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Students with Guest Speaker

Empowering students to lead, innovate, and impact through civics and governance.

Liberty is the lifeblood of America, and it flourishes only when citizens understand the ideas that sustain it. At the Institute for Governance and Civics we are lighting the torch of liberty through research and education. 

 We promote rigorous scholarship and education on the architecture of American government and the rationale for liberty. We conduct data-driven research to inform policy discussions. And we strengthen the fabric of civic life by inviting intellectually diverse perspectives—fostering dialogue where others fear discussion. We provide students with the knowledge and skills to be effective citizens and responsible leaders, because we know that liberty's next generation starts here. 

The IGC supports various initiatives, including:

  • Research and Education:

    Partnering with FSU departments to hire and retain top scholars
  • K-12 Reforms:

    Researching ways to improve educational outcomes, examining how students learn about civics, and emphasizing primary documents to study American foundations
  • Public Programming:

    Hosting diverse events, speakers, debates, and forums to engage students and the community
  • Civic Literacy:

    Using polling instruments to measure civic literacy and make recommendations on civic education 

Meet Our Team

Donate to support our mission.

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Your investment enables:

  • Faculty appointments that bring balanced perspectives to campus
  • Speaker series featuring voices rarely heard in higher education
  • Data-driven research
  • Scholarships for promising student leaders

Support Us

CLS Scholarships: Supporting the Next Generation of Liberty Scholars 

The Institute for Governance & Civics at Florida State University is proud to offer scholarships for students pursuing the new Civics and Liberty Studies (CLS) degree. 

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Pillars of Liberty

These fundamental pillars of liberty form the cornerstone of American society and provide the framework for a free and prosperous citizenry: 

Constitutional
Master the foundations and evolution of our founding documents
Economic
Understand the relationship between free markets and free societies
Conscience
Explore the critical role of religious freedom, intellectual freedom, and freedom of speech
Educational
Study innovative approaches to K-12 education and civic learning

Donate to support our mission. 

Your investment enables:  

  • Faculty appointments that bring balanced perspectives to campus
  • Speaker series featuring voices rarely heard in higher education
  • Data-driven research
  • Scholarships for promising student leaders

Support Us

IGC Inbox Insider: Be the First to Know

Subscribe to our newsletter and mailing list for the latest IGC updates, events, and opportunities to get involved! By joining our email list, you’ll gain insider access to everything shaping leadership and civic engagement at FSU.

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Upcoming Events
250 Years of Liberty: The Enduring Promise of the First Amendment

Date & Time: October 10th, 2026 @ 8:30 AM

Due to the anticipated impacts from Hurricane Isaias, which is forecast to make landfall along northern Gulf Coast early Saturday morning, our colloquium has been postponed. Updates on new dates to be sent when available.
Patrick Griffin - America 250

Date & Time: October 13th, 2026 @ 11:45 AM

Location: Senate Chambers, FSU Student Union

Patrick Griffin's work explores the intersection of colonial American and early modern Irish and British history.
Michael Farris - Renewing Our Sacred Vow: Returning to the Principles in the Declaration of Independence

Date & Time: October 20th, 2026 @ 11:45 AM

Location: 111 S. Monroe St 32301, The Jim Moran Building

Join us for a lecture by Michael Farris, a distinguished attorney, educator, and public advocate whose career has been dedicated to constitutional law, educational freedom, and civic engagement.