Click here to download the full 2011 Pennsylvania Civic Health Index
ABOUT THE PARTNERS:
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is the first and only nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to the most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed: the U.S. Constitution. Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of American freedom, the Center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires active citizenship through a state–of–the–art museum experience, including hundreds of interactive exhibits, films and rare artifacts; must–see feature exhibitions; the internationally acclaimed, 360–degree theatrical production Freedom Rising ; and the iconic Signers’ Hall , where visitors can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life–size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. As America’s forum for constitutional dialogue, the Center engages diverse, distinguished leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely public discussions and debates. The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, the national hub for constitutional education, which offers cutting–edge civic learning resources both onsite and online. Freedom is calling. Answer it at the National Constitution Center.
Center for Democratic Deliberation
The Center for Democratic Deliberation (CDD) at Penn State University was founded in 2006 as a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary center for research, teaching, and outreach on issues of civic engagement and democratic deliberation. It is concerned with two of the most basic requirements of a healthy participatory democracy: (1) a citizenry with the knowledge and communicative skills necessary for engaged democratic citizenship; and (2) a culture of vibrant, informed deliberation, where citizens discuss, debate, and render collective decisions on matters of public importance.
National Conference on Citizenship
The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) believes that everyone has the power to make a difference in how their community and country thrive. We are a dynamic, non–partisan, nonprofit working at the forefront of our nation’s civic life. We continuously explore what shapes today’s citizenry, dene the evolving role of the individual in our democracy and uncover ways to motivate greater participation. Through our events, research and reports, NCoC expands our nation’s contemporary understanding of what it means to be a citizen. We seek new ideas and approaches for creating greater civic health and vitality throughout the United States.
About the Authors
J. Michael Hogan is Liberal Arts Research Professor and Director of the Center for Democratic Deliberation (CDD) at the Pennsylvania State University. Mark Hlavacik is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State and a Graduate Research Assistant at the CDD.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE), who provided the data analysis for the report; Kristi Tate at the National Conference on Citizenship, for her guidance, and Alison Young and Beth Specker from the National Constitution Center for their leadership and vision on this project.