Why Is Civics Knowledge Important?

Strong families have parents who both teach and learn from their children. Parents have profound influence on children, but children also influence parents by sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Lisa R. Halverson wrote of the bi-lateral effects on families. She wrote that “Civic education and engagement … have both trickle-down and trickle-up effects.” 

Trickle-down effects include the important role that families – and particularly mothers – play in shaping a child’s political behavior. When parents have strong civic habits – following the news, voting and talking about politics at home – their children are also likely to prioritize civic engagement. Children whose mothers voted in the previous presidential election were 20.3% more likely to vote in their own first election (a 64% increase). Children whose mothers vote are 24% more likely to register to vote (the first step in this important civic responsibility). This trickle-down political socialization is most pronounced for white, economically advantaged students.

Interestingly, there is a trickle-up effect as well. And it is particularly weighty for non-white students and those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. For example, having an adult child who votes in their first age-eligible election is associated with a 5.3% increase in the probability that the mother votes in the next presidential election.

One exciting program that illustrates this trickle-up effect is Kids Voting USA, a nonpartisan, grassroots-driven, voter-education program “committed to creating lifelong voting habits in children, increasing family communication about citizenship and encouraging greater adult-voter turnout.” The curriculum combines family exercises with a Kids Voting day in which children participate in a mock election. Communities involved in Kids Voting have experienced increases in adult turnout at elections by as much as 5%. The positive influence trickles up!

But voter turnout is not the only way this program affects civic engagement. Surveys indicate that 60-70% of students in the program go home and talk to their parents about the upcoming election and about politics in general. Even more report watching political news broadcasts, or reading political articles in magazines and newspapers, stimulating family conversations and increased levels of political participation. These activities energize democracy and bond families and schools in a mutual civic mission.

Anecdotally, we at the Center for Constitutional Studies often hear from parents whose children participate in another simulation, the We the People program, that they feel inspired to engage civically in their communities.

Halverson encourages parents to use the 2024 presidential election year to model good civic behaviors for our children AND to look for ways to learn from our children. She suggested “family and school activities that expand civic understanding and engagement, including civic knowledge, skills, dispositions and virtues. She explained further as shown below.

Civic knowledge is necessary for being civically well-informed, having an understanding of our history, government, institutions and current affairs from multiple media sources and diverse perspectives. Do we educate ourselves on issues, news and candidates, reading laterally to understand different viewpoints?

Civic skills are needed to participate as active and responsible citizens in democracy. These include speaking, listening, collaborating, community organizing, public advocacy and the ability to think critically about information…. Can we use our skills in helping others – perhaps a new, first-time voter – to participate as well?

Civic dispositions help us maintain our compound constitutional republic in which we follow democratic procedures to make decisions and manage conflict. Do we put constitutional protections and the rule of law above partisan aims?

Civic virtues, as the Bill of Rights Institute explains, “promote self-government and help guarantee that communities orient themselves towards advancing the spirit of common purpose.” They include public spiritedness, civic charity, civility, courage, integrity, prudence and justice, and are vital to the health of our civic society.

Focusing on civics reminds us that democracy isn’t just about isolated individuals governing themselves. Researchers have noted: “Democracy is about people interacting together to collectively shape the communities in which they aspire to live in the future.”

Parents and children learn from each other – whether for good or ill, and it is important for both parents and children to be civically minded. When the government is determined by the people, then the people should be informed about how the government works. People should also know how to have a good relationship with individuals who think differently from them.

Liberals can learn from conservatives, and conservatives can learn from liberals. In fact, a balanced government needs both liberals and conservatives working together. We do not need to agree with them, but we should be able to communicate intelligently and respectfully with them. Parents and children can help each other to learn civics and strengthen their family, community, and nation.