The role of the federal government in civic/citizenship education is discussed in this paper. A breakdown has occurred in former socializing institutions, such as the family and church, which have ceased to influence civic education. There is a need to reconceptualize the socialization process. Four factors that impede the socialization of responsible citizenry are the mobility of Americans, the depersonalizing influence of television, the impersonal political environment, and increasing reliance on technical inventions and mechanical solutions. The role of the federal government in creating better citizenship education is to serve as a catalytic agent to foster the efforts of community members, parents, teachers, and school administrators. Suggestions for improving citizenship education focus generally on the improvement of basic skills and an inculcation of responsibility. Programs would include improved knowledge of what it means to be an American, a sense of national community with a global perspective, and a revitalized sense of place. Curriculum materials would be gathered from the social sciences and ethical education and would stress a global and multicultural approach. Development of indices for national assessment of citizenship by the Citizen Education Task Force of the federal government is discussed. (Author/DB)