Civics Initiative
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The civics of curriculum transparency
Curriculum transparency policy should be a balance of fulfilling the Legislature’s constitutional duty in public education and respecting the principle of local control in education.
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The Supreme Court and the recognition of new rights
While the interpretation of the term “liberty” in the Constitution is still somewhat unsettled, it is clear that the Supreme Court will still consider claims for new rights protected by the Constitution.
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2 concepts that beefed up the Supreme Court’s influence
The Supreme Court’s influence today – a far cry from its beginning – is due in no small measure to the development of the principle of precedent and the power of judicial review.
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Civics of the Utah State Legislature, part 3: Rules committees and standing committees
While sometimes obscure and complicated, the role of rules committees and standing committees is essential to fulfilling the consensus-building design of Utah’s legislative process.
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Contentious Supreme Court nominations are relatively new
The Supreme Court nomination process we are used to – when the nominee appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions – is relatively new in our nation’s history.
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Testimony in support of SB 114 1st Substitute – Public School Curriculum Requirements
Sound curriculum transparency legislation will further unify parents and teachers in their desires and commitments to improve the learning experience and outcomes of students.
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Civics of the Utah State Legislature, part 2: Base budget
This week the Utah Legislature will finalize the “base budget” – which typically represents about 97 percent of the final state budget – for fiscal year 2022-23.
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Supreme Court’s active exercise of judicial review has fluctuated over the decades
Supreme Court invalidation of federal laws or regulations may seem like an annual occurrence. But this is a fairly modern development in the civic history of the federal judiciary.
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The key to evaluating curriculum transparency legislation
The parent-teacher partnership is the place where the desires and interests of two institutions meet: the family and public education. Public policy should respect both institutions.
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Civics of the Utah Legislature, part 1: Rule by consensus
Consensus rule is how Utah’s system of legislative lawmaking is designed to work. It is a feature, not a bug, of our governing system. The differences between consensus rule and majority rule are subtle but important.