LibGuides: A Guide to Civics (Government &amp; Political Science): Home

Civic Learning & Engagement

Civic engagement comes in many forms but at its essence, it's the act of working to make a difference in the civic life of one's community. This may look different to each individual and take place at the local, state, federal, and international levels.

The types of civic engagement, as written by the student civic engagement division of the US Government, Youth.gov, include:

Civic Action - Participating in volunteering or service-learning to help better the community.
Civic Commitment or Duty - The willingness to make positive contributions to society.
Civic Skills - The ability to be involved in civil society, politics, and democracy.
Social Cohesion - Or a sense of reciprocity, trust, and bonding to others.

“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.”

-Excerpted from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich, published by Oryx Press, 2000, Preface, page vi.

A Guide to Civics

This guides seeks to help those looking for a basic understanding of civics in the United States at both the local and federal levels. It will provide useful links to information, programs, institutions, and other resources whose goals are to further a better understanding of the functions and processes of the governments of New Jersey and the United States. While efforts have been made to feature neutral sources and content, please keep in mind that some resources may exhibit bias. It is recommended that multiple, authoritative sources be considered when doing research and forming opinions about political issues.