The Civic Values Campaign

How strong are America's civic values in your community? Do people share the belief that the vision of 'liberty and justice for all' in America is shaped by the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? Do people obey the law? Do they respect one another, regardless of race, ethnic background, or economic circumstance?   Do young people  meet their responsibilities in school and in the community? What is the level of citizen participation in the neighborhood? How many people vote?

These are all expressions of America's civic values--the values that we  share as citizens. They constitute what G.K. Chesterton called an American creed "that all men are equal in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and that their authority is for that reason just."

America is losing touch with our civic values today. We debate family values, social values and religious values as if our civic values did not exist. Yet the framers of our Constitution hoped our civic values that would set the terms of all the rest by providing common ground for people of diverse origins to live together in our communities and to share the country as a whole.

To respond to this growing crisis, the Institute for the Study of Civic Values has launched a 10 point Civic Values Campaign, aimed at strengthening values in our communities, in schools, and in the country as a whole.  We are building this campaign in our home city, Philadelphia, as a model for similar campaigns in communities throughout the United States. Go to this website for the Philadelphia Campaign: Philadelphia Civic Values Campaign.

If you want to organize a Civic Values Campaign in your community--just send us the form below and we will add you to the email list that we are developing to support the campaign.

Civic Values Campaign
 Institute for the Study of Civic Values
www.iscv.org

1. Build Strong CommunitiesB Strengthen human relations,  promote harmony, and improve the condition of all racial, ethnic, religious and economic groups in the community, within the framework of civic values set  forth in the Preamble to the Constitution: to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity,  promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

2. Broaden citizen participation-Increase the number of  people who  participate in organizations that strengthen blocks,  neighborhoods, schools, and the community as a whole.

3. Encourage Community Service-Expand the number of people at all ages who perform community service, especially for our schools, after-school programs, and  people in need.

4. Promote Youth Civic Responsibility-Work to insure that young people attend school, obey the law,  and respect the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

5. Support Civic Education-Build support for expanded civic education in schools, colleges, and adult education that creates a deeper understanding of the country and of all groups in our communities, helps citizens debate public policy within the framework of America's civic values,  and conveys the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for effective participation in the democratic process.

6. Improve Community AppearanceBDemand effective enforcement of zoning and building codes, especially for violations that harm neighborhoods and communities and support ongoing efforts to reduce blight.

7. Uphold the LawBReduce crime in neighborhoods and throughout the community.

8. Reduce  Recidivism-Support comprehensive programs that help repeat juvenile and adult criminal offenders become responsible citizens.

9. Secure Needed Public Resources-Work to insure that all levels of government have the resources needed to fulfill the obligation of government "to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity..

10. Expand Voter Participation-Increase the number of people who vote in every election and strengthen the accountability of government and the schools to the citizens whom they serve.