This July, the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government (CCCG) hosted its inaugural high school program as part of Notre Dame’s Pre-College “Leadership Seminar” series. Titled “The American Experiment: Liberty for All?”, the ten-day program consisted of seminars, lectures, and a field trip, culminating in student-led debates. Funding for the Seminar was provided by the Department of Education (DOE) American History and Civics Seminars Program, received in December 2025.
Several of Notre Dame’s academic departments host Leadership Seminars each year, each lasting 10 days. Approximately 150 rising seniors, identified as “academically talented” and “[showing] impressive leadership within their communities,” were invited to participate in the six seminars offered in 2026. The Center’s seminar drew 28 students from 15 states, with many expressing a desire to work in law or politics after college.
Led by Phillip Muñoz and Tyler Castle, the seminar sought to “explore the principles of the Declaration of Independence, their meaning and development, and the extent to which they have been realized over the course of the country’s history.” Through discussions and assigned readings, the cohort was invited to dive deeply into the history—and controversies—that have shaped America over the past 250 years.
Morning lectures and afternoon debate sessions comprised the core of the program. Muñoz led students in examining the meaning of the Declaration before debating the relationship between America’s founding ideals and slavery. Center Co-Director Donald Stelluto presented on the Lincoln-Douglas debates and their historical context, followed by a discussion of Frederick Douglass’ essays. Later, Raul Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Political Thought at Michigan State University, joined Muñoz for discussion on the Progressive Era before students read and argued through Supreme Court cases on contract law. Rodriguez also offered a lecture on Alexis de Tocqueville before a session on the concepts of liberty and equality. Finally, Michael Promisel, Assistant Professor of Politics at Catholic University and former CCCG Visiting Fellow, led a review of Supreme Court jurisprudence on student speech.
Peter Craft, a rising senior from North Carolina, cited Promisel’s segment as a standout of the program: “It was awesome to see how Tocqueville understood our democracy and highlighted many key problems that are still evident today. Dr. Promisel did a great job of facilitating this discussion—his passion for the subject was evident and the entire class was engaged, making for an incredible and memorable experience.”
A highlight of the seminar was a field trip to Indianapolis, led by Castle and the program’s Teaching Assistants, recent graduates Molly Foote and Haley Garecht. Along with trips to the Indiana State House and Museum, students met with representatives of the Remnant Trust, a historical foundation dedicated to preserving “manuscripts, first edition and early works dealing with the topics of individual liberty and human dignity with some pieces dating as early as 2500 B.C.” The cohort was invited to flip through early prints of the U.S. Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, and many other documents forming the backbone of American history. Several students cited the trip as their favorite part of the program due to the Trust’s impressive collection.
Castle, who oversaw the program’s daily operations, was pleasantly surprised by the ease with which the students picked up on the material, saying, "It's hard to believe how much ground we covered in just over a week: the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Frederick Douglass, the Progressives, Tocqueville, and a handful of landmark Supreme Court decisions. We thought it might have been too much for high school students, but were delighted to be proven wrong.”
Several of those who led sessions, including Castle, were especially impressed by the caliber of discussion throughout, noting “the intellectual seriousness, curiosity, and collegiality that the students brought to the program.” Castle concluded, “We couldn't have asked for a better cohort for our inaugural Leadership Seminar."
To demonstrate mastery of dialogue skills and historical knowledge gained over the course of the program, students ended the seminar with a series of Lincoln-Douglas style debates. In teams of two, students argued on a variety of topics, from the merits of popular sovereignty to the impact of the progressives. One group was selected to present their debate at the Pre-College “research symposium,” alongside members of the other five Leadership Seminars.
Students and faculty members agreed the program was a rousing success. William Blake, a rising senior from Ohio, said, “[The program] deepened my understanding, more than ever before, of how the evolution of political identities led to the specific party stances we see today.”
Several participants expressed enjoyment for the seminar-style discussions at the program’s closing dinner, appreciating the afternoon sessions that encouraged deeper thought on political “hot topics” they often heard about from their peers. Blake added, “The class structure was ideal for helping students trace exactly how the ideas of Lincoln led directly to LBJ’s actions, for example. Prior to [the Seminar], this was a gap in my knowledge of American Constitutional History—one the program filled, equipping me with a critical understanding of how our political system evolved.”
Most students hoped both to attend Notre Dame and stay involved with the CCCG, demonstrating the positive impact of ten days spent immersed in historical texts, civil dialogue, and friendship.
“American Experiment” was made possible by a $652,642 grant from the DOE for civics-based education. The grant is part of a $153 million effort to “restore civics education and advance a shared understanding of America's founding principles and rich history in schools across the Nation,” according to DOE Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. The grant will continue to fund CCCG Leadership Seminars through 2028.