The study of civics is based upon familiarity with key concepts and meanings of five Latin words:
Civis - The Latin word from where the English word “Civic” derives from. Civis refers to an individual citizen of a Roman city or state who was bestowed with certain civic duties, rights, and responsibilities.
Socius - The Latin word from where the English word “Society” derives from. Socius refers to companion, ally, or being with others. Society can mean a group of people who live and interact with each other within defined boundaries, and share in the obligations to support and protect agreed upon cultural traits, institutions, philosophy, and values.
Un - The Latin root word meaning one, harmony, singularity, or unity.
Veritas - The Latin word meaning truth, truthfulness, or reality. The word signifies finding objective and verifiable truth and reality, in contrast to mere opinion.
Pluralis - The Latin word that signifies more than one entity or item, many or several.
Civics Education
Three questions that can be asked in American Civic Education are as follows:
What are the conditions, requirements, and systems needed to allow an individual to fully participate in the process of determining what protections and rights citizens have as constitutional guarantees?
What role does civic education play in the development of common agreements, values, and democratic principles that are understood to be essential for people to feel connected in American society?
How can civics education in the United States be used to motivate students to engage in the types of discussions, research, and actions necessary to ensure the future of American democracy remains equally accessible to all of its citizens?
