Public Policy Analyst

If you want to analyze public policy, We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful. Public policy analysts study public policy issues and make recommendations to help policymakers develop policy. This course will help you understand the foundational principles of the U.S. government, rights, and citizenship. This will help lay the foundation to analyze government policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Campaign Manager

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help someone pursuing a career as a campaign manager. This role manages political campaigns of candidates for public office. This course will teach you about the history and structure of U.S. democracy, government, and politics. You will be better prepared to help run campaigns and help your candidate get elected.

See salaries and explore the career path for Campaign Manager

Community Organizer

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help someone preparing for a career as a community organizer. These professionals work to improve communities by organizing people and resources. This course will help you understand the foundational principles of the U.S. government and democracy. This will enable you to organize and help make your community a better place.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Government Relations Specialist

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful for a government relations specialist. This role communicates with entities like the government, media, and investors on behalf of their company. This course will explain the foundations of the U.S. government, history, and levers of change. This can help you understand how to best communicate about government and political issues.

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Journalist

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help prepare someone for a career as a journalist. Journalists investigate and report on events and issues that affect the public. This course will help you understand the foundations of U.S. democracy and how government operates. This will help lay a foundation for researching and reporting on issues related to government and politics.

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Nonprofit Manager

If you want to run a nonprofit, We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help. It covers the foundations of U.S. democracy and government. This course will teach you about rights and responsibilities as well as levers of change for the government. This will help you in your management of a nonprofit dedicated to a cause.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Social Worker

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy can help prepare for a career in social work. Social workers provide guidance and support to people with a range of needs. This includes helping people navigate government systems. This course will provide a foundation for understanding U.S. democracy, rights, and government. This will help you build the background to understand how to help people navigate these systems.

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Urban Planner

We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful for urban planners. These professionals develop plans for the use of land. This includes working with local governments. This course teaches the foundations of U.S. democracy, rights, and levers of change. It will explain the role of government and how your plans can shape the community in accordance with law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Teacher

This course, We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy, can help prepare someone for a career as a teacher. Teachers guide students through the learning process. This course can help you understand the foundations of the U.S. government. This will give you a useful perspective to help teach your students.

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Communications Director

The course We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may help future communications directors. These professionals manage the public communications for an organization to maintain their image. This course will help build your understanding of the foundations of U.S. democracy, government, and citizenship. This will enable you to build messaging that resonates.

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Historian

If you want to be a Historian, the course We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful. Historians study the history of societies and people. This course will teach you about the history and development of U.S. democracy and government. This can help you prepare for graduate school in history, where you can study particular aspects of history more deeply.

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Legislator

If you want to go into politics, We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy may be useful. Politics is based on laws and lawmakers. This course teaches the foundations of U.S. law and the history of U.S. democracy. This can put you one step closer to a career in public service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legislator

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy.

The Federalist Papers

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The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. They are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the principles of American constitutional democracy.

We the People

Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Learning objectives

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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