Institute for Governance and Civics

What if Americans aren’t as divided on government as we think?

Our latest research explores how Americans view federal influence across major sectors, and where they find common ground.

Key takeaways:

• Across sectors like the economy, healthcare, and education, large majorities say the federal government plays a significant role.
• Most Americans, regardless of party, believe that level of influence goes too far.
• Despite political differences, there is more agreement on this issue than the public conversation suggests.

🔗 Learn more by exploring the complete findings and analysis in the data brief: https://igc.fsu.edu/research-data/federalism-part-1-how-much-influence-does-federal-government-have-americans-beliefs

In Fall 2025, the Institute for Governance and Civics and Florida State University College of Law launched the First Amendment Clinic, an initiative designed to expand access to pro bono legal support while preparing the next generation of civic leaders.

In its inaugural semester, the Clinic:

• Represented clients across multiple states and legal issues tied to all five First Amendment freedoms
• Contributed to high-level legal work, including briefs filed before the U.S. Supreme Court
• Gave students hands-on experience working directly with clients, conducting research, and shaping case strategy

Beyond casework, the Clinic has also supported events for both the legal community and the public, furthering IGC’s mission to strengthen civic knowledge, engagement, and leadership.

We’re proud to partner on this effort and look forward to its continued impact.

Meet your National Civics Bee® 2026 Florida Statewide Finals emcee 🎤

Mark Harrison, 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year, is a passionate civics educator dedicated to helping students think critically and engage in their communities. We’re looking forward to having him lead this year’s program on June 30.

What do Americans really think about the tradeoffs of continued military action in Iran? Our latest national polling offers a more nuanced answer ⬇️

• 43% support dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, even if gas prices rise to $6-7 per gallon
• 32% prefer ending the conflict despite the risk of Iran advancing toward a nuclear weapon
• 24% are unsure

At the same time, 57% see a nuclear-armed Iran as a serious long-term threat, while confidence in diplomacy alone remains low across party lines. Overall, the data point to a public weighing the costs of action against the risks of inaction.

Read the full release:

New National Poll: Many Americans Would Trade $7 Gas for Stopping a Nuclear-Armed Iran | Institute for Governance & Civics | FSU View More Research & Data New National Poll: Many Americans Would Trade $7 Gas for Stopping a Nuclear-Armed Iran FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Read More

In a new National Review op-ed, IGC Director Ryan Owens examines why economic liberty matters — and why states like Florida are benefiting from wealth migration. As people, businesses, and investment leave high-tax states, Florida continues to attract growth and opportunity.
Read the article:

Don’t Punish Success | National Review Prosperity is not a fixed pie. States like Florida and Texas understand that.

Have a Florida grad in your life searching for their next step? Share this with them.

Our Head of Education Liberty, Dr. James Shuls, published a column in the Tampa Bay Times today making the case for teaching as one of the most purposeful and increasingly well-compensated careers available to Florida graduates. Read Dr. Shuls' full column.

Florida graduates, want a career with purpose? Try teaching | Column A poll of teachers found 70% felt a strong sense of purpose about the future.

1 month to go. 👀

On June 30th, Florida’s top middle school students will take the stage for the 2026 National Civics Bee® Statewide Finals, bringing civic knowledge to life in a live, can’t-miss competition.

Join us at Florida State University to cheer them on.

This week’s research offers a data-driven look at political giving among faculty and staff across Florida’s largest public universities.

Using 2024 FEC data, the report compares higher education contribution patterns to those of Florida’s broader donor population, contributing to conversations around viewpoint diversity.

Key takeaways:
• Faculty and staff donation patterns differ significantly from those of the general Florida donor population.
• Across the universities analyzed, most political contributions were directed to one political party.
• These trends were consistent across multiple institutions and held true when analyzed through different lenses.
•These findings align with existing national research examining ideological representation in higher education.

The authors emphasize that while not reflective of classroom behavior, the data offers a lens for exploring perspective and strengthening open discourse in higher education.

Explore the full report: https://igc.fsu.edu/research-data/are-floridas-universities-echo-chambers/data-brief

Grateful to FloridaPolitics for highlighting our work to strengthen civics education and help students better understand the meaning behind Memorial Day. Read more ↓

FSU pushing for increased civics teaching in schools to reconnect with Memorial Day meaning FSU educators are concerned that a recent poll shows only 48% of Americans know why Memorial Day was established.

We are bringing The Founding to life!

Check out the coverage by WTXL:

FSU: 'Founding Voices' initiative to bring immersive civics education ahead of America's 250th anniversary Florida State University's new "Founding Voices" program uses live historical interpreters to bring civics education to Florida middle and high school students.