DONATE
Back to: Simple Civics
What is WFYI's Simple Civics?
September 04, 2025
You probably took a government or civics class, but many of us still have questions about how it all works. WFYI’s “Simple Civics” is here to help! In each episode, political science professor Dr. Terri Jett tackles a specific question in just a few minutes – breaking down the history behind an issue and how it affects us today. Civics doesn’t have to be complicated, so let’s make it simple!
Watch
The history of America's National Park Service
June 10, 2025
Can you imagine what the United States would be like without the National Park Service?
The Debt Ceiling: A spending safeguard or a political bargaining chip?
May 14, 2025
The debt ceiling, much like ranch dressing or hamburgers, is a uniquely American invention....
The history and purpose of The Federal Reserve
April 30, 2025
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the U.S. But why do we even have it in the first...
How NASA works with private space companies
April 17, 2025
While Blue Origin and Space X make headlines, NASA remains as a leader of academic space research....
How do billionaires avoid paying taxes?
March 12, 2025
Billionaires pay less in taxes than ever before, but how do they do it?
Shirley Chisholm and the Fight for Political Equality
February 18, 2025
Learn how America's first Black congresswoman broke barriers and ran for president against...
What type of Government does the US have?
February 3, 2025
Online you may see arguments that the United States isn't a democracy. Are these claims valid?...
How these Political Outsiders became President
January 17, 2025
We know how Trump won, but how did other outsiders like James Garfield and Lincoln become president?...
Why doesn't Indiana have citizen-initiated ballot measures?
November 5, 2024
Why do some states have citizen-initiated ballot measures, and others don't?
Should Election Day be a federal holiday?
October 23, 2024
Hear the arguments for and against this idea in this episode of Simple Civics!
Amending the Constitution
May 30, 2024
What does it take to pass an Amendment? Find out in this episode of Simple Civics!
Age Maximums for Public Office
May 16, 2024
Elected officials are getting older in the US. Should there be an age limit?
View More Programs
Support WFYI. We can't do it without you.