“A Republic, if you can keep it.”

When Benjamin Franklin responded to Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia at the close of the Constitutional Convention, he underscored a truth that remains just as relevant today: self-government depends on citizens who understand it, participate in it, and sustain it.

Civic engagement encompasses all the ways individuals participate in the life of their communities and country. It includes voting, volunteering, public dialogue, advocacy, organizing around shared values and concerns, and staying informed about public issues. Across the country, Americans are active in many of these areas, though participation varies widely. Civic knowledge and readiness strongly influence whether and how individuals take part. Understanding democratic principles, institutions, and processes are essential leaders looking to act in their communities.

Voting rates are one of the most accessible indicators of civic participation. In 2024, approximately 64% of eligible voters cast a ballot, one of the highest turnout rates in recent decades. Yet still only about two-thirds of the country participated and rates are significantly lower outside of presidential elections. Political activity also varies by state. Research consistently shows that individuals with higher levels of civic knowledge are more likely to vote and to engage in other forms of civic life. Turnout, therefore, reflects not only motivation, but also preparation and access.

Participation alone, however, does not guarantee effective self-government. A healthy republic depends on informed, principled citizens willing to engage at every level. It also requires leaders prepared to understand complex issues, deliberate thoughtfully across differences, and take responsibility for their communities. Civic engagement must translate into constructive leadership for the American experiment to endure. Cultivating civic knowledge, readiness, and leadership is essential to sustaining the Republic entrusted to us.

Listen to the Trust Your Voice Podcast for an audio version of this Brief.

CASE STUDY

In January 2021, Nicole Cline spoke at a St. Charles, Missouri, city council meeting to bring local opposition to a Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) project to the attention of state and county officials. The project would create one-way roads in some St. Charles neighborhoods, potentially affecting local businesses and property values.

In August 2021, Nicole was invited by a coalition of residents and business leaders in the area to moderate a town hall community forum with the MODOT. Nicole created an agenda and format to have a constructive dialogue between MODOT officials and over 100 community members, using The Policy Circle’s ground rules. The event ensured MODOT officials heard directly from the residents in person, as did several state representatives in attendance.

One state representative then organized a conference call with Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner in December 2021 to further discuss the road system projects. Nicole was invited to represent the thousands of residents in her area opposed to transforming the two-way road system to a one-way system.

In February 2022, the MODOT commission accepted a bid from a construction company that will keep the two-way road. Tom Blair, MODOT’s St. Louis District Engineer, says MODOT has never paused a project before or redefined goals because of feedback, but all the feedback “from residents, business owners, elected officials,” prompted them to do so.

WHY IT MATTERS

Democracy – and in our case, a federal republic – depends on citizens’ participation. When citizens are engaged, they can exchange ideas, invest in finding solutions, and employ civilized discourse to address the issues facing their communities. This strengthens our democracy and empowers individuals by giving people a say in what happens in their communities. By uniting under a shared purpose, we build trust, empathy, human connections, and a strong support base for finding and implementing solutions in our communities.

SaveSave

Are you strongly engaged in your community? Perhaps you serve on the school board or the PTA or you’re a member of a local charity. Maybe you read your local paper or or your municipality’s quarterly newsletters and vote at election time. Between work, family, and other commitments, it can be hard to find time to pay attention and get involved, but civic engagement is essential for exercising your voice in our society.

But what does civic engagement mean?

Thomas Ehrlich, author of Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, offers the following definition:

“Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes…

A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or herself as a member of a larger social fabric and therefore considers social problems to be at least partly his or her own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of issues, to make and justify informed moral and civic judgments, and to take action when appropriate.”

There are numerous paths for civic engagement:

• Political participation through voting, helping others register to vote, poll working, or being an election judge;
• Volunteering with organizations that build community well-being or participating in community service projects;
• Advocating for legislation and and exploring different policy models;
• Representing fellow citizens by appointment or election, such as on a city council or school board.

