Notre Dame Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government

06/05/2026

Announcing the winners of our annual Publius Prize for Undergraduate Writing!

We want to extend our congratulations to this year's winners, Liam Kelly ’26 and Maria Eduarda Grill ’28, as well as our talented runners-up. Thank you all for your exceptional writing and for actively "refining and enlarging the public’s views."

See the winning student pieces and honorable mentions here: https://constudies.nd.edu/news/winning-publius-prize-pieces-discuss-courage-at-notre-dame-digital-misinformation/

06/02/2026

In an era dominated by screens, algorithms, and the rise of AI, what does it truly mean to get an education?

In a new piece for First Things, former CCCG Visiting Fellow Carl Trueman challenges us to rethink the true purpose of education. He argues that as we navigate the future of technology in the classroom and the workplace, we must protect the ordinary, deeply human institutions that humanize us.

Read the full piece here: https://firstthings.com/ordinary-means-extraordinary-ends/

06/02/2026

Welcome to the CCCG Summer Reading List series!

All summer long, we’re bringing you high-caliber book recommendations from our community to keep you intellectually engaged.

Kicking us off is Gabi Grow, Ph.D. Candidate, on why the 850-page masterpiece "Lonesome Dove" is the perfect, captivating distraction from her usual coursework.

05/30/2026

Join our team! Our operations team is seeking a talented Programming & Operations Specialist.

In this role, you will provide critical leadership to the ex*****on of the CCCG's public programming, day-to-day operations, project management, and strategic functioning. Basically, we can't do it without you.

Are you or someone you know a perfect fit for our community? Click the link below to send in an application before our posting closes on June 1.

https://careers.nd.edu/search-careers/3743990013194916-programming-operations-specialist-center-for-citizenship-constitutional-government/

05/30/2026

"Neither slave nor free, male nor female..."

Christine Emba explored how the early Church introduced a truly revolutionary counter-culture to the rigid, exploitative hierarchies of the Roman Empire. By introducing the "novel" idea that every individual possesses equal moral and spiritual dignity, early Christianity laid the foundational groundwork for modern concepts of human rights.

05/29/2026

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we are excited to invite undergraduate students, as well as 2026 graduates, to participate in our Semiquincentennial Essay Contest.

This is a unique opportunity for students to engage deeply with fundamental questions of constitutional government, civic virtue, and American history. The winning essay will be published as an interest piece on our “News” page, and the author will receive $250.

Learn more about the contest: https://constudies.nd.edu/academics/undergraduate-education/semiquincentennial-essay-contest/

05/28/2026

The CCCG is pleased to announce our summer funding awards for student public service, legal, and research experiences.

This funding ensures University of Notre Dame undergraduate, law, and doctoral students can take on critical, often unpaid roles that align with our mission to equip future leaders in public life. This summer's cohort will be working in congressional offices, federal courts, and research seminars across the US and Europe.

Read the full announcement and meet the recipients: https://constudies.nd.edu/news/cccg-awards-funding-for-summer-public-service-legal-and-research-experiences/

05/27/2026

Missed one of our recent events at the University of Notre Dame? Check out our lecture library to catch up on all of our public lectures, debates, and conversations.

Apr 14 Book Talk with Leigh Snead | Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can't Conceive Time: Tue, Apr 14 at 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm

05/26/2026

Can you combat grade inflation just by capping the number of A's a professor can give?

Harvard University's faculty recently voted to do exactly that, but our Phillip Muñoz argues in his new Washington Post op-ed that policy alone isn't enough to solve the deeper root causes of grade inflation.

When grades steadily drift upward, it devalues genuine student effort and shifts the focus away from actual learning and mastery. Muñoz argues that real academic reform requires looking at the bigger picture of student growth and evaluation, rather than just imposing limits on paper.

Read his full arguement here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/25/harvard-grade-inflation-policy-isnt-enough/

05/25/2026

“For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” — President James A. Garfield

Today, we pause under the flag to honor the brave souls who gave everything for our freedom.