Requirement 4 (A)
Requirement
Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
Getting to the Bottom of an Issue
You can easily figure out which branch of local government is responsible for resolving the problem by calling the city council office (most often a City Secretary) or school board (similar administrative assistant). If you read about the problem in the newspaper, look for names in the article or contact the newspaper for a lead.
Ask yourself the following when learning about a community issue in your area:
Step 1
What is currently being done about the issue?
Search online for news articles, check your local newspapers and social media posts, or visit the city, school district, or county government website to see if the issue is listed in current projects or agendas.
Step 2
Who is talking about it?
Identify which department or service provider in your community is actively sharing information about the issue. Is it Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Education, or others?
Step 3
Identify which local leader is involved with the issue.
Determine which local leader or governing body is responsible for the issue. Could it be the City Council, the school board, County Commissioners, or the local courts?
Step 4
Confirm the responsible branch.
Use what you have learned to determine the branch of local government which is responsible for this community issue.
Now that you know which local branch of government handles the chosen issue,
arrange an interview with someone who works in that branch – Making sure you get approval from your counselor and parent first.
