Complete 1 option from each step.
STEP 1: Find out about local government. Every town or city has its own form of local government. Find out more about yours in this step. 1. Check out a local town hall meeting. This can be done online. 2. Visit your town hall, city hall, or mayor’s office. Take a field trip with your friends or family and talk to someone in one of these places about your local government. Have them explain all the jobs that are done in your local government and talk to you about local elections. Come up with some questions in advance. Ask any additional questions you think of while you’re there. Town Hall Meetings The purpose of town hall meetings is for government officials to hear the community’s views on public issues. People attending the meeting have the chance to present ideas, voice their opinions, and ask questions. Despite the name, meetings don’t necessarily take place in a town hall—they may be held at the local library or a school building. STEP 2: Find out about state government State governments and the United States government are all made up of three parts. These parts are called the branches of government. 1. Campaign for governor! With help from an adult, find out who your governor is and some of the things they’re responsible for. Now, imagine you’re running for governor. Make a campaign speech to your friends and family about the changes you’d make in your state and the issues you’re most passionate about. Explore an issue. Almost every political issue has people who feel strongly on both sides. Can you think of an example that’s making news in your state right now? With a group of friends or family members, find out everything you can about both sides of an issue. Divide into pairs and debate— then switch sides! After you’ve made the case for each side, talk about whether you think this process can help people see issues in a different way. STEP 3: Find out about our country’s legislative branch The legislative branch, or Congress, is the branch of the United States government that makes laws. There are two groups of people that make up Congress: The House of Representatives and the Senate. Find out more about the legislative branch in this step. 1. Talk about representation. With help from an adult, find out how many women are currently serving in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Then, find the number of women serving when you were born and when some of the older women in your life were your age. Talk to some of these women about the political shifts they’ve seen over time. Do they believe women are adequately represented in government today? 2. Draft a bill. Read “How a Bill Becomes a Law” below . Then, on your own or in a small group, draft your own bill on a topic or issue that’s important to you. Share your bill with a larger group. Be prepared to defend it and answer questions. STEP 4: Find out about our country’s executive branch The head of the United States’ executive branch is the president. Starting at age 18, citizens of the United States can vote for a new president every four years. 1. Compare presidents and prime ministers. Find a place led by a prime minister—such as the United Kingdom—and compare that role with president of the United States. (You might have an adult show you a video for kids online.) How are they different and alike? Talk about what you read or see with friends or family. For More FUN: Look into a country that has both a president and a prime minister. How do their roles differ? 2. Craft branches. Start by drawing a picture of a tree with three branches, then label the branches with each branch of government. Take the list of people or groups of people in the box on this page and make them into “leaves” for the corresponding branch. You can write them near the branches or cut out leaves from green construction paper and glue or tape them on. STEP 5: Find out about our country’s judicial branch The judicial branch of the government is made up of courts and judges. It’s the branch of the government that evaluates laws. 1. Talk to a lawyer. Have an adult help you contact one to talk about what they do. Why did they choose their profession? How does the judicial branch work with the other two branches of government? What do they think are the most important cases in national history? Ask any other questions you may have. 2. Talk to a judge. Find out about what they do. How does the judicial branch work with the other two branches of government? What’s the difference between the Supreme Court and local courts? How does a case make it to the Supreme Court? Ask any other questions you may have. 3. Talk to a social studies, history, or civics teacher. Find out how they teach their students about the judicial branch. How does the judicial branch work with the other two branches of government? Ask any other questions you may have.
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