You can see a broader spectrum of civic engagement here.

These actions illustrate that civic engagement is not simply participation; it is the work of self-government. It means:

• Trusting communities to lead themselves;
• Building the capacity of citizens to take informed, responsible action;
• Strengthening local institutions and relationships;
• Ensuring that those affected by decisions have a voice in shaping them; and
• Promoting transparency and shared accountability.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING

People engaged in their communities tend to be more invested in their communities’ health and well-being. Individuals can display civic leadership by positively impacting their communities through enthusiastic volunteer work that uses their unique skills and knowledge. They see their role in a larger context, beyond only what affects them and their families to what affects society as a whole.

Americans tend to view their local communities more positively than the nation as a whole. In 2023, 76% of adults reported being somewhat or very satisfied with their neighborhood, and 61% expressed a favorable view of their local government, far higher than views of the federal government. Americans are also more likely to say elections in their community are run well than elections nationally. What is close and visible often garners greater confidence and trust.

That confidence is reinforced through everyday interaction. About 44% of Americans say they trust all or most of their neighbors, and those who regularly walk their neighborhoods and engage in conversation are more likely to report higher levels of trust. Access to shared civic spaces, such as parks, libraries, and community gathering places, strengthens social ties. Limited access is associated with weaker networks and connections. See The Policy Circle’s Rebuilding Trust in America Brief for more on community-building practices.

At the same time, many Americans express distrust in national institutions and demonstrate gaps in civic knowledge. Yet most believe they can make a difference locally and value participation beyond voting. The health of civic life remains strongest where relationships are tangible, trust is built face-to-face, and individuals are prepared to step forward as informed, engaged leaders within their own communities.

HISTORY

The concept of civic duty dates back to the ancient world. In ancient Athens and ancient Rome, “civic virtue” was an essential part of the fabric of society and is believed to have influenced America’s Founding Fathers. According to Mike Myatt in Forbes, “our Founding Fathers were formed by, and highly developed as a result of something most of our leaders today don’t have – a classical education.”

In the 1830s, French sociologist and political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to the United States and was struck by American civil society and civic engagement. He documented his observations in Democracy in America, explaining, “If men who live in democratic countries had neither the right nor the taste to unite in political goals, their independence would run great risks…if they did not acquire the practice of associating with each other in ordinary life, civilization itself would be in peril.”

Almost 200 years later, Tocqueville’s observations remain true: a healthy democracy requires civil associations and a society willing to work together for the common good.  For this reason, many modern-day scholars are concerned about the apparent decline in civic engagement.  Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam is well-known for his writings on American civic participation and “social capital.” His influential book, Bowling Alone (2000), examines how participation in charity leagues, bridge clubs, groups like the NAACP and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and churches and synagogues began to decline at the end of the 20th century.

For more on Putnam and social capital, see The Policy Circle’s Stitching the Fabric of Neighborhoods Brief or the Faith and Civic Life Brief.

BY THE NUMBERS

Civic engagement takes many forms, from volunteering to voting. The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report estimates that 34.5% of the world’s working-age population volunteer each month. Overall, men (36.9%) volunteer at slightly higher rates than women (32.1%) globally, though gender patterns vary significantly by region. The report also emphasizes that most volunteer work is carried out directly rather than through organizations,  underscoring the importance of informal, community-based action. A well-rounded measure of volunteering goes beyond participation rates to capture its broader social and economic impacts, including its contributions to social cohesion, trust, resilience, and sustainable development.

The U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps released comprehensive data on volunteerism and civic life in the 2023 Civic Engagement and Volunteering (CEV) Supplement. Conducted every two years, the CEV tracks formal volunteering, informal helping, participation in community organizations, attendance at public meetings, charitable giving, contact with public officials, and how Americans view the connection between their work and civic life.

