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Working with Government
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Local, State, AND the Feds
Most students have a general idea of how government works and what happened in the last national election. Some even follow state politics and recognize the names of their local legislators.
But…very few have been given the tools to actually work with them!
In this section, you'll find info about everything from participating
in local Vermont Town Meetings to lobbying Congress. Remember, your
government works for you…so do your research and
don't be shy about telling them what you think!
I. A
Citizen's Guide to Vermont Town Meeting
This guide explains the New England phenomenon: Town Meeting Day.
On the first Monday evening or Tuesday of March most Vermont towns
hold a meeting to elect local officials, approve a budget for the
following year, and conduct other local business. You don't want to
miss this!
II. A
Guide to Understanding Vermont State Government and Connecting with
your State Legislators
Vermont is a small state and elected officials, including the Governor,
are citizen legislators, and are very accessible. Elected officials
in Vermont want to hear from community members! This toolkit will
give you all the information you need to start connecting with state
government.
III. Working
with Congress
Working with the federal government is inherently different from working
on the local or state level. The system is bigger, more complex, and
there are many more stakeholders involved. But with a firm understanding
of how government works and some tips for making your voice heard,
the possibility of creating change on the national level is just over
the horizon!
IV. Directory of Elected Officials
Based on the last two sections, you now have a sense of how to approach
local, state, and federal officials. You also have the tools to get
your message across loud and clear. Wouldn't it be great if we just
handed you their phone numbers? Well, you're in luck. Listed in this
section is the full contact information for all of Vermont's state
and federal representatives for 2005/2006. Simply identify who you
want to approach and go ahead and do it!
