Evidence that the Framers intended to create a predominant Congress is apparent in how they bestowed the branch with the power to impeach the president and other high officials in the national government. Learn more in this episode!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5372, May 22, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4677: July 28, 2022)
Memorial Day: Vietnam Time Line (video)
Ngo Huu Phuc reads "The Vietnam Time Line" essay in honor of Memorial Day. Mr Ngo was a mechanic in the South Vietnam Air Force and studied for US Citizenship at Milpitas Adult School. He became a US Citizen in 2009. You can find a copy of "The Vietnam Time Line" in HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS IN THE USA by Mary Glasgow, Scholastic Inc., 2001, ISBN 1-900702-59-2.
The Vietnam War Memorial, Washington DC(photos) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, The Three Soldiers, and The Vietnam Women's Memorial, april 2013. I took this picture in 2010 near the Vietnam Heritage Garden, San Jose. May the American and Vietnamese peoples always stand together!
I hate war. I hate violence. I hate greed. I look at this name etched into granite and wonder ... what if?
Over the course of the couple hours I was at this memorial today people came and went. Parents, siblings, friends, vets, Vietnamese with bouquets of thanks. Everyone had a story. "Do you have someone on the wall?" The answer was always yes and the story told. A man came and put his hand on my shoulder. After several moments we spoke. He helped with find raising the memorial and talked about his buddies who are on the wall. I shared about Gus.
Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday dedicated to those who died while serving in America’s wars. To commemorate the day, which falls on the last Monday in May, people flock to Washington to decorate the graves of fallen military service members, attend parades and visit national monuments
The Framers of the Constitution created a system of separated and shared powers and checks and balances to limit and control the use of power by governmental institutions and to prevent the possibility of tyranny. Learn more of each branch’s ability to check the use of power by the other institutions in this episode!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5370, May 20, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4674: July 26, 2022)
The U.S. Constitution divides power between the federal government and states, granting specific national powers and reserving others to states via the 10th Amendment, with federal laws generally overriding state laws.
The Framers of the Constitution wanted to prevent a tyrannical executive in the presidency and a tyranny of a majority in Congress. But they were also careful to limit the power of the courts. Learn how in today’s episode!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5369, May 15, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4674: July 23, 2022)
The Framers of the Constitution made each branch of the national government share some of its primary responsibilities and powers with one or more of the other branches. For example, the president and the executive branch have the primary responsibility for carrying out and enforcing laws. Learn more!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5368, May 14, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4673: July 22, 2022)
Rogers High School proudly hosted a naturalization ceremony on March 28, welcoming over 50 new U.S. citizens. Presided over by Judge James A. Goeke of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, this powerful event was filled with emotion, hope, and celebration.
Today is the anniversary of the ruling in the Supreme Court case, Brown v. the Board of Education (1954). The decision, written by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, said that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This decision made the racial segregation of schools against the law in every US state.
The Framers of the Constitution wanted to limit the power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government. So, they made each of them share some of its primary responsibilities and accompanying powers with one or more of the other branches. Listen for more!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5367, May 13, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4672: July 21, 2022)
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments Thursday about birthright citizenship. Today we explore the history of this constitutional right and meet the man who has become an unlikely spokesman for saving it.
Norman Wong and Birthright Citizenship
Norman Wong is an American. He is 75 years old and lives near San Francisco. His great-grandfather was Wong Kim Ark. Wong Kim Ark was born in the U.S. in the 1800s. His parents were from China. But the U.S. government did not want to let him come back after he visited China.
Wong Kim Ark went to court. The case went to the Supreme Court in 1898. The court said he was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the U.S. This helped create the law of “birthright citizenship.”
What is birthright citizenship?
If you are born in the U.S., you are a citizen — no matter where your parents are from.
Now, President Trump wants to change this rule. He signed an order to stop birthright citizenship for children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally or on short-term visas. Many people and states disagreed. They went to court.
The case is now going to the Supreme Court. Norman Wong is speaking out to protect his great-grandfather’s legacy and to support birthright citizenship for future generations.
Garrett Epps’s law review article about the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment has everything you’ll ever need to know about the history of birthright citizenship in the US article
The Library of Congress has a great map showing which countries of the world offer unconditional birthright citizenship like the US map
The 1861 map of the US we use a few times in the piece is itself a strikingly rich document that I could stare at forever 1861 map
Some other original documents we use in the piece:
Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship EO 14106
The Ipsos poll containing the question about support for ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants: IPSOS Survey
The Dred Scott decision article
President Andrew Johnson’s letter vetoing the 1866 Civil Rights Act article
Congress’s debates over the 14th Amendment (we quoted from page 498) debate
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act article
The Wong Kim Ark decision article
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
The Framers of the Constitution were concerned about two things: first, the emergence of a tyrannical executive in the presidency and second, a tyranny of a majority in Congress. Learn how they designed a system of government to address these concerns in this episode!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5366, May 12, 2025 (a rebroadcast of Episode 4671: July 20, 2022)
Which branch of the federal government has the most power? We explore the intentions of the Framers for how power was to be distributed among the branches in today’s episode!
60-Second Civics, Episode 5365, May 9, 2025 (Episode 4670: July 19, 2022)
uscitizenpod: Three Citizenship Questions for Mother's Day(video) Ann Reeves Jarvis was a peace activist who took care of wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. After the war, she hosted Mother's Day Friendship picnics for the women on both sides of the war. She also created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. After Ann Reeves Jarvis died, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work that her mother had started. Anna Jarvis started a petition to set aside one day every year to honor all mothers. She said that a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world." In 1908, Anna Jarvis sent a petition to Congress to make Mother's Day a national holiday. Although Congress rejected the petition, many states and cities adopted the idea. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
civil rights
first amendment rights
states’ rights
women's rights
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Today we begin a special series of podcasts to examine the question of whether power in the federal government is appropriately balanced between Congress and the executive and judicial branches. We will also learn how power has shifted from Congress to the executive and judicial branches of government and consider the implications of this shift.
