Local Civic Research Toolkit
These research guides help learners investigate how their own community is governed. Grab a pencil and a notebook, and start exploring!
For Facilitators: These resources are designed for local adaptation. Every community is different — encourage learners to fill in what applies to their town, city, or county. Where a template doesn't quite fit, have students cross out what doesn't apply and write in what does.
1. My Community Officials Research Guide
Directions: Use your town or city's official website, your state legislature's website, or your local library to find out who represents you. Fill in each row below. It's okay if some rows don't apply to your community — just write "N/A."
| Title | Name | What They Do | How to Contact Them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor or Town Manager | |||
| City/Town Council Member (your district) | |||
| City/Town Council Member (at-large) | |||
| School Board Member (your district) | |||
| School Board Chair | |||
| County Commissioner or Executive | |||
| State Representative | |||
| State Senator | |||
| Governor | |||
| U.S. Representative | |||
| U.S. Senator #1 | |||
| U.S. Senator #2 |
Research Tips
- Town or city website: Search for "[your town name] government" to find official pages listing local officials.
- State legislature website: Most states let you look up your representatives by entering your home address.
- USA.gov: Visit usa.gov/elected-officials to find federal and state officials.
- Your local library: Librarians can help you find this information — that's part of their job!
Reflection Questions
- Which official works closest to where you live? _______________
- Which official were you most surprised to learn about? _______________
- Pick one official. What is one issue you'd want to talk to them about? _______________
2. Which Level of Government Handles This?
Directions: Read each issue below. Decide whether it is mainly handled by Local government, State government, or the Federal government. Write an L, S, or F in the box next to each one.
Reminder:
- Local = your city, town, or county
- State = your state government (governor, state legislature, state agencies)
- Federal = the national government in Washington, D.C. (Congress, the President, federal agencies)
| # | Issue | L, S, or F? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fixing potholes on your street | |
| 2 | Declaring war on another country | |
| 3 | Setting the curriculum for public schools in your state | |
| 4 | Issuing driver's licenses | |
| 5 | Delivering Social Security checks to retirees | |
| 6 | Setting your public library's hours | |
| 7 | Running the local fire department | |
| 8 | Printing money and coins | |
| 9 | Deciding the speed limit on a state highway | |
| 10 | Collecting property taxes to pay for local schools | |
| 11 | Negotiating trade agreements with other countries | |
| 12 | Maintaining public parks in your town | |
| 13 | Licensing doctors and lawyers | |
| 14 | Running the U.S. Postal Service | |
| 15 | Setting rules for building a new house in your neighborhood (zoning) | |
| 16 | Managing your state's national guard | |
| 17 | Picking up trash and recycling in your neighborhood | |
| 18 | Enforcing immigration laws | |
| 19 | Running elections and counting votes in your county | |
| 20 | Setting the federal minimum wage |
Tricky Cases — Think About It!
Some issues are handled by more than one level of government working together. For the items below, explain which levels are involved and what each one does:
-
Public schools: Which levels of government play a role? What does each one do?
-
Roads and highways: Who handles a local street vs. a state highway vs. an interstate?
Answer Key (For Adults/Facilitators)
| # | Issue | Answer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fixing potholes on your street | L | Local public works department |
| 2 | Declaring war on another country | F | Congress has this power under the Constitution |
| 3 | Setting the curriculum for public schools | S | State boards of education set standards; local districts implement |
| 4 | Issuing driver's licenses | S | State department of motor vehicles |
| 5 | Delivering Social Security checks | F | Federal program run by the Social Security Administration |
| 6 | Setting your public library's hours | L | Local library board or municipal government |
| 7 | Running the local fire department | L | City or town fire department |
| 8 | Printing money and coins | F | U.S. Treasury / Federal Reserve |
| 9 | Deciding the speed limit on a state highway | S | State department of transportation |
| 10 | Collecting property taxes for local schools | L | County or municipal tax office |
| 11 | Negotiating trade agreements | F | President and Congress |
| 12 | Maintaining public parks in your town | L | Local parks and recreation department |
| 13 | Licensing doctors and lawyers | S | State licensing boards |
| 14 | Running the U.S. Postal Service | F | Independent federal agency |
| 15 | Zoning rules for new buildings | L | Local zoning or planning board |
| 16 | Managing your state's national guard | S | Governor commands the state national guard (unless federalized) |
| 17 | Picking up trash and recycling | L | Local public works or contracted service |
| 18 | Enforcing immigration laws | F | Federal agencies (ICE, CBP, USCIS) |
| 19 | Running elections in your county | L | County board of elections (with state oversight) |
| 20 | Setting the federal minimum wage | F | Congress sets the federal minimum; states may set a higher one |
Tricky Cases Discussion Notes:
- Public schools involve all three levels: the federal government provides funding and enforces civil rights laws, the state sets curriculum standards and funding formulas, and local school boards hire teachers and run day-to-day operations.
- Roads are split: local government maintains local streets, the state handles state highways, and the federal government funds and sets standards for interstate highways.
3. Civic Issue Investigation Organizer
Directions: Pick a problem or issue in your community that you care about. Use this organizer to research it step by step.
Step 1: Define the Problem
What is the problem?
Where is it happening? (Be specific — name the neighborhood, school, park, or area.)
How did you learn about this problem? (Did you see it yourself? Read about it? Hear about it from someone?)
Step 2: Who Is Affected?
| Who is affected? | How are they affected? |
|---|---|
Is this problem affecting a few people or a lot of people? _______________
Step 3: Who Is Responsible?
