Government Course Civic Action Project

To better understand the role of government in your lives you are asked to attend a government meeting or session.   You will observe then write a short summary and analysis of either a State, City, County or school board level meeting or court proceeding.  This summary will be a minimum of three paragraphs and minimum of 2 minutes informing the class of your impressions of the meeting including the structure, content, and citizen involvement (How many citizens participated? Who was there?  Demographic breakdown...)   Information about meetings and sessions is available by using the links below.  This typed project is due Monday May 12, 2008and is worth 150 points, 100 points for the typed paper (Double Space 12 point font, black ink on white paper, cover page with name, date, title)  and 50 points for the brief speech.  Students who finish early may turn in their paper and give their speech at pre-arranged times.  It is your responsibility to verify meeting dates with the proper government entity you seek to attend. The links below are just a starting point for your search for information with regard to each civic option. You are not excused from class to go to court as a field trip.

ANY of the following meetings are acceptable

School District 11 School Board Meeting

All meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. Administration Building, 1115 North El Paso Street

often rescheduled or additional meetings added.

http://www.cssd11.k12.co.us/boe/Meetings/03-04/d11.html

City council, utilities board, or any other advisory board listed at

http://dev.colorado-springs.com/CCBIndex.asp

City council meetings are televised – 2 sessions must be reported on if this option is chosen.

County commissioners meeting or any other meetings listed

http://www.co.el-paso.co.us/

State of Colorado web site

Attend a session of state senate or house

http://www.colorado.gov/government.htm

Student Election Judge (Only if El Paso County is not mail in only)

Fill out an application given out in class by the El Paso County Clerk and Recorders Office or go to their website http://car.elpasoco.com/elestudent.asp .  Write a minimum one-page reaction paper to your experience as a student election judge.  Include: A run down of your schedule, who voted (demographic breakdown), Did anything happen out of the ordinary? Give your overall impression of the job. 

Interview an elected public official:

You will need to contact an elected public official and conduct an interview with them.  This can be done in person or by phone.  Work with Me to develop questions (ie. What was the election campaign like?, How do your constituents react to…?)  write down their answers, write a reflection paper about the experience and give a short presentation to the class.

(U.S. Congress) http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials , (D11 Board of Ed. ) http://www.d11.org/boe.htm 

Attend either a civil court proceeding or a criminal court proceeding: (Field Trip Permission Form Must Be Filled Out One Week Prior to Your Going to Court)

You will need to go to the El Paso County Court and watch a criminal or civil court proceeding.  You will need to observe approximately 1 hour for each and DOES NOT INCLUDE A CASE FOR A CRIME YOU COMMITTED AND WHICH YOU WERE CALLED TO COURT.  You need to write a summary of each case that includes the following and give a short presentation to the class

For criminal:        Colorado State Statute (Law), explanation of charge, relevance to your life, and verdict

For civil:                Brief description of case, relevance to your life, outcome of case

For both:                Write a reflection paper about the experience

http://www.elpasocountycourts.com/clerkoffelp.htm