The latest data show that formal volunteering is rebounding from historic lows recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, 28.3% of Americans reported volunteering through an organization in the previous year, a 22% increase from 2021 that reflects renewed engagement across many communities. The survey also reveals important shifts in how Americans volunteer. While more people are volunteering, the average number of hours served per volunteer has declined from 96.5 hours in 2017 to 70 hours in 2023, suggesting growth in more episodic or short-term service.

For the first time, virtual volunteering was measured. Nearly one in five, or more than 13 million people, reported serving at least partially online. Virtual and hybrid volunteers averaged more annual service hours than those serving exclusively in person, and a majority were under age 55.

Beyond formal volunteering, informal helping remains a powerful force in American civic life. Between September 2022 and 2023, 54.2% of Americans, an estimated 137.5 million people, helped their neighbors with tasks such as running errands, providing childcare, or assisting during emergencies. This represents a statistically significant increase from prior years, underscoring the enduring role of neighbor-to-neighbor support in strengthening communities.

The U.S. Elections Project explores U.S. voter participation in depth.

SaveSave

OBSTACLES TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

There are five common obstacles to civic engagement:

• Lack of Civility: For many citizens, politics is seen as a hostile topic. A lack of open, reasoned discussion and debate alienates public participation and dialogue.
• Lack of Attention to Public Affairs: Trust in news sources is on the decline. Many citizens are unsure of where to go for information, leaving them less likely to be informed about a wide range of perspectives, and even less likely to be engaged.
• Lack of Role Models: “Citizens are made, not born,” but with fewer discussions about public affairs and fewer politicians exemplifying leadership and devotion to public service, there are fewer opportunities for a civic-minded population.
• Lack of Leadership Skills: Communication, networking, and even running for public office are processes and skills can help engaged citizens make communities better places to live.
• Lack of Civic Awareness: The combined forces of “incivility, misinformation, and the active marketing of cynicism” have left many citizens disillusioned and unmotivated to engage in their communities.

The Policy Circle addresses these challenges by developing informed, confident leaders who are prepared to engage thoughtfully in public life. Through policy content, structured Circle discussions, and leadership development programs, members build the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to contribute constructively to their communities and institutions.

TEACHING CIVICS

Civics education prepares students to be responsible and participating citizens. It often includes sustained classroom instruction in government, history and law as well as components involving current events and service learning.

In 2024, 10 states have no standalone high school civics course or test requirement. Only five states require a full-year civics course and a test, while requirements vary widely across the country.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to a 2023 report by the Center for Educational Equity at the Teachers College, Columbia University, “21 states require, for graduation or end-of-course credits, that students pass a test drawn from the 100-item test of basic facts used for those applying for U.S. citizenship.” Still, not all states require high school students to take a year-long civics or government class in order to graduate. According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 70% of Americans could correctly name all three branches of government.

One policy option is requiring high school students to pass the U.S. citizenship exam, or a version of it, to graduate. Critics maintain the exam does little to measure comprehension of material, and creates an additional barrier to high school graduation. Supporters reason that students should need to pass the exam if immigrants must pass the exam, and studies demonstrate too few students given the test pass it.

The Civic Literacy Curriculum at the Arizona State University’s Center for Political Thought has inspired over 30 states to establish civics proficiency requirements for high school graduation, half of which have adopted some form of the citizenship exam in those requirements.

The Civic Education Program at The Philanthropy Roundtable has also compiled a list of more organizations promoting civic engagement and education projects, including many that provide middle and high school students opportunities to learn about civics and government, and to engage in civic leadership activities.

John Dickerson of CBS shares with Khan Academy why studying government and civics is important (2 min):

Interested in learning more? Check out instructional and educational videos on U.S. government, civics, and the Constitution from Khan Academy or the Constitution Center, or see The Policy Circle’s U.S. Constitution Brief.

CITIZENSHIP ACADEMIES

Local leaders are responsible for developing policies and initiatives that affect the day-to-day lives of citizens in their communities. But lack of communication between residents and municipal leaders is common, and often leads to confusion or misunderstandings. Opportunities to bridge those gaps and foster a deeper sense of appreciation are powerful means of engagement. One such method is through Citizen Academy, featured on the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) website, ICMA is an association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments. They offer a variety of leadership programs in local government for different stages of leadership.

