Institute for Governance and Civics

08/28/2026

IGC Director Ryan Owens was recently quoted in the News From The States article "GOP path to retaining US House majority narrowing as midterms near," where he discussed how changing voter coalitions and turnout patterns could shape the race for control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections.

Read the article below:

WASHINGTON — With less than 70 days until midterm elections, Democrats remain favored to regain the majority in the U.S. House. President Donald Trump’s anemic approval ratings amid the war in Iran, concerns over the economy and a coalitional shift within the party mark some of the largest headw...

08/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Back-to-School Meet & Greet.

It was an evening filled with conversation, connection, and a little friendly competition as Civics and Liberty Studies majors, AMS students, faculty, and staff came together to start the year.

Here's to a great semester ahead! ✨

08/26/2026

We're Hiring!

The Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University is seeking a Research Faculty member and Director of America's Liberty Lab, a new cognitive science research facility dedicated to studying liberty through polling, surveys, and experimental research.

We're looking for a scholar and leader to help build and direct the Lab, conduct innovative research, and contribute to a growing body of work that advances our understanding of liberty.

Learn more and apply:
https://jobs.omni.fsu.edu/psc/sprdhr_er/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=63146&PostingSeq=1

08/24/2026

New scholarship from IGC Teaching Faculty Michael Driscoll.

In his article, “Suiting the ‘Relish of our Minds’: Locke on Rational Happiness,” Driscoll examines key questions in political philosophy through an analysis of John Locke's thought. The article contributes to ongoing discussions about reason and the foundations of political life.

Read more: https://ciceroniansociety.org/journal/pietas-spring-2026-vol-5-no-1/

08/24/2026

New research from IGC Teaching Faculty Michael Driscoll explores a fundamental question: What does it mean to be a citizen?

In his latest article, "Radically Changed by the Revolution: The Meaning of Citizenship and CivicEducation," Driscoll explores key questions surrounding citizenship and civic education.

Read the full article:

The civic thought movement has produced many fine proposals for facilitating a more robust citizen education in multiple legal contexts, but these proposals have mostly taken for granted what it means to be a citizen of the United States in our time. However, if the movement seeks to bring about a t...

08/24/2026

The 74 recently highlighted research from Head of the Educational Liberty Branch James Shuls, Research Faculty Zachary Goldberg, and Head of Data, Analysis, and Polling James Woodworth that examines the relationship between school choice policies and public opinion over time.

We're proud to see the work of our scholars contributing to important conversations about education policy.

Check out the article:

Charters and school vouchers could create their own constituency, a recent study argues. But partisanship plays a role as well.

08/21/2026

This week, we enjoyed bringing faculty and staff together at our IGC Social.

It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome new colleagues, strengthen our community, and share conversations with friends old and new. We're looking forward to a great year ahead.

08/21/2026

Students cannot learn when teachers are not in the classroom.

In a new National Review article, Michael Hartney, IGC Educational Liberty Fellow, and Vladimir Kogan explore teacher absenteeism and its implications for student success, highlighting an often-overlooked challenge facing schools today.

Learn more in the article: https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/10/absentee-teachers-the-other-attendance-problem/

Students can’t learn when the instructor doesn’t show up.

08/20/2026

We're thrilled to host Dr. Morris M. Kleiner as an Economic Liberty Visiting Fellow at the IGC.

His distinguished career in research and public policy has contributed to a deeper understanding of the forces that shape work and economic mobility. We are excited to welcome his expertise and engage with his ideas during his visit.

Welcome, Dr. Kleiner! 🌟

08/19/2026

What do Americans think about Western civilization?

Our new report provides the first national baseline on how Americans view Western civilization. Most hold positive views, but many remain undecided, and opinions vary sharply across ideological lines. These perspectives continue to shape debates about history, education, and the civic traditions that influence American society.

Key findings:
- Americans value Western civilization, but many express no clear view.
- Ideology produces the strongest divisions in attitudes toward Western civilization.
- Americans with strongly anti-Western views judge Western civilization more harshly than they do Islamic civilization.
- Support for requiring students to study influential Western texts is high but closely related to views of the West.

Read the full report:https://igc.fsu.edu/sites/default/files/2026-08/IGC_Report16_West_Civ_Final.pdf