The American Democracy Corps

The American Democracy Corps

The American Democracy Corps is a non-partisan nationwide network of engaged citizen activists committed to expanding civic learning, engagement, and civic action to preserve and sustain our Republic.

Drum majors for democracy, A.D.C. members work from the grassroots up, through its signature program (L.I.V.E & Serve Across America) to strengthen the civic fabric of democracy.by helping to cultivate the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices required for informed, engaged, and effective citizenry in a healthy democracy. These include knowledge of fundamental political, social, political, economic, and civic institutions and appreciation of constitutional ideals, principles, and democratic norms, including the importance of respectful civic discourse in a pluralistic society. 

Mindful that citizenship confers rights and responsibilities, A.D.C. members are passionately committed to building a "more perfect" union and keeping the Republic for posterity. 

A.D.C. members are supported in their work by a robust national organization.   

Mission & Vision

The American Democracy Corps is inspired by Ben Franklin's far-sighted admonition, "A Republic if you can keep it," and our Founder's call to build "a more perfect union." 

Therefore,  A.D.C. volunteers are dedicated to the urgent task of preserving the Republic by strengthening democracy and building a free society where the promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all is fulfilled for all Americans. 

 

Leadership, Involvement ,Volunteer Experience & Service (L.I.V.E. & Serve)  Across America 

Through participation in this signature initiative L.I.V.E. & Serve Across America, Corps members can help narrow the Red-State Blue State divide and increase understanding and trust among Americans.[i]  

To increase understanding and trust among Americans and reduce polarization, A.D.C. members will be encouraged and supported to choose diverse locales to engage in civic action, including L.I.V.E & Serve to bridge the gulf separating Americans and strengthen democracy. The L.I.V.E. & Serve initiative will place A.D.C. members in diverse locales where they can learn about Americans with different viewpoints and work to increase appreciation of diversity, promote understanding, and strengthen bonds of trust and empathy. Just as studying abroad increased Americans' appreciation of the world, L.I.V.E. & Serve exchanges can help Americans learn more about each other, discover the ties that bind, and celebrate the different (but not necessarily dissonant) chords in the great American symphony. 

[i] See e.g., Jem Spectar, Could an American Democracy Corps Help Save the Republic? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 2022.

 

Why is The American Democracy Corps Necessary?

Endeavors such as the American Democracy Corps are urgently needed to help reduce our growing polarization and rising misunderstandings, resentments tensions between Americans that are rending the national fabric and undermining our civic-mindedness as one nation. 

Americans increasingly live in a highly polarized nation, many retreating into cocoons of ideological and partisan comfort. Moreover, there is growing estrangement and mistrust between rural and urban America, and this divide is further intensifying our polarization. Moreover, despite optimism in light of the national awakening following the murder of George Floyd, surveys show race relations are worsening, and there is an alarming increase in antisemitism. Furthermore, confidence in civic institutions has plummeted precipitously, with only 25% and 23% of Americans expressing confidence in the Supreme Court and the presidency, respectively. And Congress takes the cake with only 7%! 

Rising mistrust combined with growing social tensions,  grievances, and resentments is fraying the bonds of civic kinship, intensifying polarization, and imperiling the foundations of democracy. No wonder talk of another civil war is percolating at the water cooler. Some polls show that about 50% of Americans expect a civil war soon.

Clearly, our civic house is not in order; a course reversal is urgent! The American Democracy Corps can help strengthen our civic fabric by cultivating the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices expected of citizens in a healthy democracy. Furthermore, A.D.C. members can play a significant role in mending the civic fabric. For example, L.I.V.E & Serve will help reduce polarization, increase civic understanding/trust, promote civic engagement, and support collaborative civic action - fundamental prerequisites for sustaining democratic citizenship for future generations.  

In effect, the combination of the American Democracy Scholar Certificate (the ADSC) and the American Democracy Corps (A.D.C.) can play a key role by building a sophisticated nationwide coalition of trained, well-informed, and dedicated non-partisan democracy workers. With a passionate lifelong commitment to broadening civic education and civic engagement and intensifying civic action from the grassroots up, the American Democracy Corps can help keep the Republic. 

 

Goals

(1) advance civic education by helping to increase the knowledge and skills necessary for effective participation in democracy, including promoting understanding of constitutional ideals, principles, and institutions. 