60-Second Civics, Episode 5364, May 8, 2025 (Episode 4669: July 18, 2022)
In the White House’s East Room, first lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered to unveil a U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of former first lady Barbara Bush.
An ESL lesson plan that focuses on "Real ID" would likely involve teaching students about the concept of identification documents, specifically focusing on "Real ID" requirements and how to obtain one. The lesson could cover topics like what a Real ID is, its purpose, and how to apply for one, using visuals like a picture of a driver's license or other accepted forms of identification.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5. The date commemorates the Mexican Army's surprise victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the late 1980's, California schools and cities in California started to celebrate Cinco de Mayo as an expression of our state's Mexican-American heritage. However, some people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexico's Independence Day.
Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 and is similar to America's Independence Day on July 4th. Cinco de Mayo is closer to our Patriot's Day, which is celebrated in the New England states during mid-April. Patriot's Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. For more that 100 years, the city of Boston has celebrated Patriot's Day by hosting the Boston Marathon, the world's largest marathon. But let's get back to Cinco de Mayo. Today I have selected five topics to showcase Mexican-American heritage: The constitution and the Bill of rights. the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch, and Geography and Holidays. I will read the questions, and Mexican-American students from our ESL3 class will read the answers.
Listen to the podcast, then download the pdf from our website, uscitizenpod.com, and take the quiz:
While geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington were high this year, Chinese students and migrants are still coming to the United States, with more crossing the border than ever before. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has more on what the environment in the U.S. was like in 2023.
Stop AAPI Hate: If you have experienced a racist act, or witnessed a racist act, please take five minutes to fill out our safe and confidential reporting form, available in 15 languages.
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) AsianPacificHeritage.gov: May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). American English @ State: Asian Pacific Heritage Month(pdf) Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Vote APIAVote is a national nonpartisan organization that works with partners to mobilize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in electoral and civic participation. Check resources and voting rights videos pages and visit the the APIAVote YouTube channel. DOD: Steven Calvery - National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Steven Calvery, Director of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, reflects on his career, family and culture. For more on the Department of Defense, visit: defense.gov CCSF: Best, OK, and Worst Citizenship Interview Strategies 50+ videos of mock interviews and interview strategies.
Add to this list a couple of graphic novels: "Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now" by Jeff Yang, Philip Wang, et al; "The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir" by Thi Bui; and "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang
Mini-lessons about three Supreme Court cases: United States v. Wong Kim Ark; Korematsu v. United States; Lau v. Nichols. Plus a video about Rep. Patsy Mink (HW) janmdotorg: I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story (video) Video produced by JANM's 2013 Getty Multicultural Undergraduate Interns, and the Watase Media Arts Center, to promote the Smithsonian's traveling exhibition, "I Want The Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story." KQED: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month playlist Asian Pacific Americans celebrate their heritage in the San Francisco Bay Area. LOC: South Pacific Islands Archive The South Pacific Islands Web Archive covers the following twenty islands/countries: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. LOC: Samoan Culture (video) Rep. Aumua Amata, American Samoa's third Member of Congress and the first woman elected to the House American Samoa, discussed Samoan culture and history. Also generations of Samoan culture were illustrated by items found in a variety of Library
NPR Programming this month highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander stories and people,
PBS Voices: A People's History of Asian America A series of thoughtful visual essays and explainers, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist, Dolly Li, and Asian studies scholar and professor, Adrian De Leon.
Resources to address anti-Asian racism plus a tool to report hate crimes in multiple languages.
VOANews: Growing Asian-American Community Could Influence US Elections(video) The growing number of Asian-American voters in the United States doesn’t necessarily translate into political clout in U.S. elections. Many who are eligible to vote sit on the sidelines. One organization wants to remove some barriers it says are in the way of getting Asian-Americans to vote. Search the VOANews YouTube channel for more AAPI videos.
Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2022 Every May during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners share those histories and the continuing culture thriving in parks and communities today. A Brief Glimpse: Asian American Pacific Islander National Historic Landmarks Theme Study [PDF 2.6 MB] A Brief Glimpse: Asian American Pacific Islander National Historic Landmark Theme Study - This is the introductory essay of Finding a Path Forward: Asian American/Pacific Islander National Historic Landmarks Theme Study. Asian Reflections on the American Landscape: Identifying and Interpreting Asian Heritage [PDF 196 KB] examines Asian cultural heritage found in the American built environment and its interpretation within NPS cultural resources programs. Find Your Place: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders [PDF 2.1 MB] This 18-page booklet examines the enduring and influential presence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders—from the earliest settlement of the country to the economic development of the West to the desegregation of public schools in the 20th century and political influence in the 21st. A core essay traces their impact on the American landscape, followed by the stories of seven signature places commemorating the legacy. A concluding section illustrates how this heritage is preserved today, transcending “bricks and mortar” preservation to include a celebration of collective experience.
Historic Preservation from the Ground Up: The Harada House [PDF 3.9 MB] uses a house in Riverside, California as a case study in how a community can participate in local preservation. The Harada House has become a landmark in the fight for Asian American civil rights. Despite its significance, the road to its preservation was a long and contentious one.
