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- Who represents youEnter your address to see your city, county, state and federal representatives.
- How to contact the people who represent youPicking the right office and writing a message that gets read.
Your city and county
- How local government worksCounties, cities, school districts and the special districts that run roads, fire, water and more.
- How to speak at a local public meetingWhat Idaho's open meetings law gives you, what it doesn't, and how to use two minutes well.
- Idaho's Open Meeting Law: what it requiresNotice, agendas, closed sessions, your right to record, and what to do when a body breaks the rules.
- How to request public records in IdahoHow to ask for emails, contracts and reports, what it costs, the deadlines, and what to do if they say no.
- What you can do in your neighborhoodGetting problems fixed, finding out what's planned and getting neighbors organized.
- Local ballot measuresBonds, levies, and why a school bond can get 60 percent and still fail.
The State of Idaho
- How the Idaho Legislature worksWho's in it, the session calendar, how a bill moves, and where your voice counts.
- How to weigh in on a state billFour ways to tell the Legislature what you think, and the timing that catches people.
- The state budget and how to influence itThe yearly cycle, the committee that writes it, and when each step is open to you.
- Serve on a board or commissionHow residents get appointed to state, county and city boards.
- Following the money in Idaho politicsWho gives to Idaho candidates, what the limits are and where to look it up.
- Which state agency does whatA short directory for the most common needs, and what to do when you're stuck.
- Running for officeWhich offices are up when, how filing works, and campaign finance basics.
- State initiatives and referendumsHow voters put a law on the ballot, the signature rules and the deadlines.
The federal government
- Federal elections and who can runThe House, Senate and President, and the Constitution's requirements for each.
- How the courts workIdaho's state courts and the federal courts, side by side.
- Understanding the ConstitutionThe U.S. and Idaho constitutions, and how each one changes.
- Working with federal agenciesCasework, public land decisions, commenting on rules and requesting records.
- The federal budget and where you can weigh inAppropriations, the fiscal year, and community project requests.
Skills and everyday
- Build a two-minute pitch for your causeA simple shape for making your case in the time you get.
- How to read a bill or an agendaBill numbers, underlines and strike-throughs, action items and packets.
- Media literacyQuick habits for sorting good information from bad.
- Volunteering and public service jobsWhere to find volunteer roles and government jobs.
- Turning a personal problem into a policy askFinding the right level of government and shaping a specific ask.