Standards for teaching, learning, and assessing civics or democratic citizenship should emphasize two centrally important concepts: (1) constitutionalism; and (2) human rights. If students in schools and citizens in the polity fail to know, value, and act in terms of these concepts, then their prospects for building and maintaining liberal democracy are poor. An important gauge of curricular frameworks, content standards, instructional materials, and pedagogical practices considers whether these concepts are amply and effectively addressed in the curriculum and classroom. Effectiveness in teaching these core concepts is enhanced by collaboration and partnerships between liberal democracies and by international partnerships in civic education such as those initiated by CIVITAS (an international civic education exchange program). (MM)