Be an Informed Citizen: Participate in the Political Process

by Edith T. Carper

As we begin a new year and prepare for President Bush’s inauguration in just a couple of weeks, now is a good time to resolve to get involved in the political process. Our Administration and congressional leaders need to hear from informed citizens. Our involvement will help ensure that decisions get made with our best interests in mind. What’s more, we can’t complain, if we don’t participate.

How can you get involved? Here are some tips:

• Be curious — about the way the government works, about how Congress goes about its business, and about how the system works — or fails to work. You need to have access to newspapers, television, the Internet, and/or a “network.” You can improve your citizen status by keeping files and phone numbers handy.

• Seek a source — go to a library or another source for informed commentary on Congress and its activities. Washington insiders know that the weekly publication Congressional Quarterly is reliable, informed and up to date. Another “reliable source” is Roll Call, a tabloid-sized newspaper published four days a week when Congress is in session. Two daily newspapers, The Washington Post and the The New York Times, provide both news and commentary. Other news about Congress is available on radio and television. Specialized publications such as Aviation Week, the New Republic and Science and Technology also cover many Congressional activities.

• Gain access — to your senators and representatives, as another way to keep informed. You can gain access by making campaign contributions or offering electoral help of some kind (volunteer activities in the member’s home district.) Consider making yourself available for electoral tasks when your congressperson comes home to prepare for re-election.

• Contact IEEE-USA — for a copy of its Congressional Directory and a listing of IEEE-USA's public policy priority issues. The Congressional Directory includes background and contact information for all members of Congress, and the priority issues describes IEEE-USA’s positions on issues that affect engineers and the engineering profession.

• Visit your Senators and Representatives — when you are in Washington. Visits on Capitol Hill will give you a sense of “participation” in the system and the opportunity to meet staff members who are influential in the day-to-day goings-on on Capitol Hill. Knowing key congressional staffers will help you gain access to your members of Congress.

For this new year, make it your resolution to get informed and get involved.

 

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Edith T. Carper is a special correspondent for IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer. She can be reached at todaysengineer@ieee.org. Views expressed in this article are the author's.