The Policy Circle’s Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap (CLER) is for  aspiring women leaders to learn more about civic leadership and engagement. This program is a proprietary, experiential, three-month, self-paced leadership program that takes you from having general civic knowledge to becoming a civic leader.

To learn more and apply, visit the CLER website page here. If you have questions about this program, email us at [email protected].

The Preamble to our Constitution begins, “We the People.” As citizens, it is not only a right but also a privilege to influence the governance of our country so that it remains true to the principles outlined in our Constitution. This applies to all levels of government – federal, state, and local. To ensure this happens, it is essential for all citizens not only to learn about and understand how the government functions but also to actively participate in these systems.

This will not only strengthen our democracy at the national level but also help find solutions at the local level and breed more trust, happiness, and satisfaction within and among communities.

The Policy Circle began as a group of women seeking a way to connect with others to discuss policy and its impact on their families, communities, and the country. Laws provide the framework for governing a society, and policies are the guiding principles behind those laws. These women sought a better understanding of policy and how they could become more engaged in the civic process. So how does The Policy Circle do that?

CONVERSATION

The Policy Circle emphasizes the value of conversation and, by focusing on policy rather than politics, cultivates civil conversation rather than contentious partisan debate. Our Model of the roundtable discussion allows women to learn from one another and to consider members’ varying perspectives and experiences in policy matters. It also builds women’s confidence by creating a safe and welcoming environment for each member to share and make her voice heard, whether she is a stay-at-home mom, a full-time professional, introverted or extroverted, well-versed in policy, or new to the issues. Take a look at this Brief’s Conversation Sparks to elevate your discussions.

The Policy Circle encourages women to connect and engage with each other and with other organizations, state-level think tanks, and conferences. These opportunities offer women a chance to connect outside Circle discussions, deepen their understanding of policy, and expand their networks.

Conversation is the arena where women find and strengthen their voices. See the Trust Your Voice podcast, hosted by TPC co-founder Sylvie Légerè.

EDUCATION

The Policy Circle educates women on a range of policy issues, including economic growth, poverty, taxation, immigration, healthcare, education and foreign policy, among others, from a limited government, fiscally responsible free-market point of view. Women also learn about the principles of free-market economics and what makes the U.S. exceptional in this regard.

Policy Circle Briefs encourage women to think critically about these policy issues and how related policy proposals will affect them, their families, their communities, and the country at large.

LEADERSHIP

Circle discussions provide a space for women to engage thoughtfully with public policy, ask hard questions, and practice civil discourse in a supportive environment. These experiences build confidence and civic readiness. The Policy Circle’s CLER Program builds on that foundation, offering structured leadership training, peer learning, and real-world application to prepare women to lead with knowledge, integrity, and impact.

THE EFFECT

Policy Circle members find that once they better understand policy, they have the confidence to engage with others about it and become more interested in how policy plays out in their communities. This looks different for each woman; for some, it means having a conversation at Thanksgiving dinner with a brother-in-law on the opposite end of the policy spectrum. For others, it might mean a run for a local board or higher elected office. It’s transformative when a woman finds her voice.

Beth F., a Circle Leader from Wilmette, Illinois, says she’s noticed changes in herself and the women in her group: “Like me, the women in my Circle have learned to speak up, especially those whom I noticed were quiet at the start. At each meeting someone learns something which is energizing. We also have had women in our Circle decide to run for school board, park district board and even Congress. This isn’t our mission but I see it as an extension of what they are learning by being a part of a Circle. Their interest in public service is exciting and very meaningful.”

