# Engaging Congress — Sustaining Democracy

> Educational game exploring democracy using primary sources and interactive elements. (iPhone/iPad app by Indiana University.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engaging-congress/id1309161238 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Indiana University](https://appshunter.io/developer/383456988)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.50/5 from 11 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 204 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-11-15
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engaging-congress/id1309161238/reviews.md

## What is Engaging Congress?

Engaging Congress is a game that uses primary source documents, photographs, political cartoons, maps, and other items to explore the challenges of sustaining representative democracy in our complex and diverse nation today.

Features:	

- Introductory Video
- Theme-based Stories
- Primary Source Gallery
- Primary Source Analysis
- Trivia Challenge
- Assessment Tools
- Mini-games... 														
...More

Engaging Congress content is divided into five thematic stories:

- More Equal Than Others (Influencing the Political Process)
- Laws and Sausages (Separation of Powers)
- Vote Early, Vote Often (Voting Rights)
- A Balancing Act (The Federal Budget)
- Fair is not Always Equal (Federalism and States' Rights)

The accompanying Engaging Congress website (engagingcongress.org) contains many additional resources including:

- The Teacher Toolbox
- Curriculum Guide
- Correlation of content with Social Studies standards
- Bank of multiple-choice and discussion assessment questions
- Links to Library of Congress primary source analysis guides
- Downloadable PDFs and PNGs of all primary source documents
- And more.

## Key features

- Introductory Video
- Theme-based Stories
- Primary Source Gallery
- Primary Source Analysis
- Trivia Challenge
- Assessment Tools
- Mini-games

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engaging-congress/id1309161238/reviews.md

### 1/5 — App Bad

*2020-10-29*

Bad app.

### 5/5 — Free Engaging Civics app for all ages groups

*2020-01-19*

Engaging Congress appealed due to the use of actual primary sources.  The fact that it is free and my resources were limited made it an easy decision to download and try out for large groups of students in our Civics program.  The trivia aspect allowed the kids to review what was just covered and allowed them to compete against each other if they wished. The kids enjoyed the visuals paired with the narration.  Unlike a past user, I did not have any issues with sound.

### 1/5 — Won’t work iPad

*2019-02-26*

Our school iPads are iPad 2 and have iOS 9 but the app won’t open. The screen will turn the blue color then close.

### 1/5 — No sound

*2019-02-18*

I've tried re-downloading the app, but I can't get the sound to work. I can read the CC for the stories, but this is definitely not ideal.

## Frequently asked questions about Engaging Congress

### What is the learning methodology of Engaging Congress?

Engaging Congress uses primary source documents, photographs, and political cartoons to explore democratic themes. It incorporates trivia challenges, assessment tools, and mini-games to reinforce learning.

### How does Engaging Congress track user progress?

The app includes assessment tools and trivia challenges that can help users gauge their understanding of the material. Specific progress tracking features are not detailed, but these tools offer a form of evaluation.

### Does Engaging Congress offer any certifications?

The provided information does not indicate that Engaging Congress offers formal certifications. Its focus is on educational exploration and understanding of democratic principles.

### What devices support Engaging Congress?

Engaging Congress is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible for users on Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### What is the update frequency for Engaging Congress?

The app was last updated on November 13, 2022, with version 1.95. While specific update frequency isn't stated, this indicates it receives periodic maintenance and updates.

### What do users like or dislike about Engaging Congress?

With a rating of 3.5 stars from 11 ratings, user sentiment is mixed. Specific positive or negative feedback is not detailed in the provided data.

### Is Engaging Congress suitable for young children?

Engaging Congress has an age rating of 4+, suggesting it is appropriate for younger learners. The content focuses on educational themes related to democracy.

### Does Engaging Congress have ads?

No, Engaging Congress does not contain advertisements. It is a free application without any ad interruptions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.95 — 2022-11-13

Content updates, optimizations, and app updates to ensure modern device compatibility.

### 1.3 — 2021-03-26

Added two new educational modules covering the executive and judicial branches of government
Fixed bug with calculation of safe areas on screen
Increased resolution of primary source assets throughout game
Implemented new video download and caching system to minimize initial application download size

### 1.2 — 2020-07-09

Significant optimizations
Added more robust offline support
Minor bug fixes to various minigames

### 1.1 — 2017-11-18

Optimization to reduce file size and memory usage, now works on iPad 3 and iPhone 6.

### 1.0 — 2017-11-14

No release notes.

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All apps by Indiana University: https://appshunter.io/developer/383456988

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*