Section 2: Civics 101

Before you start lobbying the government, you should probably know a little bit about how it works. This knowledge will help you understand how your issue has evolved, and it will help you identify which government officials you should focus your efforts on. Unfortunately, neither of us possesses enough knowledge of political science to describe in detail the government of any nation other than the United States. To the extent that the structure of the U.S. government draws on older systems (e.g. the Roman republic or many of the articles of the Magna Carta), it can offer insight into other forms of government. Most of the information here, however, is only useful to citizens of the United States.

On 13 September 1788, the Continental Congress passed the resolution to implement the articles of the new Constitution of the United States, the document that would serve as the foundation of U.S. government. The U.S. Constitution endowed the federal government with three independent branches: the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, which are headed, at the U.S. level by the President, Congress and the Supreme Court respectively. Although the Constitution does not explicitly require it, the three-branch model has been adopted by most states and municipalities as well. The primary objective in separating the government into different branches was to ensure that any one branch's grab for power would be checked by the other two. Twenty-seven amendments have been made to the U.S. Constitution since its ratification, the first ten of which comprise the well-known, albeit often ignored, 'Bill of Rights'.

Federal government

Executive branch

The Constitutional Convention decided that the primary role of the executive branch should be divided between the implementation of policies and laws passed by the legislative branch and the representation of United States' interests in the international arena. International responsibilities include command of the state's armed forces and the ability to declare war and to establish treaties, although both of these actions must be approved by Congress. In addition to the power to veto legislation proposed by Congress, the executive was granted the power to enforce legislation (e.g. the Department of Justice) and to implement federal programs mandated by Congress. Although members of the executive body do not introduce legislation per se, any bills passed by the legislative body must be approved by the chief executive before being codified.

Branches of Government: An illustration of the three branches of the U.S. government and how they were designed to check one-another's power.

Legislative branch

Section one of Article one of the Constitution declares that, "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives". The bicameral body is a result of a compromise between popular and equal representation, whereby the number of representatives is based on a state's population while the number of senators remains fixed at two. The Constitution outlines several responsibilities specific to each house, as well as to Congress as a whole. Either house of Congress has the power to propose legislation, but such legislation must be approved by both houses before it is brought before the President.

Judicial branch

The judicial branch evaluates the legislation enacted by the other two branches, and defends the Constitution against subversion. It is also the branch that adjudicates conflicts among the people and between the people and the state. You approach this branch through the courts, typically by filing a civil suit or by defending yourself against criminal charges. If you decide to engage in an act of civil disobedience, then you will likely encounter this branch shortly thereafter.

Regional Government

State government

The concept of a strong federal government was one of the most controversial features of the Constitution, and many felt that more power should be granted to the states. The framers of the Constitution had to maintain a delicate balance between state autonomy and federal authority. Although much power has been siphoned into the federal government since 1787, the states were originally granted all powers not explicitly assigned to the federal government in the Constitution. Each of the fifty states presently in the Union has adopted the three-branch model in its state-wide and municipal government. At the state level, the governor represents the executive branch, the state congress represents the legislative branch, and the state supreme court represents the judicial branch.

Municipal government

The three-branch model extends all the way to the county, township and city level. In these cases, the mayor or commissioner represents the executive branch, the planning board the legislative branch, and the local courts the judicial branch. Your municipal government is responsible for zoning laws and land-use planning, as well as for local ordinances and utilities.

Where do I go first?

The identity of the appropriate official to approach is not always obvious. While you may be tempted to vet your issue all the way to the federal level, you will probably find your local government much more responsive and cooperative. Members of your local government will also have connections to other politically active people and organizations in your community, and may be able to help you approach officials at a higher level with a larger and stronger support base. Once again, you should always be trying to build a team. An entire community is much more difficult to ignore than a few dissident individuals.

The scale of the issue is usually the primary determinant of the level of government you approach. If you are trying to change a local policy, then you would work with your municipal government. If the issue is state wide, then you would approach your state government. Finally, you take national issues to the federal government. The branch of government you approach, in turn, is determined by the nature of the action that you are requesting. If you are challenging a piece of legislation that you believe is unjust, then you will likely go to the judicial branch. If you are attempting to initiate new legislation, then the legislative branch is your most likely target. If you are trying to draw attention or support to a particular issue, you may decide to contact the executive branch.