Civics Renewal Network

The Civics Renewal Network is a consortium of more than 30 nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations committed to strengthening civic life in the United States by increasing the quality of civics education and improving access to high-quality, no-cost educational materials for teachers, students, and interested citizens. Among its partners are APPC’s Annenberg Classroom project, the National Constitution Center, the U.S. Courts, iCivics, the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Newseum.

Washington, D.C., Summit Promotes Innovation in Civics Education

APPC General News September 26, 2017

The policy center and the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement supported a civics summit in Washington, D.C., with educators, policy makers and philanthropists.

Student Involvement Is a Focus of Constitution Day 2017

Annenberg Classroom September 13, 2017

Thousands of students across the United States will take the Preamble Challenge to celebrate Constitution Day this year and participate in naturalization ceremonies to swear in new U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Capitol Building seen from the steps of the Supreme Court. Credit: U.S. Department of State/IIP Bureau.

Americans Are Poorly Informed About Basic Constitutional Provisions

Political Communication September 12, 2017

Many Americans are poorly informed about basic constitutional provisions, according to APPC's Constitution Day Civics Survey. It finds that 37% can’t name any of the rights under the First Amendment and only 26% can name all three branches of government.

Jamieson with attendees of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (left to right): Hon. Sidney Thomas, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Neil Gorsuch; Hon Robert Katzmann, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Hon. Marilyn Huff, Senior District Court Judge and President of the Federal Judges Association, and Hon. Michael Newman, Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Ohio and President of the Federal Bar Association.

Jamieson Talks Fake News and Civics at Ninth Circuit Session and at Steamboat

Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics July 18, 2017

APPC director Kathleen Hall Jamieson moderated panels on civics and fake news at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, and kicked off a seminar series in Steamboat Springs, Colo., with a keynote on fake news.

Aerial view of the Capitol Building. Credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Americans’ Knowledge of the Branches of Government Is Declining

Annenberg Classroom September 13, 2016

Only a quarter of Americans can name all three branches of government, the poorest showing on that question in a half-dozen years, a new survey on civic knowledge has found. The GOP presidential candidate was known to only 84 percent of the public.

Annenberg Classroom Releases Video on First Amendment for Constitution Day

Annenberg Classroom September 01, 2016

For Constitution Day, Annenberg Classroom has released a video on the First Amendment and a free press and re-released another about civil liberties and the detention of Japanese-Americans during World War II.