Basic overview
Representative Democracy in America: Voices of the People is a national project designed to reinvigorate and educate Americans on the critical relationship between government and the people it serves. The project introduces citizens, particularly young people, to the representatives, institutions, and processes that serve to realize the goal of a government of, by, and for the people.
See: http://www.ncsl.org
See: http://centeroncongress.com/
See: http://www.tpscongress.org/
See: http://www.representativedemocracy.org/
Sample Videos from RDA
ADTV is quality, nonpartisan programming about representative democracy and how citizens participate. ADTV interstitials and public service announcements are geared to audiences of all ages. They entertain and explore the critical importance of representative democracy in a country "where your ideas count."
ADTV is made possible by the Alliance for Representative Democracy which is a partnership combining the resources of: the Trust for Representative Democracy at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Center of Congress at Indiana University, and the Center for Civic Education. The Alliance for Representative Democracy is funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Education for Democracy Act approved by the U.S. Congress
Interactive Web Sites
Center on Congress at Indiana University:
Teaching with Primary Resources
Material Resources: Legislators Back to School Program from NCSL
Adult/High School
Your Ideas Count! Representative Democracy and You This booklet, geared for adults, challenges readers to think about how they feel about our system of government and how representative democracy relates to them. This booklet would be appropriate for seniors in high school.
Your Ideas Count! inTime(new publication, August 2009) This special edition of inTime, published by TIME magazine for high school students, explores myths and realities about American democracy and challenges students to get involved. (© 2009, NCSL) Teacher's Guide
Middle School
This colorful booklet tells young people in middle and high school that citizens really do rule in our system of democracy; that students can have a voice and that government does impact our lives. (© 2008, NCSL)
Elementary School
Your Ideas Count! TFK Extra! (Grades 4-6) This supplement to TIME for Kids, published by TIME magazine, tells 4th-6th graders about representative democracy, how laws affect their lives and shows them that legislators are real people.
Your Ideas Count! TFK Extra! (Grades 2-3) This fun-filled supplement edition to TIME for Kids, published by TIME magazine for 2nd and 3rd graders, helps them understand some very basic ideas about our system of government.
Materials No Longer Being Printed
The Back to School Program promotional brochure provides an overview of the program and encourages state legislators to take part in the program to help bring civics to life for students by visiting classrooms. State legislative coordinators may obtain additional copies by contacting Joy Heiserman or Joyce Johnson at btsp@ncsl.org.
Even More Legislators Back to School Program Materials
TCCLE:
