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From the President, Lewis Larsen
Madison Fellows are leaders in professional development and support for their civic education colleagues throughout the nation. Just last month, ten of you presented at the Annual NCSS Conference while another forty Fellows attended the gathering. Many of you will attend or present at the NCHE Conference next March (see below). Fellows help to shape educational policy at both local and state levels, and will be interested in reading a recent report about civic education requirements in individual states.
As always, we hope to increase the number of qualified applicants for this year's competition. In September, we inaugurated our Madison Fellows Nomination program. In October, we launched our first Google Adwords campaign. In November, we surveyed our Junior Fellows, asking for suggestions about effective recruitment techniques for pre-service teachers. In January, we will distribute a new Foundation poster containing a QR code (so we can track the poster's impact), and we have just begun work to optimize our website for mobile browsers. We will continue to use 21st century technology to promote and preserve those constitutional ideals articulated so brilliantly by our 18th century Founders, and we encourage you to keep up the great work you are doing in America's classrooms.
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Focus on the Fellows 
Kevin Fox, '06 (CA)
What has it meant to be a James Madison Fellow? After the excitement of being selected had worn off, after the Summer Institute at Georgetown had come and gone, and after my MA was completed, I finally felt that I could fully grasp what the Fellowship was all about: Constitutional citizenship.
I realized that being a citizen means so much more than just enjoying my rights and getting to vote. Being a constitutional citizen means being one who 'ordains and establishes' our constitution each and every day. I do that as a teacher of AP Government; as a We the People team teacher/coach; as a presenter at NCSS, CCSS and Constitution Day conferences and workshops; as a Preceptor for NEH Landmark workshops held at James Madison's Montpelier; and as a Preceptor for the NEH/Center of Civic Education's "National Academy - Political and Constitutional Theory for Citizens" summer institutes. I engage with fellow citizens, educators, local media, and others in on-going discussions of what it means to be an American under our constitutional system. Being a Fellow has led to so many opportunities. Others appreciate that I am an informed and dedicated scholar, not just another opinionated, uninformed partisan. I look forward to many more years of engagement and involvement in our great constitutional republic.
Let us hear what you have been up to since receiving your Fellowship. Submit a brief article (150-200 words) along with a high-resolution photo to cgriffin@jamesmadison.com for possible inclusion in future newsletters.
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C onstitution Corner
Dr. Daniel Dreisbach, American University
The concept of "rule of law" entails both a substantive and a procedural dimension. "Due process of law" is the procedural expression of rule of law. When is due process required, and what process is due?
We first ask: When is someone entitled to "due process"? Before the civil state can exercise its power adverse to one's interests in life, liberty, or property, it must first provide a measure of due process.
What process is due in a legal system committed to this concept? Due process encompasses many principles, values, and processes, but at its core it requires the following:
First, due process requires "notice" or the opportunity to know in advance what the law requires before the law is applied adverse to one's interests. This allows citizens to bring their conduct into conformity with the law. This principle is expressed in the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on ex post facto laws.
Second, due process requires that the accused be afforded the opportunity to be heard in his or her defense before an impartial tribunal. The Constitution includes many specific features designed to promote the fairness of hearings, such as the right to a public and speedy trial, the right to confront one's accuser, and the assistance of legal counsel.
Third, due process requires that laws be applied in like manner to people in like situations (this is designed to control the discretion of state actors and avoid invidious discrimination).
Finally, if it is to be effective, due process requires the means of enforcing these principles or holding the state accountable for the violation of due process.
This is a starting point for discussions of this important concept in our constitutional tradition. |
Teaching Tips
Wendy Ewbank, 01 (WA)
Every year, I require my 7th grade students to write a persuasive essay on a current constitutional issue. In order to provide students with a wider audience and inspire their civic involvement, I require them to pursue a follow-up action such as sending their essay to editors, modifying the content to be a persuasive letter in support of legislation, or educating other community members about the topic.
These action steps are as educational as the written assignment and more likely to influence their future democratic participation. As Alena Freidrich, who presented about "Stand Your Ground " laws to a class at the University of Washington Law School, commented, "It was an amazing experience to be able to share our knowledge and perspective with people who might one day actually have the power to make decisions regarding things like gun control. We were able to enjoy the experience while also appreciating that we could potentially be making a positive difference in our community."
Do you have a favorite pedagogical approach for teaching about the Constitution? Submit a brief article (150-200 words) to cgriffin@jamesmadison.com for possible inclusion in future newsletters. |
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Opportunities
 Laura Wakefield, '00 (FL) invites Fellows to attend the annual conference of the NCHE held March 21-23, 2013 in Richmond, VA.
Fellows presenting include Claire McCaffery Griffin, '92 (HI), Jennifer Reiter, '07 (OK), and Meg DeWeese, 09 (OK). The Foundation will also have a booth in the Exhibit Hall. Click here to register. If you would like to prepare a lesson about the Federalist Papers for distribution at the Conference, click here.
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The National Endowment for the Humanities offers a wide variety of summer seminars and institutes. Application deadlines are generally in early March.
Let us know about professional opportunities that would be of interest to Fellows. We plan to include 3-4 timely notifications in each edition of the newsletter. Information can be sent to cgriffin@jamesmadison.com |
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From the Foundation
Payments: Payment requests received December 15-30 will be held for processing until January 3 due to 1099 tax reporting requirements.
1099's: The Foundation is required by the IRS to report payments made to Fellows on IRS Form 1099-Misc. This form will be mailed directly from the General Services Administration (GSA) to Fellows in late January. Additional information can be found on pgs. 5-6 of the "Payment and Financial Obligations" section of the Fellows' Handbook.
Congressional Fellow: An application for the 2013 Congressional
Fellowship is available here and is due January 10. Only Fellows who have completed both their degree and their teaching requirement are eligible for the fellowship.
Fellowship Nomination: Thank you to the 41 Fellows from 30 states who nominated 55 teachers as potential candidates for the Fellowship. The Fellowship Nomination period has concluded, but continue to be on the look out for potential Fellows to nominate when we resume the program next Fall. (Of course, you can still encourage more people to apply for this year's competition. The deadline is March 1, 2013.)
© 2012 by James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. All rights reserved. |
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