What level of government handles this kind of problem?
- Local (city, town, or county)
- State
- Federal
- Not sure yet — I need to research more
Which specific office, department, or official is in charge of this?
How did you find out? (website, phone call, library, asking an adult, etc.)
Step 4: What Has Already Been Tried?
| What has been tried? | Did it work? Why or why not? |
|---|---|
Has anyone spoken up about this at a public meeting or in the news?
Step 5: What Could Be Done?
My idea for a solution:
What would need to happen to make this work?
Who would need to approve or support this idea?
What is one thing I could do right now to take action?
- Write a letter or email to an official
- Attend a public meeting
- Start a petition
- Talk to neighbors or classmates about the issue
- Research the issue more
- Other: _______________
4. Meeting and Public Notice Finder Guide
Directions for Facilitators: Use this guide to help learners find real local government meetings, agendas, and public notices. Work through the steps together, then have learners practice on their own.
What Are Public Meetings and Public Notices?
In the United States, most government meetings are open to the public. That means you have the right to watch (and sometimes speak at) meetings where decisions are made about your community. Public notices are announcements that the government is required to post so that residents know what's coming up.
How to Find Meetings and Agendas Online
Follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open a web browser and search for "[your town or city name] government meetings" or "[your town name] city council agenda."
- Step 2: Look for your town or city's official website. It usually ends in
.govor.us. - Step 3: Find the "Meetings," "Agendas," or "Calendar" section. Many towns post upcoming meetings with dates, times, and locations.
- Step 4: Look for a link to the agenda — this is the list of topics that will be discussed at the meeting.
- Step 5: Check if the meeting will be streamed online or if recorded videos of past meetings are available.
How to Find Meetings and Notices Offline
Not everything is online! Here are some other places to check:
- Town or City Hall bulletin board: Many communities post meeting notices on a physical bulletin board near the entrance.
- Local newspaper: Public notices are often printed in a special section of the local paper (sometimes called "Legal Notices" or "Public Notices").
- Public library: Libraries often post flyers about upcoming government meetings and community events.
- Community centers and post offices: Check bulletin boards in these public spaces.
- Call the town clerk's office: The town or city clerk keeps records of all public meetings. Call and ask when the next meeting is!
Types of Local Government Meetings
| Meeting Type | What Happens There | How Often |
|---|---|---|
| City/Town Council | Votes on local laws (ordinances), budgets, and community issues | Usually every 2–4 weeks |
| School Board | Makes decisions about schools, budgets, curriculum, and policies | Usually monthly |
| Planning/Zoning Board | Reviews building projects and land use decisions | Usually monthly |
| Budget/Finance Committee | Reviews how the town spends money | Varies (often seasonal) |
| Public Hearings | Special meetings where residents can speak about a specific issue | As needed |
What to Look For in an Agenda
When you find a meeting agenda, look for:
- Date, time, and location of the meeting
- Public comment period — this is when residents can speak up
- Old business — topics carried over from a previous meeting
- New business — new topics being introduced
- Votes or action items — decisions the board or council will make
Practice Activity
Find one upcoming public meeting in your community and fill in the details:
| Detail | What I Found |
|---|---|
| Type of meeting | |
| Date and time | |
| Location (or online link) | |
| One topic on the agenda | |
| Is there a public comment period? |
5. Community Patch Project Planner
Directions: This planner goes with the Unit 5 capstone project. Use it to build a detailed plan for a real improvement in your community. Work through each section carefully — by the end, you'll have a complete proposal you could share with a real official!
Section A: Problem Statement
What community problem do you want to fix? Write 2–3 sentences describing the problem clearly.
Where exactly is this problem? (Name the street, neighborhood, school, park, or building.)
Who told you about it, or how did you notice it?
Section B: Evidence
What evidence shows that this is a real problem? Check all that apply and add details.
- I have seen it myself. What I saw: _______________
- Other people have complained about it. Who: _______________
- It was in the news. Source: _______________
- There is data about it (numbers, statistics, reports). Data: _______________
- It came up at a public meeting. Which meeting: _______________
- Other evidence: _______________
Section C: Who's Responsible?
What level of government is responsible for this issue?
- Local (city, town, or county)
- State
- Federal
Which specific office, department, or official handles this?
What is their job in relation to this problem?
Section D: Proposed Solution
What is your proposed solution? Describe it in 3–5 sentences.
Why would this solution work? Give at least two reasons.
-
-
-
_________________________________________________________________________ (bonus)
Has a solution like this worked somewhere else? If yes, where?
Section E: Action Steps
What steps would need to happen to make your solution real? List them in order.
| Step # | Action | Who Would Do This? | By When? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 |
Section F: Who to Contact
Who do you need to reach out to? Fill in the information for each person or office.
| Person or Office | Why Contact Them? | Contact Info (email, phone, or address) |
|---|---|---|
Draft your message: Write a short letter, email, or script for a phone call to one of the people above. Be polite, state the problem clearly, and explain your solution.
Section G: Reflection (Complete After the Project)
-
What did you learn about how your community makes decisions?
-
What was the hardest part of this project?
-
If you could keep working on this, what would your next step be?
-
Did your view of government change? How?
Facilitator Note: These guides are designed to be adapted to your local context. Feel free to modify column headers, add local officials or agencies, or adjust language for your learners' age group. If you use these activities in your classroom or program, consider sharing what worked — community feedback helps make this curriculum better for everyone.