Civic Responsibilites
An important part of being an involved and effective steward of the environment and community is being well informed on what is going on in the federal government, as well as your local government. The very foundation that our American government is based on is the voice of the people. It may seem that lately many decisions are being made behind closed doors, but as American citizens, we have the power to open those doors. Having the ability to be involved in our government is why the American Revolution was fought, and as a citizen I am concerned many Americans are losing the motivation to speak up and exercise their civic responsibilities. There are many ways to find out about meetings, votes, budgets, and legislation. And as a citizen of a representative democracy, you have access to this information, and more importantly, a voice in the democratic process. I would like to share some resources and tips on finding up to date information and being involved in our government.
Online Resources
-Govtrack.us - My favorite website for government information. This is a non-government website whose mission is "to help Americans participate in their government." From their site, "We publish the status of federal legislation, information about your representative and senators in Congress including voting records, and original research on bills and votes."
-Congress.gov - The main website for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Find your senators and representatives, view schedules on upcoming hearings and votes, read bills, and learn about the legislative process.
-Whitehouse.gov - Official website for the office of the President. Watch live statements from the President and his staff, learn about the history of the executive branch, and browse links to executive offices.
-EPA.gov - Website for the Environmental Protection Agency. Find data and information on various environmental topics and regulatory information.
-Every individual government agency (Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Interior, CDC, NOAA, etc.) has their own website which can be found with a quick search.
-Local city and county websites. These are good for staying knowledgeable on local issues that could more directly effect you, such as land use modifications and new property developments, local water resource and air quality information, recycling programs, and much more.
On all of these websites look for calendars of upcoming meetings and votes, pages with contact information, and current policies and programs. It is also interesting to look for what is missing. For example, the climate change section of the EPA's website has been almost completely removed to "reflect the agency's new direction under President Trump." The only way to access the main climate change page is to go to an archived version.
In-Person
-The most basic and fundamental way to be involved in your government is to vote. Vote at every election you are eligible for too - not just presidential elections. There are local elections for mayors, city council, state house representatives, school board, etc. These elections are very important because they effect issues more specific to you. If something in your neighborhood is bothering you (like too much litter or not enough street lights, if you want another playground, library, dog park, improved schools, or if you have an idea for a city ordinance), local elected officials work for you. So do your research on candidates and vote for who you believe in.
Then, you can connect with your city and county leaders and make your voice heard at meetings close to home. Find the calendar on the local government websites and then join in on public forums and committee meetings. Local meetings typically discuss upcoming land use and development projects that could significantly effect many aspects of the neighborhood like loss of natural land/green space, pollution runoff, traffic, and property values.
You can also schedule meetings with federal leaders. Contact information for U.S. senators and representatives is publicly available and you can reach out to them and schedule meetings either at their D.C. office or local office. When elected leaders hear personal stories from their constituents, it can really help them make well informed decisions on policies and helps them to know the voters are paying attention.
I hope I have provided enough information and inspiration on how to be an involved U.S. citizen. The government works for us as long as we put in the effort to work for it. Concerned citizens voicing their interests is what led to the creation of the EPA, protection of Yosemite National Park, as well as many other national parks, nationwide curbside recycling, plastic bag bans in several cities, and many other beneficial national and local programs. Be the change you want to see in the world!
