For your consideration:

[ashling]

The following is an extra credit exercise I am providing for my Government classes. I fully realize that there are those of you out there who don't think much of this - you've told me so on other occassions, but you are wrong - for everybody else, I would appreciate your comments, critiques, or other exercises from your creative minds.

Thank you

A Participatory Democracy

Our governmental / political system is a participatory democracy. Government is a complex web of connections, relationships, and powers which are “combined to one end – namely, the good of the entire community.” By the way, that’s not just me talking, that was John Adams, founding father and second president of the United States. He said that in 1766, and it is just as true today.

As such, government is created and recreated every day. And the powerful – and, to my mind, really exciting – thing is that we are all called upon to be a part of that creation. That’s what the Constitution means by “We, the People.” You and I, we are the government. We are the people.

Obviously, we have input into the system by our votes for federal elective office every two years and for state and local offices. But this is not the only way to participate. We have input into the ongoing policy decisions made by government in many ways. One of those ways is through making our voices heard.

The Constitution protects this right – duty even – through the first amendment:

“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In order to adequately exercise those rights, it is necessary to be informed and to express ours opinions in a civil – and yet forceful – manner. This exercise is aimed at that goal.

You will receive up to 10 extra points for crafting a letter to the editor, to your representative in the House of Representatives, Senate, White House, County, or City on an issue of importance to you. There are only three requirements: 1) it must be on an issue that can be or is effected by governmental policy, 2) it must be well presented (ie, clear, proper use of grammar, spelling, correct address, title, etc.), and 3) and it must be on an issue about which you are passionate.

It will be judged not on what your opinion is, but the manner in which it is presented. If before the end of the course you can verify publication and/or a response from the recipient, you will get an extra 5 points. You may submit two separate letters – on separate or the same issue – addressed to different individuals so that you can receive a maximum of 30 points for this exercise.