Principles Of Government

All material on this site is for educational purposes only.
This site is designed to generate ideas for a supplementary section on think tank websites.
An online subscription to the Wall Street Journal is required get full use of this site.
(A) Articles are foundational content and (B) Articles are urgently important but may be replaced as they become dated

(A) Culture, Character and Ideology

Even-Handed History at the National Archives

By Michael Auslin - Jan. 5, 2026

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By Michael Auslin – Jan. 5, 2026 – Now, after an eight-year, $40 million redesign of its exhibition spaces, the National Archives building is poised to become the capital’s leading venue for civics education… No other museum in Washington has comparable technology, but it is the content of the exhibits that has the potential to revitalize civics education. The museum presents different sides to important national issues, which itself is a civics lesson. Read More

Habits for Humanity in the Age of AI

By Ben Sasse - May 8, 2026

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By Ben Sasse – May 8, 2026 – America’s experiment in self-government has always depended on wisdom and self-control. These aren’t virtues that politicians or bureaucrats could ever impart. They aren’t fostered by technology’s illusion of endless consumption, infinite options and cost-free disembodiment. No, the virtues for a life well-lived are taught, modeled and practiced in the daily life of society’s smallest but most important platoons—chief among them the family. Read More

Jewish History Is the Antidote to Antisemitism AA

By Eric Cohen - Sept. 23, 2025

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By Eric Cohen – Sept. 23, 2025 – Attacks on Jewish college students provoked a larger national debate about the radicalization of the humanities and anti-American animus that have corrupted so many universities. The confrontation between Israel and its enemies has forced the democratic nations of the world to reckon with—or self-righteously deny—the true costs of defending civilization against barbarism. …The Jews are a thermometer for the moral condition of the Western world and the health of our civic institutions. Read More

Rediscovering Order in an Age of Populism AA – lengthy article

By Mike Pence & Ed Feulner - Summer 2025

Copyright © 2025 National Affairs, Inc. and the American Enterprise Institute

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By Mike Pence & Ed Feulner – Summer 2025 – An existential identity crisis now grips the American right. A political movement once united by a commitment to limited government, moral order, and a robust defense of American ideals now appears fractured, its purpose clouded by populist grievances and ideological drift. The urgency of this moment demands a return to first principles, along with a reexamination of what conservatism means and what it seeks to achieve in an age marked by cultural upheaval and political polarization. Read More

Teach the Republic: Why Every Civics Crisis Traces Back to Teacher Preparation AA

By Samuel J. Abrams - September 05, 2025

© 2025 American Enterprise Institute

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By Samuel J. Abrams – If our aim is to sustain a functioning, self-governing republic, then it is not only appropriate but essential that deep constitutional study be centered in ordinary institutions. We cannot confine this work to boutique seminars for the well-connected and already powerful. The work must also happen where most Americans – especially future teachers – actually train: regional public universities, teaching-focused colleges, and continuing education programs that are accessible and affordable. Read More