Civics and Government: The Fundamental Way People in a Democracy Get Involved

The news literacy game NewsFeed Defenders, developed jointly by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) and iCivics, has been named a finalist in Fast Company’s 2019 World Changing Ideas Awards in the education category.

NewsFeed Defenders challenges high school and adult players to navigate online content by moderating a social news platform, Newsably. Their mission: attract new readers to the site while also fighting against clickbait, viral deception, and flagrant bias.

NewsFeed Defenders is available free on the web at FactCheck.org and at iCivics and as an app for tablets through iTunes and Google Play.

 PLAY NOW: FactCheck.org Games

• Identify markers of verification, transparency, accountability, and independence in news stories.
• Define and identify problematic news items, and other news-related types of misinformation.
• Explain a variety of strategies to verify images and information.
• Evaluate text for bias based on word choices and framing methods.
• Use third-party information to judge the credibility of a source.
• Evaluate the benefits and challenges of digital news and social media to a democratic society.

Additional Resources

• Lesson Plan
• How to Flag Fake News on Facebook
• Misinformation Directory
• How to Spot Fake News (video)
• How to Spot Fake News (article)
• Download on the App Store
• Get it on Google Play

2019: FactCheck.org is celebrating 15 years of holding politicians accountable.

Watch Video: How to Spot Fake News - FactCheck.org

FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. FactCheck.org monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. The FactCheck.org goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels.

About the Annenberg Public Policy Center
Founded in 1993, the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania is the home of FactCheck.org and Annenberg Classroom, which are dedicated to enhancing media literacy and civic knowledge. FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocate for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. It has published a video and article showing voters how to spot bogus claims in the news and on social media and has partnered with Facebook to identify and label false viral posts. Annenberg Classroom, a project of the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, provides teachers with a free multimedia curriculum to teach the Constitution to middle and high school students. Its resources include games, timelines, lesson plans and videos, including a dozen award-winning films produced by the Sunnylands-APPC Constitution Project, whose advisors have included Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, Stephen Breyer, and Anthony Kennedy.

iCivics | Free Lesson Plans and Games for Learning Civics

Civic responsibilities encompass actions like registering to vote and voting, and serving on statutory boards and committees. If you read the newspaper, watch TV or get your information online, you have been exposed to strategies that attempt to sway voter opinion. iCivics exists to engage students in meaningful civic learning. Civics Games encouraging creativity and building effective institutions to help address some of the world's most challenging problems.

Video: About iCivics Games

 PLAY NOW: iCivics Games

As times change, so do the methods of building a campaign. You have an obligation to know the facts about candidates before casting your ballot; but, with mudslinging, political missteps and distorted messages, it is easy to get lost.

Your Obligation

Watch Trailer

The more educated and informed a voter is, the clearer the decision-making process.

Fortunately, nonpartisan websites like www.factcheck.org, www.politifact.com and www.opensecrets.org help sort out fact and fiction in political rhetoric.

For an even more in-depth view of candidates’ backgrounds, stances, interest group ratings and finances, look no further than Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org). Project Vote Smart is a nonpartisan, non-profit educational resource for voters and is funded by politically independent individuals and foundations.

In addition, a close relative, friend or religious leader who shares your same values can be a reliable source of advice when deciding which candidate is worth your vote.

Anyone can learn to Vote from these printable learning worksheets and videos.

First Time Voter

Video: Get Ready to Vote

If you are a U.S. citizen, meet your state’s requirements, and will be 18 by Election Day, you can vote.

But first, you need to register before your state’s deadline. Check with your local election office. You can register there, or you may be able to register online, at the Department of Motor Vehicles, or using the National Mail Voter Registration Form.

Your election office may send you a voter registration card listing your polling place. On Election Day, that is where you will go. When you get there, you may need to show an ID to vote. Then, fill out your ballot. If you do not know how, ask a poll worker. If you know you will not be able to get there on Election Day, you may qualify to vote by mail. Remember, voting rules are different in every state.

• Common Voting and Election Terms

  This is a glossary with definitions of common voting and elections terms.

• Find My State or Local Election Office Website

  Visit your state’s election office website for state-wide voting guidance.

• How to Vote or Register to Vote

  Find information on registering to vote, confirming or updating your registration information, absentee and early voting, and voting on Election Day.

• Midterm Congressional, State, and Local Elections

  Congressional midterm elections take place between Presidential elections. State and local races happen every year. Learn about upcoming elections near you.

• Voting and Election Laws and History

  Know the laws that protect your right to vote and govern the elections process. Find results of past federal elections. Learn how voting methods and habits have evolved.

Can You Pass American Civics 101?

A lot of people find the American government structure confusing and overly complicated.

Civics 101: A Podcast by NPR at www.civics101podcast.org

https://www.civics101podcast.org/

http://feeds.megaphone.fm/PPY1168790592

Can you answer 12 basic questions about the American government?

http://quizpug.com/can-you-pass-american-civics-101/