Syllabus, Citizenship Ministry Program
St. Peter the Apostle Parish
Libertytown, MD
OVERVIEW: This program is structured in 6 sessions, each approximately 90 minutes in length, and is in discussion and Q&A – not lecture -- format. It is aimed principally (but not exclusively) at parishioners of or nearing voting age, and is intended to be both a refresher for those who understand their citizenship rights and responsibilities (and their importance and implications), and a primer/clarifier for those who want to learn more.
This program is not about politics, but civics. Its focus is not proselytizing, but informing and clarifying. And its goal is that participants not only better understand their citizenship rights and responsibilities, but also exercise those rights and responsibilities to help guide their elected and appointed representatives in carrying out their public duties ethically, honestly, and morally, consistent with: our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage and ethic; its historical goals and ideals; our Faith principles; and how we go forward in self-determining our national future.
Each session will begin with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and end with a prayer and suggested readings, both for review and reflection on the just-completed session, and to help prepare for the next. It’s entirely possible that every topic may not be discussed and explored to everyone’s unique satisfaction; at the same time, there are more than ample reading and reference resources cited and available to enable participants to do additional research on their own, both to met their information needs and to share with others.
At the conclusion of the program, participants should be better able to: 1) understand the relevance and importance of the issues of the day; 2) identify and articulate reasoned positions on these issues; 3) articulate and present their positions and expectations to political candidates at all levels; and 4) be prepared to evaluate not only the respective candidates’ responses and claims/promises, but also assess their subsequent performance.
Any more, every election cycle will be pivotal for America. The country is at a crossroads, and we citizens have a duty to be clear on knowing what kind of country, what kind of government, what kind of future, we want – and then identify/select/assign/entrust the candidates we elect with the task of taking us there.
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Content: The individual sessions will discuss the major topics listed below. Each session is structured to address – and stimulate thought and conversation on -- the respective topic’s background and history; its development and application(s); modifications/alterations from the original structure and intent; the import of such modifications/alterations; the role of Church and faith in the topic and our nation’s past, present and future; and likely or potential future developments relative to the topic.
SESSION 1:
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. Program Overview (from Cover Page, above)
C. “Qwik-Quiz” – a one-page, 20 question personal quiz (below), for participants to identify their individual knowledge level vis-à-vis such areas as our governing documents and their background, focus and intent; our method of governance; issues of the day; potential future trends, etc.
D. Answers and discussion
E. General Q&A discussion
F. Session wrap-up and prayer
SESSION 2: Our Founding Documents
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. The Founders and the Framers
C. Background and Philosophy
D. The Declaration of Independence
E. The (current) Constitution of The United States
F. Our (current) Form of Government
G. The (current) Source of Our Liberties
H. The Founding Documents’ Impact/Intent and Their Role Today
I. General Q&A discussion
J. Session wrap-up and prayer
SESSION 3: The “Living Document(s)” Concept
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. Update? Amend? Discard? Replace? Other?
C. “…that all people are created equal…”
D. Amendment XIV – Intent and Application
E. Amendment XVI -- Intent and Application
F. Checks and Balances – No Longer Necessary?
G. Conflicting Visions – Constrained/Unconstrained
H. General Q&A discussion
I. Session wrap-up and prayer
SESSION 4: God, Church, and the Faithful
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. “In the beginning…”
C. Today
D. Tomorrow?
E. Separation of Church and State
1) Original Intent
2) Current Applications
3) Tomorrow – Re-separated? Merged? Eliminated?
E. What can you do, may you do, should you do?
F. General Q&A discussion
G. Session wrap-up and prayer
SESSION 5: The Surfacing Struggle for America – World Views, Agendas, Objectives, Economics
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. The Struggle Within the U.S.
C. The Struggle External to the U.S.
D. A New World Order?
E. Old Labels: Democrats vs Republicans, Liberals vs Conservatives
F. Newer Labels: Libertarians, “Greens,” Socialists, Communists, Progressives, Others
G. Today’s Contestants: Authoritarians vs Constitutionalists
H. General Q&A discussion
I. Session wrap-up and prayer
SESSION 6: Where Do I Go From Here?
A. Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
B. Voter Registration
C. Inform Yourself – ask, learn, decide
D. Get Involved – join, partner, lead
E. General Q&A discussion
F. Wrap-up and prayer
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CITIZENSHIP “QWIK-QUIZ”
This Qwik-Quiz tests your (really) fundamental understanding of our Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, our rights and responsibilities as citizens, and competing political philosophies. You will probably not get every answer correct -- most people don’t. The point is that we all have much to learn or relearn – and maybe some things to un-learn -- if we are to be good stewards of the heritage that our Founders and Framers labored so hard to bequeath us.
1) The 1st Amendment grants which rights?
2) What’s in the 5th Amendment? What’s in Article 5?
3) What mechanism did the Government use to establish the Constitution?
4) How are our Representatives elected? Our Senators? Our Cabinet & Administrators?
5) What happens if/when a State or country goes bankrupt?
6) Is the U.S. a democracy? A republic? Something else?
7) How can one become a citizen?
8) Differentiate between the federal deficit and the federal debt.
9) What do the 9th and 10th Amendments mean?
10) What are “pork” and “earmarking”?
11) Is the Constitution a “living document”? Is it amendable? Is it etched in stone?
12) May people (and houses) of faith participate in the political process? If so, how?
13) What are the branches of the federal government and their functions?
14) Why is it a “federal” government, not “national”?
15) Why were slaves counted as 3/5 of a person?
16) Which current major political party was pro-slavery? Which one favors illegal immigration?
17) What is the Church’s position on illegal immigration? On illegal immigrants?
18) Can you recite the Preamble of the Constitution? Of the Declaration of Independence?
19) Differentiate among these labels: Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, Liberal, Conservative, Progressive, Constitutionalist.
20) What 2 core concepts guided both the Founders and the Framers?
The above questions merely highlight a tiny portion of what being a responsible citizen – and an informed voter -- entails. As we move forward, you may find that some of your previous perceptions may need revising; that’s good. Ours is (still) a government not only of the people, but by the people and for the people.
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Link here to Readings & Bibliography:
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