Dr. Mike Robinson: Is democracy as we know it in America at risk because of what appears to be a lack of understanding of civics, elections, and governance?
Christopher R. Riano: Any democratic republic requires an active, engaged, and well-informed citizenry to ensure a healthy body politic. There is no question that to foster a civically engaged nation, we have to dedicate ourselves to making a civic and constitutional education available to everyone, from cradle through career.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Should there be an emphasis on civic education?
Christopher R. Riano: I think leaders in the field would all agree that it is critical to our democratic republic's proper functioning to emphasize the importance of civic and constitutional education for all. This includes a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the American democratic system and an emphasis on teaching people how to actively engage with government to address challenges at the local, state, and national levels.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What aspect of the election and governance systems do you believe all Americans need to understand and why it operates the way it has for centuries?
Christopher R. Riano: Understanding the fundamental principles of American political thought and its impact on our system is essential for understanding the context that frames the complexities of our multi-branch, multi-layered government system. However, it is critical to couple this to know how to actively engage with the various parts of government to make change possible within the different parts of our political system.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do we need an Education Czar or a national Civic Education curriculum?
Christopher R. Riano: We have to think beyond a national curriculum, particularly given our unique federal structure that celebrates the important differences at the local and state levels. That isn't to say we should not dedicate ourselves to a robust K-12 education. Still, unlike other fields, civic and constitutional education has to be a lifelong pursuit of strengthening our democracy indeed.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do you think if Americans had a better understanding of our election and governance systems, we could have avoided the chaos in U. S. Capitol?
Christopher R. Riano: The long term lack of attention and investment in our civil society has had many consequences, including much of what we saw on January 6th. The renewed attention to the field is heartening, but to truly address many of the concerns that people have recently raised, we have to put in place concrete, long-term solutions that reimagine what it means to be civically educated and civically engaged.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Is it possible to hold political leaders accountable if there is a lack of understanding of American Civics?
Christopher R. Riano: There are many ways to hold political leaders accountable in a democratic republic. However, it is the responsibility of everyone in our society, including leaders in government, leaders in the corporate world, and those who are leading our largest foundations and nonprofits, to ensure that civic and constitutional education is prioritized and that we are appropriately educated and engaged in one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have as part of the American experiment.
Christopher R. Riano is the executive director for the Center for Civic Education, the nation's largest constitutional law and civic education nonprofit dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry both in America and around the globe. Riano also serves as a lecturer in constitutional law and government at Columbia University, where he teaches comparative jurisprudence, constitutional theory, and the fundamentals of government. He has served as a speaker and author at dozens of conferences and in a number of publications on numerous parts of constitutional theory. His book Marriage Equality: From Outlaws to In-Laws, co-authored with Professor William N. Eskridge, Jr. of Yale Law School, tells the definitive story of the marriage equality movement from 1967 to 2015, and is forthcoming from Yale University Press in August 2020. Prior to the Center, Riano served as the assistant counsel to the governor of New York for education, arts, and constitutional law. He has also been the general counsel for the New York State Liquor Authority, an administrative law judge for New York State, and a partner at Drohan Lee LLP. He is the founder and CEO of The Riano Group, LLC.
Christopher R. Riano: Any democratic republic requires an active, engaged, and well-informed citizenry to ensure a healthy body politic. There is no question that to foster a civically engaged nation, we have to dedicate ourselves to making a civic and constitutional education available to everyone, from cradle through career.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Should there be an emphasis on civic education?
Christopher R. Riano: I think leaders in the field would all agree that it is critical to our democratic republic's proper functioning to emphasize the importance of civic and constitutional education for all. This includes a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the American democratic system and an emphasis on teaching people how to actively engage with government to address challenges at the local, state, and national levels.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What aspect of the election and governance systems do you believe all Americans need to understand and why it operates the way it has for centuries?
Christopher R. Riano: Understanding the fundamental principles of American political thought and its impact on our system is essential for understanding the context that frames the complexities of our multi-branch, multi-layered government system. However, it is critical to couple this to know how to actively engage with the various parts of government to make change possible within the different parts of our political system.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do we need an Education Czar or a national Civic Education curriculum?
Christopher R. Riano: We have to think beyond a national curriculum, particularly given our unique federal structure that celebrates the important differences at the local and state levels. That isn't to say we should not dedicate ourselves to a robust K-12 education. Still, unlike other fields, civic and constitutional education has to be a lifelong pursuit of strengthening our democracy indeed.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Do you think if Americans had a better understanding of our election and governance systems, we could have avoided the chaos in U. S. Capitol?
Christopher R. Riano: The long term lack of attention and investment in our civil society has had many consequences, including much of what we saw on January 6th. The renewed attention to the field is heartening, but to truly address many of the concerns that people have recently raised, we have to put in place concrete, long-term solutions that reimagine what it means to be civically educated and civically engaged.
Dr. Mike Robinson: Is it possible to hold political leaders accountable if there is a lack of understanding of American Civics?
Christopher R. Riano: There are many ways to hold political leaders accountable in a democratic republic. However, it is the responsibility of everyone in our society, including leaders in government, leaders in the corporate world, and those who are leading our largest foundations and nonprofits, to ensure that civic and constitutional education is prioritized and that we are appropriately educated and engaged in one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have as part of the American experiment.
Christopher R. Riano is the executive director for the Center for Civic Education, the nation's largest constitutional law and civic education nonprofit dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry both in America and around the globe. Riano also serves as a lecturer in constitutional law and government at Columbia University, where he teaches comparative jurisprudence, constitutional theory, and the fundamentals of government. He has served as a speaker and author at dozens of conferences and in a number of publications on numerous parts of constitutional theory. His book Marriage Equality: From Outlaws to In-Laws, co-authored with Professor William N. Eskridge, Jr. of Yale Law School, tells the definitive story of the marriage equality movement from 1967 to 2015, and is forthcoming from Yale University Press in August 2020. Prior to the Center, Riano served as the assistant counsel to the governor of New York for education, arts, and constitutional law. He has also been the general counsel for the New York State Liquor Authority, an administrative law judge for New York State, and a partner at Drohan Lee LLP. He is the founder and CEO of The Riano Group, LLC.