(2) promote and support the development of the habits and dispositions of effective citizens in their communities by contributing to civic discourse, trust-building and increased understanding between Americans. 

(3) support and facilitate community experiences in civic engagement and service, 

(4) support expanded and more inclusive civic action to strengthen democracy from the grassroots up, including increasing voter participation and involvement in political processes that strengthen and preserve the Republic and fulfill its highest ideals.

 

Who is Eligible for membership in the American Democracy Corps?

All persons who complete the equivalent of 15 college credits of coursework focused on the U.S. Constitution, history, government, and institutions, including a 3-credit  experiential learning experience or practicum focused on democracy. See, for example, the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown's American Democracy Scholar Certificate, a unique program that effectively combines theory, civic discourse, and experiential learning to increase understanding and inform civic action to sustain democracy.

Students may also gain eligibility to the ADC through completion of a variety of courses and experiences designated as emphasizing civic learning, engagement, and action.

Note: Interested persons need not wait until university or community college graduation to join the A.D.C. as they become eligible for membership upon completion of the recommended courses and experiences, including high school A.P. courses and various continuing education options.

Characteristics of American Democracy Corps Members

In general, to be eligible for the A.D.C., applicants will possess and demonstrate:

1. A solid understanding of key constitutional concepts, ideals as principles as well as a basic knowledge of U.S. history, government, and institutions; A.D.C. volunteers can demonstrate a solid understanding of the Constitution, U.S. history, and the nature and functioning of our institutions and political process through completion of at least four college-level courses covering these areas. Please see the courses listed in the attached American Democracy Scholar Certificate as an example.
2. Prior field experiences in civic engagement and demonstrated understanding of value of civic discourse in a pluralistic society and diverse democracy. Please see the attached Practicum in Civic Discourse & Deliberative Democracy for an example of a college course in partnership with the National Constitution Center that meets this requirement. In addition, students may substitute other commensurate experiential learning experiences, including service learning, debates, and democracy simulations, for this requirement.
3. Critical Thinking & communications skills: A.D.C. volunteers will demonstrate effective critical thinking skills, including solid civic reasoning. They will show a capacity for keen reflection on core constitutional principles and the workings of our governmental institutions.
4. Effective communication skills, including the capacity to listen actively to multiple viewpoints, analyze contentious constitutional issues from different points of view, and disagree without being disagreeable. A.D.C. volunteers will work to defuse tense situations during contentious debates and help find common ground between n opposing viewpoints. 
5. Appreciation of the power of individual agency: A.D.C. volunteers will be confident, well-informed, active, and engaged citizens who can help others develop greater confidence and interest in participating in the political system to influence outcomes.
6. A passionate commitment for effective and collaborative civic action from the grassroots level up to broaden more inclusive and participation in the political system and advance equitable representation
7. Demonstrated passion for the still unfinished but urgent work of perfecting the Union and keeping the Republic. The ideal A.D.C. volunteer appreciates the challenges ahead but is enthusiastic about fulfilling their obligation as a citizen.  

What does an American Democracy Corps volunteer do?

Leadership, Involvement ,Volunteer Experience & Service (L.I.V.E. & Serve)  Across America 
Through participation in L.I.V.E. & Serve Across America, Corps members can help narrow the Rural-Urban Divide and increase understanding and trust among Americans.[i]  

Peer Mentors, Tutors, and Teaching Assistants for K-12 Social Studies
A.D.C. members can serve as civic learning mentors, peer tutors, role models, and teaching assistants for Social Studies in K-12. A.D.C., perhaps providing some relief for overworked Social Studies teachers. 

Support for civic engagement experiences throughout the community
A.D.C. volunteers will support more diverse co-curricular civic learning experiences beyond the classroom, including experiential learning, simulations, field trips, debates, and service-learning opportunities. 

Civic Dialogue Facilitators
With training in active listening and attentiveness to multiple and diverse viewpoints, A.D.C. participants can serve as non-partisan facilitators in contentious town hall meetings or other public forums. Fundamentally non-partisan, these facilitators will likely instill greater confidence and can serve as consensus builders or conciliators, helping to find consensus and common ground. 

Community organizing for Civic Action & Democracy
Play a lead role as a democracy advocate at the grassroots level to register voters; support and strengthen democracy by working with local leaders and partners to identify feasible strategies that address local civic engagement issues. 

Trusted Poll workers & Election Watchers