Hillsdale College and the Pocket Constitution: Promoting Civic Education and Constitutional Literacy

In an era where American civics education is often neglected, Hillsdale College stands out by actively promoting constitutional literacy through its Pocket Constitution program and other educational outreach initiatives. Recognizing the crucial importance of the Constitution to liberty, Hillsdale College strives to equip citizens of all ages with a deeper understanding of American history, government, and the principles that underpin the nation's founding.

The Abandonment of American Civics Education

Far too many schools have abandoned American civics education-education in American history and government. Countless young people are unaware of the importance of the Constitution to liberty-threatening freedom itself.

The Hillsdale College Pocket Constitution

To combat the decline in civics education, Hillsdale College initiated the Pocket Constitution program in 2011. This program provides free copies of the U.S. Constitution to students, teachers, and citizens across the country. The Pocket Constitution serves as a readily accessible resource for learning about the foundational document of American governance.

"We’ve seen the number of Pocket Constitution requests increase dramatically this year,” said Bill Gray, chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing. "I think the increased interest in America’s founding documents is a sign of the times."

Schools around the country are able to request large orders of Pocket Constitutions for students.

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A Growing Demand for Constitutional Knowledge

The demand for Hillsdale College's Pocket Constitution has increased significantly, indicating a growing interest in America's founding documents. This surge in interest reflects a desire among citizens to understand the principles and values that underpin the American system of government.

Educational Outreach Programs

Beyond the Pocket Constitution, Hillsdale College engages in various national educational outreach programs to teach millions of Americans of all ages about the Constitution. These programs aim to deepen understanding of our nation’s founding, so that citizens may be equipped to maintain our precious American liberty.

Hillsdale College's Curriculum and Approach

Hillsdale College distinguishes itself through its classical liberal arts core curriculum, which emphasizes the study of original sources and great works. The Reader is used in the Hillsdale College core course on the Constitution required of every student. The Articles promise a kind of learning that is "sound." This learning is said to "develop the minds" and "improve the hearts" of the students; in other words, it teaches the intellectual and the moral virtues.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

Hillsdale College emphasizes the indispensable connection between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Declaration articulates the universal principles of liberty and equality, while the Constitution provides the framework for a government that secures these rights.

Online Course: Introduction to the Constitution

Hillsdale College offers a free online course, "Introduction to the Constitution," taught by President Larry P. Arnn. This course explores the political philosophy of the American Founders and the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

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The course consists of twelve lessons:

Lesson 1: The Declaration of Independence - Universals and Particulars
Lesson 2: The Declaration of Independence - The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God
Lesson 3: The Declaration of Independence - All Men Are Created Equal
Lesson 4: The Consent of the Governed
Lesson 5: Representation of the People
Lesson 6: Sovereignty and Power
Lesson 7: Reason and Passion
Lesson 8: The Separation of Powers
Lesson 9: The Necessity of Virtue
Lesson 10: Ballots Rather Than Bullets
Lesson 11: The Problem with Big Government
Lesson 12: The Problem with Progressivism

Key Principles of American Government

The online course delves into key principles of American government, including:

The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God: God is cited not only as a creator, but also as law-giver, protector, and judge-the implication being that only He can rightfully exercise all three functions of government.
Equality: Equality is a simple and clear principle, and is rooted in the fundamental human capacity to speak.
Consent of the Governed: No one among us can rule the rest unless we give that person permission to rule.
Representation: Representation allows for citizens to entrust the governing of the country to a few people while still retaining the crucial ability to control the power of the government.
Sovereignty of the People: The principles of American government require the sovereignty of the people. They express their will through a constitutional majority, although they themselves do not rule directly.
Reason and Passion: The Founders designed the Constitution to enable the people as much as possible to make well-reasoned laws that are beneficial to the common good.
Separation of Powers: The sovereign people separate the three functions of government into departments and delegate specific powers to each, which protects against tyranny and preserves liberty.
Necessity of Virtue: The maintenance of free government depends on the people themselves.
Ballots Rather Than Bullets: The election of 1800 demonstrated the legitimacy of the American system of government because the people were able to assert their will and change the government, according to the strictures of the Constitution.

Addressing Contemporary Challenges

The course also addresses contemporary challenges to the Constitution, such as the problem with big government and the problem with progressivism. These lessons explore whether the Founders’ Constitution enables the American people to meet the new and pressing problems of today without compromising fundamental principles.

Hillsdale's Stance on Civil and Religious Liberty

Civil and religious liberty are political goods. The classic works that have always been taught here at Hillsdale College say that the nature of man is essentially political, that our gift of speech, a synonym for reason, makes us more social and moral than any beings on earth, and in the combination of these is our political nature. The political goods of "civil and religious liberty" were first achieved here in the United States of America, the nation to which Hillsdale College has always been loyal.

Hillsdale's Historical Commitment to American Ideals

Hillsdale College has a long history of supporting American ideals. Its oldest building was dedicated on the Fourth of July in 1853, when the second president of the College, later one of the founders of the Republican Party, gave a speech on the relation of freedom and education. In the Civil War, some 400 young Hillsdale men fought for the Union, the highest percentage of any non-military school in the North.

The Importance of Context and Critical Thinking

Carey said students need context, not just copies of primary source material. When arguments arise about the meaning of our country, we can relate them to the great arguments that have already taken place in its history. We do not come to contemporary debates unarmed.

Hillsdale's Growing Influence

Hillsdale has gained a higher national profile in recent years for championing a classical liberal arts education, including pushing to expand its affiliated charter schools in Tennessee.

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