MOVING FROM CONVERSATION TO ACTION

To follow in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers of our country and others who came before us, here are some ways we’ve found we can start to “walk the talk” and add value as a citizen:

1. Brush up on American citizenship yourself, and introduce civics to young people in your life that you mentor.
2. Engage in initiatives that teach civics in your local schools, high-school, community colleges, or initiate a project such as a Citizen Academy with your city.
3. Participate in Voter Registration initiatives, and visit Ballotpedia.com to find out what will be on your ballot in the upcoming election.
4. Consider becoming an Election Judge (read and discuss The Policy Circle’s Elections Processes and Innovations Brief).
5. Find out what public policy research centers are in your state by visiting SPN’s directory, which catalogs organizations by state and issue topic.
6. Put Conversations to Work and Engage Locally: See the following proposed steps to engage further.

STEPS TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

How do you want to move the needle on an issue? Consider these steps for becoming an engaged member of your community:

1. Does your community know your name?

Consider how well you know your community, and how well they know you. To begin getting involved, the trick is to start local. Issues and stories are local – the best place is right on your block.

• Do your neighbors know your name?
• Do the owners of neighborhood shops and restaurants know you?
• If you have kids, do parents at your kids’ school know you? Or have you participated in children’s school life?
• Do religious leaders, of your denomination or not, know you?
• Local civic leaders? Elected officials?

2. Do you know your local government?

Whether you are interested in being a national leader or getting involved in your state, leadership starts locally and radiates out. To expand your network and understand local challenges and what is happening in your community, you need to know your local government and how your city works.

Have you:

• Met the teams that run your town (such as police/fire, infrastructure/engineering, economic development, parks and recreation, energy, communications)?
• Familiarized yourself with how decisions are made, the commissions that make them, and who determines who runs for elected positions?
• Met school principals and district chairs?
• Interacted with local elected officials, such as trustees/aldermen or school board members?
• Investigated what structures in your town influence who runs for office? In some states there are local self-appointed caucuses.
• Considered becoming an Election Judge or poll worker?

3. Have you developed your financial acumen?

Interacting with the people who lead your community and local city agencies is key to becoming more involved and a leader. A large component of this is knowing how to responsibly manage the finances that keep your community running smoothly. Part of being a leader involves developing financial acumen and knowing where to focus your time. Reviewing your town’s finances is also a great focus for your Policy Circle.

Do you know:

• The budgets of your town, library, school, or certain enacted policies?
• How community investments are managed?
• Your state finances and treasury?
• The finances of your company or nonprofits with which you are affiliated?
• How much debt is your local and state government in?

4. Do you know how the most vulnerable are assisted in your community?

The most vulnerable in your community are also the most likely to be overlooked. Caring for neighbors in need, families in crisis, and the community at large is the kind of work done on the ground, but it is also key to connecting the dots, fostering connections, and making an impact. Part of this entails knowing and understanding the services provided.

How familiar are you with:

• Healthcare facilities?
• Advocacy organizations (such as for mental health or homeless shelters)?
• Integration and opportunities for low-income residents?
• Youth Centers and Social Services Department?
• School programs?
• Organizations and your city’s committees that assist and welcome:
  • People with intellectual disabilities
  • Veterans
  • Immigrants

5. Have you built your network of community influencers?

Civic leaders are not lone riders; they have broad networks of people with various expertise, focuses, and backgrounds. They themselves can demonstrate their abilities by assuming roles in the networks related to their professions, and ensuring that other roles are properly filled. This involves knowing how to play a leadership role in your community and the community’s association, knowing where to start, and how to prioritize.

• Are you a local or national leader in your Chamber of Commerce, industry, or association?
• Do you know your local business owners or nonprofit leaders?
• Are you familiar with the Community Development offices in your city, or the Economic Development Committees?
• Have you facilitated your company’s participation in local events?
• Are you active in local clubs?
• Do you know your local civic influencers, such as Policy Circle members or local watchdogs?

Through informed engagement and principled leadership, each of us has a role in strengthening our communities and safeguarding the future of our Republic.

SaveSave