Civic Engagement Through the Political ProcessThis portion of the final project is a written paper that focuses on the processes involved in making the laws that we study as part of the GBS 205 course. It meets the following course competency:

Trace the historical development of law, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Court system, legal terminology, and legal procedures

I do expect college level writing. This means the spelling and grammar should be relatively mistake-free. The content should be organized into paragraphs (usually 3-5 sentences long) focused on a single topic. If you are explaining (for example) three bill discussed in a meeting of the state legislature, each bill should have its own paragraph(s).The written paper should be divided into three distinct sections. Please clearly indicate with a section header where each section begins. The paper should be written as a narrative paper and not as a question and answer worksheet. Narrative SECTION 1 – Civic Engagement Through Contact with RepresentativesThis section should include the following:1. A list of the names of the people that represent the area you live in each of the following offices: (This can be presented as a list or in a narrative paragraph – your preference.) Two U.S. Senators – (These are the people that represent Arizona in Washington DC.) One U.S. Congressman - (Also serves in Washington D.C., determined by your Congressional district) The governor of ArizonaTwo state representatives – (represent the district where you live; they meet in Phoenix Arizona.) One state senator - (represent the district where you live; they meet in Phoenix Arizona.)The mayor of the city where you live. A city council member that represents the area of the city where you live.2. A copy of a letter (or an email) written to one of the above representatives discussing an issue that is important to you and suggesting to them an appropriate way of dealing with it. You should actually send this letter (or email) to the person to whom it is addressed.

3. A discussion of why you chose this issue, why you chose this representative for dealing with this issue and the importance of communicating with representatives in this manner. Do you think they read communications such as this and respond to them or are they simply ignored?SECTION 2 – Understanding the State Legislative ProcessFor this section of the paper you will need to watch a video archive of a meeting of the state legislature. To find a meeting go to the Arizona State Legislature webpage. Select either the Senate or House drop down menu. Select “Archived Meetings” and you will get a list of previously held meetings that you can watch online. Choose a meeting that is at least 30 minutes long on a topic that interests you and watch it in its entirety. (Hint: The most interesting topics are discussed early in the year so go back to a meeting in February or March). Write about the meeting you have chosen in this section and include the following:1. The name of the group holding the meeting (“Joint Legislative Budget Committee” or “Senate Judiciary” etc.), the date and the length of the meeting.2. A detailed summary of what happened in the meeting including an identification of any bills that were discussed. In this part I am not just looking for the identification number and name of the bill but an explanation of the bill and what it would change or mean to our state,.3. Your own evaluation of the importance of the topics discussed in the meeting to both Arizona residents and the Arizona business community. This is an important part of the paper. If you do not believe that the topics discussed in the first meeting you watched are important to both, choose another meeting to receive full credit on this portion of the assignment.4. Your understanding and evaluation of the state legislative process. For this portion I would expect at least 2-3 complete paragraphs indicating your understanding of how a bill becomes law. You may have to do a little bit of research but please don’t leave this section out it is important for meeting the course competency.5. Two or three full paragraphs of your own evaluation of the process. Consider the following topics: Are the needs and effects on business adequately presented and discussed at these meetings?

 How can businesses influence policy and legislation in the state?  Can you think of anything that might be done to improve this process from a businessperson’s perspective? Many students are tempted to lightly dismiss this portion of the paper. Virtually everything a government does affects business in one way or another. (Education, infrastructure, taxes, environmental issues, health and safety etc.) It is important that you as a future business person understand the political process and how you may influence the laws that are passed. Please carefully consider this portion of the paper for a good grade on the project.SECTION 3 – Understanding Local GovernmentFor this section of the paper you need to watch a video archive of both a city council meeting and a city council study session. I cannot possibly give you directions for every city you may wish to write about but since the college is in Mesa, if you want to watch Mesa meetings they are archived on YouTube. If you go to YouTube and type in “Mesa City Council Meeting” or Mesa City Council Study Session” in the search bar, they come up very easily.Watch both meetings in their entirety and write about them separately. Under the “Section 3 – Understanding Local Government” heading use a subheading called “City Council Study Session”. In the paragraph following that heading give the date and time of the meeting with a link to the video so that I can review it easily. Then describe what happened in the meeting in as much detail as possible. This should include meeting formalities like prayers, moments of silence and the pledge of allegiance.Talk about the issues discussed in the meeting and whether or not there were supporting and opposing viewpoints presented. Discuss what those viewpoints are. Explain whether or not you agreed or disagreed with any of them. If any issues were voted on or resolved, please discuss that as well. If citizens or businesses were invited to speak or make presentations discuss that as well.Use a second subheading “City Council Meeting” to separate the discussion of the study session from the council meeting itself. You should discuss the same topics with respect to the council meeting as you did with the study session.Once you have given a detailed description of the two meetings you should evaluate the content. How were the topics of the meetings relevant and important to citizens and businesses? Were citizens and businesses adequately represented? How? Did any of the elected or city officials in the meeting discuss issues relative to business? Were there businesses present? Did they have an opportunity to speak?Finally you should evaluate the city council process. In what ways can you as a business person influence what happens in these meetings? Should businesses (and citizens) be allowed to make presentations and comments? Should you be able to influence council members or should everything be left up to them? If citizens and businesses cannot voice their opinions how should a representative make her/his decisions. Do you have any suggestions for improving the process?