Civics Helps Us Understand Our Government, Empowers Us to Shape It

City of Alameda residents, here is our guide, "Know Your Representatives".(https://97088473-6637-4df6-a0fb-85740ca3318d.usrfiles.com/ugd/970884_de89a19d1cf041ac9ad797b5b5496e4a.pdf) It contains the names, offices, and official websites for all of your representatives from local to federal government. The websites contain contact emails and (sometimes) phone numbers. There is also a Facebook feature called Town Hall that lets you find, follow, and contact your elected officials and local government services. Do you need advice on what to say when contacting your Congressional Representative? Here is the "Shy Person's Guide to Calling Representatives"(https://97088473-6637-4df6-a0fb-85740ca3318d.usrfiles.com/ugd/970884_834fa26bf8fc454dbb1ef0d64db88dba.pdf).

Alameda residents can stay informed on the business of and provide input to City Council and local boards/commissions. The websites at the links below contain agendas, minutes, information on how to watch and/or participate in meetings, and means/methods for the public to comment. • Alameda County Board of Supervisors (https://www.acgov.org/board/) • Alameda City Council (http://alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Agendas-Minutes-Announcements) • Alameda Boards and Commissions (https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx) • Alameda Unified School District Board (https://www.alamedaunified.org/board/agendas-minutes) • Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees(https://www.peralta.edu/tv/boardoftrusteemeetingstv) Questions about City meetings? Email clerk@alamedaca.gov,(mailto:clerk@alamedaca.gov) or send text to/leave a voice-mail at (510) 747-4800. You may submit a public records request (NextRequest) here (https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/City-Clerk/Public-Record-Requests)to the City of Alameda.

The basic civics that all U.S. voters should know include the following. • Structure of the U.S. Government – The three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) and their functions).(https://youtu.be/uUqeAsogI70?si=2UyO2oVPtviq36nC) • Elections & Voting – How U.S. elections work,(https://youtu.be/48EZKXweGDo?si=3CWTpRDlrKtm7-UZ) how voter registration works,(https://youtu.be/dSUuKK4WlCE?si=xcIcixPWyUgMKl6X) and about the basic election levels: local elections, (https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html) s(https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html)tate elections, (https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html)a(https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html)nd f(https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html)ederal elections.(https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/local-state-national-elections-in-the-us.html) • Rights & Responsibilities – Voting rights,(https://youtu.be/No7ewLdJU_Y?si=kQuCoXMX1_O0pNaa) civic duties (https://youtu.be/NL1CKKyZeFM?si=wV55hAAaPu7_HOZT)(jury duty, paying taxes), and the importance of informed citizen participation.(https://youtu.be/l_1FcQgV5LQ?si=hs4JLKIcEEWlm865) • Law & Policy Making – How a bill becomes a law (https://youtu.be/men-vp5jvzI?si=wbauCZlPsXmgxFmx)and the role of elected officials.(https://youtu.be/Rm9itPSOjYc?si=AorpWUFk4Lr3aZ4p) • Media Literacy – How to identify misinformation and reliable sources.(https://youtu.be/AkwWcHekMdo)

California voters should know the following. • Top-Two Primary System (https://youtu.be/FR6SDDCr7pg?si=4OOypOgZwYYKgd65)– The two candidates with the most votes in the primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election. • Ballot Initiative Process (https://oag.ca.gov/initiatives)– Citizens can propose and vote on laws directly. However, it can be hard to ascertain the real objective of a ballot initiative petition before you sign. That is why you should use our guide, "Think Before You Ink"(https://97088473-6637-4df6-a0fb-85740ca3318d.usrfiles.com/ugd/970884_4353db511f954f7281f19129b53fdcbc.pdf). • How Bills Become Law in California (https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101870191/im-just-a-bill-how-laws-are-made-in-california)- California's legislative process is complex. • Voting Options (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-info/ways-vote)– Universal mail-in ballots, early voting, and same-day registration. • Voter Rights (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-bill-rights)- You have the right to vote in our state if you are a registered voter in California. At the link, get more info and watch a short video about the California Voter Bill of Rights. • Redistricting & Representation (https://calmatters.org/politics/2021/11/california-redistricting-what-you-need-to-know/)– California’s independent commission draws district maps.

Here are a few civics resources that we recommend. • Our newsletters cover current topics like tariffs. Subscribe to our newsletters.(https://weebly.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fee3a757b31fb24b02c8d8027&id=78cdfdc75a) • Play our online game, VerifyIt!,(https://playverifyit.org/) to learn how to spot misinformation and disinformation. • Civics 101: A Podcast (https://www.civics101podcast.org/podcast-episodes) • Crash Course U.S. Government (https://thecrashcourse.com/topic/usgovernment/) • FactCheck.org(FactCheck.org)