60-Second Civics Podcast

There are important differences between Parliament and Congress, just as there are important differences between the powers and limitations on an American president and those on a British prime minister. Learn what these are on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

How does the prime minister of the United Kingdom differ from the American president? Find out on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

Congress, the Supreme Court, and public opinion limit the power of the president. Find out how on today's 60-Second Civics podcast Center for Civic Education

Congress has a number of ways to limit the power of presidents. For example, Congress can refuse to ratify treaties and decline to confirm presidential nominees. Congress can even refuse to fund the president's programs or abolish agencies. Center for Civic Education

The president's power is limited by a few different methods. For example, an amendment to the Constitution limits the president to two elected terms in office. Another powerful check on the president's power is Congress. Learn about more of the ways the president's powers are limited on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

Why have executive orders increased in recent years? Find out on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

The president recommends legislation to Congress. The executive branch also plays an important role in determining federal regulations and elaborating laws. These factors have led to the growth of executive power. Center for Civic Education

Over time, power has flowed between Congress and the executive branch. Center for Civic Education

Can Congress and the Supreme Court reign in the power of the president? You bet. Center for Civic Education

What does the Constitution say about presidential powers during emergencies or crisis? The answer may surprise you. Center for Civic Education

With the support of Congress, FDR responded to the multiple crises that occurred during his administration. Center for Civic Education

How is the president America's diplomat in chief? Find out on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

The president is commander in chief, but only Congress can declare war. Congress has declared war only five times in the nation's history. Center for Civic Education

The president's power is at its greatest when it comes to foreign affairs. Center for Civic Education

The president has a number of important powers, but the president's powers are limited in important ways. Center for Civic Education

Find out why Franklin D. Roosevelt was arguably the most influential president of the 20th century. Center for Civic Education

During the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from about 410 AD until 1066 AD, many different tribes ruled Britain. These tribes featured different social roles, such as andquot;thanesandquot; and andquot;ceorls.andquot; Listen to learn more about Anglo Saxon society in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson each contributed to the growth of presidential power. Center for Civic Education

Thomas Jefferson sought to be a model of republican simplicity, rejecting what John Adams's detractors viewed as the monarchical tendencies of Adams. But Jefferson wasn't above stretching the powers of the presidency when it suited his purposes. Center for Civic Education

Some scholars trace the rise of the powerful modern presidency to Andrew Jackson, who expanded the use of the veto and appealed directly to the public to support his position on the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States. Center for Civic Education

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the president to be strong, but not too strong Center for Civic Education

The Framers of the Constitution envisioned the president as being above partisan politics. They wanted the president to be a person who had earned the esteem and confidence of the entire nation. This was one of the purposes of the Electoral College. Center for Civic Education

Today: some controversial inherent powers of presidents. Center for Civic Education

Justice Robert Jackson's concurring opinion in Youngstown Sheet and Tube v. Sawyer (1952) sets forth a framework that is widely used to assess presidential power. Center for Civic Education

Today we kick off a brief series on the power of the presidency. Center for Civic Education

Thomas Paine, with his characteristically sharp wit, pointed out some problems with the property requirement for voting. Center for Civic Education

Who was allowed to vote during the early years of the American republic? It depended on where you lived. Center for Civic Education

What legacy of Greek and Roman democracy did the colonists inherit? Find out on today's episode. Center for Civic Education

How did the right to vote gradually expand in the United States? Find out on today's podcast. Center for Civic Education

The House American Congress somewhat resembles the ancient bodies from Anglo-Saxon times. Learn more in today???s episode about these origins, including what they have evolved into for the modern British model of government. Center for Civic Education

Before the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the Anglo-Saxon kings called together a group of advisors called a Witan. Learn more today! Center for Civic Education

The Normans introduced the system of writs to English law. Soon the Normans found that controversies arose over the interpretations of writs.??They, therefore, introduced courts of equity, also known as Chancery courts, named after the king's chancellor. Learn more about these influential decisions in today???s podcast! Center for Civic Education

What did the Norman invasion mean for Anglo-Saxon England? We'll explore the influence of William the Conqueror and the Norman rule in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

After the Anglo-Saxon king of England, Edward the Confessor, died in January 1066, an Anglo-Saxon aristocrat, Harold Godwinson, assumed the throne. There was a slight problem. William, Duke of Normandy, claimed that Edward had promised him the crown. Center for Civic Education

Despite the Viking domination of England from 787 until 1042, Anglo-Saxon law and customs survived. The Anglo-Saxons valued a person's word, but Anglo-Saxon law required more than that. Center for Civic Education

With the collapse of Roman rule in Britain around 410 AD, small kingdoms emerged throughout Britain. The disappearance of Roman administration of Britain was sudden and dramatic. Learn more now! Center for Civic Education

Over the next few episodes we will explore the evolution of British constitutional government, especially as it relates to the American colonies and American constitutionalism. Listen to today's episode to learn about the rise and fall of Roman Britain! Center for Civic Education

During the Enlightenment, some philosophers were very much like scientists as we understand them today. It was the role of philosophers to explore both the world of morality and the causes and effects of nature. Learn more about the role of reason and observation in today's podcast! Center for Civic Education

The Age of Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement that celebrated human reason and sought to realize human potential. The Enlightenment spread to America, where it had a significant influence on the American Founders. Listen for more! Center for Civic Education

One of the forces that helped define the European Renaissance was humanism. In fact, humanism helped create the Renaissance. Find out how in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 ended the Thirty Years' War and started what we think of as modern nation-states. Listen to today's episode for more! Center for Civic Education

The Protestant Reformation led to the establishment of new churches that were separate and apart from the Roman Catholic Church. Some secular political leaders saw the religious reform movement as a chance to break away from the political authority of the Holy Roman Empire. Center for Civic Education

The Protestant Reformation was a movement to reform the Roman Catholic Church that began in the early 1500s in Europe. It was a powerful stimulus to modern ideas about the role of individuals in the Church and the state. Listen to today???s episode to learn more! Center for Civic Education

Renaissance is the period in European history when society moved out of the dark ages toward a recognition of the rights of individuals. Learn more about this period and how it influenced the start of the Reformation in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

Medieval European society featured social classes that were hierarchical. There was no equality among them and a person generally could not move between social classes, creating a very stratified society. Learn more about this society in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

From the ninth to about the fifteenth centuries, the feudal system dominated Europe. In this system, a politically weak monarch shared power with the nobility. Natural rights philosophy stood in stark contrast to this system. Learn more in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

Classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy had a profound influence on the way the American Founders thought about government. However, the Founders were also strongly influenced by the Judeo-Christian religious tradition. Center for Civic Education

Popular sovereignty is a fundamental idea of democracy. It is also a simple idea: The people are the ultimate source of the authority of government. Find out more in today's episode! Center for Civic Education

One idea from natural rights philosophy that gained traction in the American colonies was popular sovereignty. Center for Civic Education

Given the abundant natural resources and freedom the colonists enjoyed, natural rights philosophy strongly influenced many of the American Founders. Find out more about natural rights philosophy in the colonies with today's episode! Center for Civic Education

The Declaration of Independence, which reflects Locke's view of natural rights, states that people consent to government to protect certain natural rights, identified in the Declaration as inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Center for Civic Education