Homepage Resource
U.S. Constitution Teachers Workshop
Held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on June 22 – June 27, 2025.
Read MoreCamp O’Connor USA
Camp O’Connor USA is a free, merit-based summer program for middle school students with a mission to educate, encourage and inspire the next generation of leaders. Participants in our civics day camp gain a deeper, experiential understanding of our nation’s democracy, branches of government, and the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
Read MoreJohn Jay Fetzer Memorial Scholarship
The John Jay Fetzer Memorial Scholarship Fund benefits high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, civil debate skills and civics knowledge. Established in memory of our late Institute colleague, Jay was passionate about equal justice and equal opportunity for all. His compassion for others was borne out by the volunteer work he did at…
Read MoreRediscovering Political Leadership, with John A. Burtka IV
The story is the same across much of the globe: citizens aren’t currently wild about their leaders. As John A. Burtka IV writes in the introduction to Gateway to Statesmanship, the “examples of elite failures are so ubiquitous that there is no reason to chronicle them all here.” Better, Burtka argues, to turn to history to “rediscover…
Read MoreCivics for Life Quarterly, Volume 2 | Issue 2
The research is clear: study after study shows that we Americans don’t know civics. This is especially the case for younger Americans, who data reveal to be less informed about civics than their older counterparts. Obviously there is a need for more and better civic education in schools, a proposition that consistently receives strong bipartisan…
Read MoreCivics 101 Quiz
Take this short quiz and test your civics knowledge!
Read MorePublic Square | Political Polarization: Can we overcome it?
Our virtual Public Square was a dynamic discussion on the Electoral College. Those who may not have been able to join the conversation live can watch it now and find additional resources below.
Read MoreNovember 2024 General Election: How Are Secretaries of State Preparing Nationwide?
50 states are each in charge of their elections. Join the O’Connor Institute and National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) to learn how our nation’s elections officers are preparing for the November 5th election. How are the elected officials in charge of American elections preparing for November?
Read MoreCitizens Guide to the General Election 2024
This guide provides state-level information on election deadlines, voter registration, which races are on the ballot, and more.
Read MoreCivics 101: Micro-Lessons for Multigenerational Learners
Whether you never had civics in school or simply want to brush up, Civics 101 is here for you! While we are all encouraged by the increased call for K-12 civics education across the nation, we also do not want to neglect those adults, now out of school, who themselves want to learn more about…
Read More