2019 INDIANA CIVIC HEALTH INDEX TM ■ ] ABOUT THE PARTNERS INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST INDIANA SUPREME COURT One of seven campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest The Indiana Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately the state and the court of last resort on the interpretation of 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Indiana’s laws, its constitution, and the safeguards expressed Dunes National Park. We are proud to be the most diverse IU in the state’s bill of rights. The Indiana Supreme Court is asked campus. Our purpose is to enhance the quality of life of the to consider over 800 cases each year. It issues opinions in most diverse, urban, industrialized region of the state. The over 70 cases a year. In addition to deciding cases, the Court campus engages with the community in high-quality teaching establishes procedures for all trial courts in the state and sets and scholarship and partners with communities to impact and the standards of conduct for Indiana attorneys and judges. promote social, economic, and cultural development. Indiana Its administrative functions are overseen by a single Office of University Northwest students are inspired and empowered to Judicial Administration. be active citizens, who apply their knowledge to transform their communities and the world. Working together as a community, Indiana University Northwest serves as a premiere resource to advance the educational, social, civic and economic well-being INDIANA UNIVERSITY-PURDUE UNIVERSITY of the people of Northwest Indiana and beyond. INDIANAPOLIS IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) is known as Indiana’s premier urban research and health sciences institution and is dedicated to advancing the intellectual growth INDIANA BAR FOUNDATION of the state of Indiana and its residents through research and Attorneys and judges of the Indiana Bar Foundation are creative activity, teaching, learning, and community engagement. committed to strengthening access to justice and increasing Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and other education about the rule of law. The Foundation serves the notable publications, IUPUI has nearly 30,000 students enrolled public with various educational and scholarship programs about in 17 schools, which offer more than 400 degrees. IUPUI awards the U.S. Constitution, American history, the legal system and the degrees from both Indiana University and Purdue University. judicial process, including We the People, Indiana High School Mock Trial, the U.S. Senate Youth Program, and the Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. It also aids those Hoosiers in need by funding 12 pro bono programs and other legal aid O’NEILL SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL serving persons in poverty seeking legal assistance and advice. AFFAIRS The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI prepares students to address the issues of modern society in ways that more traditional schools overlook. Founded INDIANA CITIZEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. (ICEF) in 1972, the O’Neill School was the first school to combine public ICEF is a strictly nonpartisan, start-up 501(c)(3) dedicated to management, policy, and administration with the environmental providing unbiased information that will assist Hoosier voters sciences. It remains the largest public policy and environmental in casting an informed ballot. Operating online as “The Indiana studies school of its kind in the United States, with programs on Citizen,” ICEF aspires to promote increased registration and both the IUPUI and IU Bloomington campuses. turnout connected to a digital platform that permits access to a wealth of information about officeholders, candidates and issues. NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CITIZENSHIP The National Conference on Citizenship is a congressionally THE CENTER FOR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT- chartered organization dedicated to strengthening civic life in INDIANA UNIVERSITY America. We pursue our mission through a nationwide network The Center on Representative Government was established in of partners involved in a cutting-edge civic health initiative January 1999. It developed out of Lee Hamilton’s recognition and innovative national service project, and our cross-sector during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives that the conferences. At the core of our joint efforts is the belief that public should be more familiar with Congress’ strengths and every person has the ability to help his or her community and weaknesses, its role in our system of government, and its impact country thrive. on the lives of ordinary people every day. The Center seeks to inspire young people and adults to take an active part in revitalizing representative government in America. To that end, the Center offers multiple resources, programs, and projects that foster an informed electorate that understands our system of government and participates in civic life. ■ ] TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Indiana Civic Health: Past and Present .........................................................................................................................................................7 Indiana Civic Health: A Deeper Dive ...................................................................................................................................................................9 Voter Registration and Turnout ........................................................................................................................................................................9 Community Involvement ........................................................................................................................................................................................12 Political (Non-Electoral) Involvement ..................................................................................................................................................14 Confidence in Public Institutions ..............................................................................................................................................................15 Discussion and Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................................16 Civic Education Programs in Indiana ................................................................................................................................................... 17 We The People - The Citizen and the Constitution ............................................................................................................. 17 A Need for a Task Force to Improve Civic Education in Indiana .......................................................................19 The Future of Indiana’s Civic Health......................................................................................................................................................19 Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................20 Endnotes ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20 Technical Note ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 PRIMARY AUTHOR: Ellen Szarleta Director, Center for Urban and Regional Excellence Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University Northwest CONTRIBUTORS: Charles Dunlap Executive Director Indiana Bar Foundation D. William Moreau, Jr. Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Co-Founder and President Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc. FOREWORD This fourth edition of the Indiana Civic Health Index seeks to connect findings to action steps as we build on our successes and address our challenges. In this latest “report card” we are able to look at two election cycles – over an eight-year period – and analyze trends over time. We hope that the insights gained by examining Hoosiers’ participation in civic life, from 2010 to the present, will inform our future work as we continue to build a culture of civic engagement that enhances our economic, social, and political wellbeing. Unlike past editions of the Indiana Civic Health Index, this edition includes two specific recommendations for future action. The two recommendations, presented in the final section of the report, outline strategies for expanding and improving civic education programs and opportunities, as well as improving voting rates in Indiana. These two goals are