On paper, these seem simple, but they require much more of us. For example, voting requires us to be informed on the issues facing our communities. The best way to get informed is to be engaged.

Good civic habits, also called virtues, facilitate this engagement, which is critical for maintaining a democracy. Civic virtues like integrity, responsibility, courage, and justice bind us together as citizens. They do so by supporting just civic action and promoting a common identity around living freely within our communities. Other virtues like... See more