Know Your Local Government is a new, hands-on program that focuses on local civic education. Youth will engage with their local lawmakers and government structures in order to better understand their civic responsibilities and impact on city, township, county, and other governing structures.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Understand legislative processes
- Experience parliamentary procedures
- Practice responsible citizenship/participation in democracy
- Develop skills in debate, persuasive speaking, conscientious listening, and leadership
- Learn how local government makes decisions and how they can engage with lawmakers on issues they are passionate about
- Gain wider knowledge on local issues and the impact these officials and measures have on their day-to-day lives
4-H Know Your Local Government Curriculum
None available at this time.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
Coming soon!
For adult helpers and club leaders
Coming soon!
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
4-H Citizenship: Government is Us! A Civic Engagement Curriculum for Youth Groups – Michigan
This curriculum is designed to help 4-H’ers and other young people aged 13 to 19 explore citizenship and civic education. Its goal is to help teens develop the attitudes, knowledge and skills they need to be active citizens and practice what they learn in their own communities. Citizenship is not a spectator sport, and the learning activities in the book get youth and adults more involved, cause them to think critically about their values and beliefs, and prepare them to be active citizens in the future. Developing the in-depth understanding of community issues and the political process provided by “Government Is Us” empowers young people and motivates them to work for change in their communities.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Counties 101 – Washington State Association of Counties
Are you a Washington state student or citizen seeking education on how county government works? You’ve come to the right place!
Counties are remnants of British mode of government, where lands were divided into ‘shires’ and ruled regionally. Everyone in Washington lives in one of 39 counties that make up the state. The effective thing about counties is that they are hyper local – county officials are from the county they are working for!
Association of Washington Cities
Resources for finding information about Washington and its 3 branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Washington State 4-H Teen Equity & Inclusion Task Force
The purpose of the Washington State 4-H Teen Equity and Inclusion Task Force is to facilitate and support an inclusive 4-H youth organization. Using compassion and empathy, we strive to create an open and safe environment to celebrate and embrace our diversity.
Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council
The Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is the only nonpartisan youth-led committee empowered by state law to represent the official voice of Washington youth to the Legislature. It is entirely student-led, and co-administered by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Washington State Leadership Board.
Each year, a select group of 14-18 year old students from a diverse range of political, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds are appointed to the council by the Lt. Governor’s Office with the help of existing members. On the council, students spend two years learning about and engaging directly with the legislative process by making meaningful policy recommendations to the Legislature. Established in 2005 as the brainchild of then-12 year old Alex Jonlin, a semi-finalist for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Innovations in Government award, LYAC is enduring proof of teenagers’ ability to make change in their communities.
From lobbying legislators, to hosting events with hundreds of young people from across the state, to traveling around the state teaching civic engagement workshops, LYAC aims to leave an enduring legacy on the lives of youth across the state with its work. To learn more, check out About Us and Our Work.
Adolescent and Young Adult Health Youth Advisory Council
Public health needs young people’s voices!
We value the insight, expertise, experiences, and contributions of adolescents and young adults — they know what public health issues are important to young people and what solutions will work.
- To help create a structure for DOH to regularly talk with and learn from youth, we invited Washington’s young people to apply to be a member of the second generation of the WA State Department of Health’s Youth Advisory Council. Also known as the YAC or the Council, members meet with DOH’s Adolescent Health staff on a regular basis to discuss adolescent and young adult health topics. Their insight helps guide public health work to make sure that Department of Health (DOH) strategies are relevant, accessible, and youth friendly.
- Learn more below and in our one-pager (PDF) in English and Spanish. Additional languages available by request
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
From Higher Education Institutions
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
National 4‑H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4‑H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead and impact their communities, nation and world. At the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions and present to federal partner agencies along with the opportunity for delegates to engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives.
Rooted in legacy but reimagined for today, CWF is THE event for teens to learn leadership and communication skills through history, democracy, and our amendments.
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H