Institute of American Civics

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Institute of American Civics’ William Lyons Receives Leadership Tennessee Civic Understanding Pillar Award 

Dr. William Lyons, professor emeritus and associate director for community outreach at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of American Civics, has been named an inaugural recipient of Leadership Tennessee’s Civic Understanding Pillar Award.  Presented as part of the organization’s inaugural Civic Leadership Awards, the Civic Understanding Pillar Award recognizes individuals and organizations that help Tennesseans better understand the […]

The Conversation: Mail ballot mirages aren’t fraud, but mail ballot fraud isn’t a complete myth

How do mail ballots shape election results, and where do common misconceptions about the counting process come from? In this thought-provoking analysis, Andrew E. Busch, associate director of the Institute of American Civics examines the difference between legitimate election procedures and misinformation surrounding mail-in voting. Busch explains why “mail ballot mirages” occur, how ballots are […]

Institute of American Civics to Launch First Undergraduate Degree Program 

Beginning this fall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville students can major in Civic and Constitutional Thought through the Institute of American Civics (IAC) following approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The new Bachelor of Arts degree is the IAC’s first academic degree program and is designed to prepare students for thoughtful leadership by studying American political thought, constitutionalism, political […]

Institute of American Civics 2025 Survey Shows Ongoing Need for Civics Education 

New survey findings from the Institute of American Civics, housed in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, suggest that civic knowledge may play an important role in fostering tolerance for opposing political views and strengthening civil discourse in Tennessee.  The survey of 1,099 Tennessee adults was conducted in November […]

Should the U.S. Pursue a Second Constitutional Convention?

At the Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics, Morgan Marietta engaged in a lively, respectful debate with constitutional scholar Sanford Levinson on whether the United States should hold a new constitutional convention. Marietta argued against such a move, emphasizing the enduring strength of the Constitution as a system designed to promote unity, protect […]

UT’s Institute of American Civics To Expand Tennessee Civics Academy Statewide

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Institute of American Civics will expand civics education across the state by hosting its Tennessee Civics Academy at three sites: Nashville (May 27-29), Knoxville (June 10-12) and Memphis (June 24-26). Supported by a grant awarded to the IAC by the U.S. Department of Education in 2025, the Tennessee Civics Academy offers professional development to Tennessee K-12 […]

The Conversation: Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship will depend on its interpretation of one key phrase

The Supreme Court on Dec. 5, 2025, agreed to review the long-simmering controversy over birthright citizenship. It will likely hand down a ruling next summer. In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order removing the recognition of citizenship for the U.S.-born children of both immigrants here illegally and visitors here only temporarily. The new rule is […]

The Conversation: Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution

The most influential cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this term, which begins on Oct. 6, 2025, reflect the cultural and partisan clashes of American politics. The major cases in October and November address the role of race in elections, conversion therapy and the Trump tariffs. Later cases include campaign finance and transgender sports. This […]

Dunn co-authors new report, Experiential Civic Learning for American Democracy–A Portrait of the Field 

Institute of American Civics (IAC) Executive Director Josh Dunn co-authored a new report  Experiential Civic Learning for American Democracy. Drawing on a first-of-its-kind national landscape analysis of existing civic learning programs, the report provides a clear, actionable framework for effective experiential civic learning—what it is, why it matters, and how to do it well. At a […]

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