New York State’s government can be tricky to understand. Despite confusion, it’s still important to understand how your state governs. In this episode, Cory McCants takes a deep dive into the inner workings of this political and legislative machine!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

Ever heard of a State Assembly? It’s not a common label in the United States, and New York happens to be one of the few states to rock the name. In this episode, Cory McCants reveals the mystery behind this behind this lower legislative chamber.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

In order to preserve a healthy democracy, it falls to citizens to exercise their civic duties, rights, and responsibilities. But what does that really mean? Cory McCants gives you a concise breakdown in this episode of Compact Civics.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

You’ve heard it before – two things are inescapable in this world – death and taxes. While Cory McCants won’t take you through the former, he will explain the latter. How taxes are raised, paid, and function are the core of this episode of Compact Civics!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

When you think of the city of Buffalo, thoughts might go to snow or chicken wings. However, you might not be aware of the city’s political history and its large impact on the country. Join Cory McCants as he walks you through a powerful presidential legacy in this episode of Compact Civics!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

A hot topic in the country today is whether judges should be elected or appointed. Judges have been appointed by elected officials since the early days of the United States, but some argue that this tradition is outdated and must be changed. In this episode of Compact Civics, Cory McCants explores the nuances of this issue.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

You may have heard about the position of “Comptroller,” but do you actually know what it is and the functions of the job? Well, you should! And in this episode of Compact Civics, Cory has you covered. Welcome to the wonderful world of government finance!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

The County Executive is an important position within our government that not too many people know about. Uncover the details of this leadership role with Cory McCants in this episode of Compact Civics.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

The roles of mayor and town supervisor can be similar, despite some differences. But what are those? Cory McCants explains the important distinctions between the two in this episode of Compact Civics.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Want to vote but need a map? Finding the polling location where you cast your vote in an election can be needlessly tricky at times. Luckily, Cory McCants is here to guide you to your polling destination in this episode of Compact Civics!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

With all of the snow and nasty weather the city of Buffalo can get, it’s important that our public works department is strong and ready to go at a moment's notice. In this episode of Compact Civics, Cory McCants explains the functionality of the public works department, as well as the public works responsibilities divided up between cities and states.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Voting rights is a critical issue! In this episode, Cory highlights historical and contemporary efforts to strip these rights and the resulting disenfranchisement. Understanding and preserving voting rights is essential for ensuring a fair and representative democracy for all.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Technology gets better every day. That can be great to keep us all connected, but it can also spell trouble; it can divide us through misinformation, disinformation, and the internet ne'er-do-wells. Fear not though – Cory has your back with a tool kit on media literacy and how you can spot those problems.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

You may have heard that anyone can just show up and vote at the polls on election day, but that’s just not true! In fact, there is a thorough process and strict criteria that everyone must follow in order to register to vote, well in advance of election day. Find out what that entails!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Seems like all we get is two choices when voting in the United States. Is there another choice? In this episode, Cory digs into third parties and how they might offer voters alternatives to the traditional Democrat and Republican choices. But also, how they can potentially influence election outcomes. Can they have unintended consequences? Find out!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Don’t like a law in your area? You can change it! Referendums allow voters to directly influence laws if it makes it on the ballot. Referendums can be mandatory, required for significant actions like constitutional changes, or they can be optional, proposed by the government or citizens to address specific issues. It’s a form of direct democracy that can empower the public.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

What if you and your neighbor had completely different political representation? Because of Gerrymandering, that’s a reality for millions. In this episode, Cory explores the practices, known as 'cracking' and 'packing,' and how it dilutes or concentrates voting power to benefit specific parties. Learn how it spells trouble for democracy.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Ever wonder who's watching to ensure fair elections? In New York State, poll watchers do just that! Cory McCants dives into how they work on voting day in this episode of Compact Civics.

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH

Celebrate the spirit of freedom and democracy with Compact Civics! Join us as host Cory McCants takes us through our special series, diving into concepts of civics, governance, and community. Follow for weekly episodes leading up to the national election. In this first episode, we explore how your one vote can make a difference. Stay informed, stay engaged!

Special thanks to our partners, the Buffalo Presidential Center, whose mission is to explore and share stories about Buffalo and Western New York’s historic and contemporary contributions to the U.S. Presidency and national affairs.

WATCH