Idaho constitutional scholar creates ‘Toward A More Perfect Union’ civics course

An Idaho constitutional scholar is launching a new online civics 101 course to help Idahoans understand what the U.S. Constitution and the government means for them following the 2026 elections. 

Alturas Institute President David Adler created a seven-week online civics education course called “Towards a More Perfect Union” that begins Jan. 7 through Zoom.

The course is open to anyone in Idaho who is interested, costs $17.76 to enroll and is designed to reintroduce, or even introduce, basic civics education to the public. 

Adler said he hopes the course helps students become more informed and empowered voters and citizens. 

“I want people to better understand that people really are the driving force of this constitutional democracy, and they only hurt themselves when they retreat to the sideless,” Adler said. “They are better off participating. They are better off understanding which branch of government has responsibility for what particular matters and exercises which powers. That is crucial to holding government accountable.” 

The course will cover the constitutional principles of the American Revolution; the Declaration of Independence; the Constitutional Convention; Congress; the U.S. presidency; the judiciary and courts, the Bill of Rights, liberties and freedoms and the 14th Amendment and equal protection under the law.  

Specific topics will delve into issues including limitations on the power of the presidency.

“It’s an overview designed to familiarize, or refamiliarize, Americans with constitutional frameworks to empower them to participate in the system with a better base of knowledge,” Adler said. 

Adler has taught courses on government and the Constitution at all three of Idaho’s public universities and now heads up the Alturas Institute nonprofit organization in Idaho Falls.

He said he came up with the idea for the “Toward a More Perfect Union” course while giving public talks on the Constitution. Adler said attendees frequently told him they wished the public was more informed about government and civics. 

Each of the courses will last 90 minutes and include a 45-minute talk by Adler, followed by 45 minutes for questions from the course participants. 

Adler said the course is designed for many people, whether they are young people who are just turning 18 and able to vote for the first time, or they are adults who have not been to school in many years but would like a refresher on civics and the Constitution.