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My Issue Handout

An activity to help students select a current issue that is important to them and consider how representation works and how elected officials are supposed to advocate on behalf of their constituents.

My Issue Handout

Directions: Select a current issue that is important to you and that your representative in Congress or local government has the power to influence. As you think about this issue, consider how representation works and how elected officials are supposed to advocate on behalf of their constituents. Use the prompts below to explore how your representative, civil society, and you personally can contribute to addressing this issue.

 

My issue is:

(What is the issue you care about?)

This issue is important to me because:

(Explain why this issue matters to you personally or to your community.)

My representative’s role:

(How could your representative help address this issue? Consider their legislative powers, committee roles, and influence. What have they done in the past that might indicate how they could handle this issue?)

 

Civil society’s role:

Remember, civil society is composed of community members, volunteers in service organizations, and local public officials, linked by common interests, purpose, and activity

(How can the existing organizations and institutions of civil society help in addressing this issue?)

 

My role:

(What actions can you personally take to help address this issue? How can you engage with your representative to express your concerns and suggest solutions?)

 

Reflection questions:

  • Based on your research, do you believe your representative is working to represent the views of constituents on this issue? Why or why not?
  • Are there constituents with differing opinions on this issue? How do these constituents’ opinions or ideas differ from your own? How does your representative listen to and handle disagreements among constituents?
  • How can your representative work with the people he or she represents to ensure their voices are heard? How does your representative engage with and listen to the community they serve?
  • How can you and your community ensure that your local interests are effectively represented at the national level? What specific actions can you take to communicate your needs and opinions to your representative?