President Barack Obama at a town hall meeting on health care reform, 2009

Focus Question: What are examples of civic, political, and private life in American society?

Topics on the Page

Civic Life

Political Life

• Women in United States Politics

• Special Topic Page:  Women's Political Participation Around the World

• Youth Participation in Politics  
  

Private Life

• Engage:  Should the United States Adopt Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a National Policy?

Civic

Relating to a city or town, especially in its administration; also, "municipal". Relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city or local area, as in "civic duty".

What Are Civic Life, Politics and Government, National Standards for Civics and Government, Center for Civic Education (2014)

• Civic life is the public life of the citizen concerned with the affairs of the community and nation as contrasted with private or personal life, which is devoted to the pursuit of private and personal interests

Examples of Civic Life:

A Stich in Time from Harvard University seeks to fulfill community needs of warm clothing and caring outreach.

Abigail Adams Society from Harvard University seeks to provide a forum where moderate, conservative, and libertarian women can discuss their views and ideals.

Political

A political life is one in which the bridge between the governance and the governed is crossed, to some degree. If a civic life is one lived within the parameters of the governing body of whatever society is being examined, then a political life is one that seeks to alter, correct, expand or narrow those parameters through interaction with the government.

Examples of Political Life:

Receiving services under President Obama's Health Care Reform 
Social Security
TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program)
FDA
Political party participation

 

Women in United States Politics

Facts: Current Numbers and Historical Data on Women in Politics from the Center for American Women in Politics, Rutgers University

• 2015 Women Mayors (cities over 30,000)

Facts about Women Legislators

• After the 2012 election, 20 percent of the members of Senate are women; 18 percent of the members of the House of Representatives are women.

Fact Sheet: The Women's Leadership Gap, Center for American Progress (2014)

 Women in National Parliaments (as of February 2018).

• On this list, the United States was 77th of 190 nations

Youth Participation in Politics

Participatory Politics: New Media and Youth Political Action (2012).

Private

Private life is the one removed from politics and civics, but protected, ensured or provided by both. For instance, our right to assemble is something we may explore in our private lives according to our personal interests, but it is protected by the Constitution (politics) so long as we also lead appropriate civic lives; not breaking the law, etc.

Many People Belong to a Private Golf Course

A lesson plan from Fairfax County Virginia that aims to point out to students the difference between political and civic life, and how the two interact with teach other on a daily basis.

How Can Citizens Participate?  Center for Civic Education

Engage: What Governments Can Enforce Coronavirus Rules for Private Citizens

 Anti-Coronavirus Sign/licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Gibbons v. Ogden

In 1824, the Supreme Court observed in Gibbons v. Ogden that sovereign state authority includes the authority to enact “quarantine laws” and “health laws of every description.” 

The Police Power of the States to Control a Pandemic, Explained

Engage:  Should the United States Adopt Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a National Policy?

Why Everyone is Talking About Free Cash Handouts--An Explainer on Universal Basic Income, CNBC.com (June 27, 2019)

• Universal basic income refers to regular cash payments made to a given population (such as adult U.S. citizens, for example) with minimal or no requirements for receiving the money, in order to increase people’s income, according to the International Monetary Fund.

About Basic Income, Basic Income Earth Network

Who Really Stands to Win from Universal Basic Income?  The New Yorker (July 2, 2018)

Universal Basic Income Has Been Tried Before.  It Didn't Work.  The Heritage Foundation (October 9, 2018)