Political, Social or Economic Affecting the Community

Prepare a 1-2 page email that could be sent to one of your members of Congress about a political, social, or economic issue related to your selected topic.
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Introduction
Note: The first three assessments in this course build on each other; therefore, it is essential that you complete them in the order presented.
We like to complain that the government doesn’t listen to us. But how often do we tell the people who are there to represent us what we want them to do? Elected officials are supposed to act on behalf of us, their constituents. To do that, they need to hear from us.
Voting is one way to get your voice heard. It is also, though, something you can do only once every two years (four years for the presidency). One thing you can do far more frequently is write emails to your representatives so they know what is important to you and what you want them to do.
In this assessment, you will have the opportunity to craft an email to one of your elected representatives. You will research and decide what position you want them to take on a policy or issue related to your selected topic, and make a clear and persuasive argument for why they should take that position. Keep in mind that when you write your representatives you are writing not just on your own behalf but also on behalf of others who share your goals. Your letter represents not only you, but others in your broader community.
Researching and writing this email is a way to engage with and actively participate in your government. It is also a way to practice identifying and framing problems, and then propose effective, ethical, and evidence-based solutions to those problems. Those are skills useful not just in the political and civic arena, but also in your personal and professional life.
Overview
This is the third of three assessments that must be completed in order.
For this assessment, you will prepare an email that could be sent to one of your members of Congress. The email must be about a political, social, or economic issue related to the topic you wrote about in the previous assessment. If you live in one of the 50 states, your letter can be addressed to either your representative in the House of Representatives or one of your two senators. If you live in Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, or one of the other U.S. territories, you have one, non-voting representative in Congress.
Preparation
To prepare for this assessment:
• Review the suggested resources for this assessment.
o To find your representative in the House of Representatives or your Senators if you live in one of the 50 states, refer to the resources in Assessment 3: Governmental Structure and Representation.
• Complete the Congressional Email interactive activity.
Instructions
Write an email in which you address the following requirements. You will not have to send the email, but you are encouraged to do so. Be sure to write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Step 1: In the first section or paragraph, describe a political, social, or economic issue and how it affects your community.
o Your “community” could be a geographic community, a subset of the American population, or the country as a whole.
• Step 2: In the second section or paragraph, explain what you think should be done about the issue, including specific recommendations for changes to a policy or law.
• Step 3: In the final section or paragraph, explain how your proposed changes to a policy or law would benefit your community.
Submission Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
• Length: About 1–2 double-spaced pages. If you use citations, include a reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Sources: If applicable, properly cite sources according to APA rules. Review Evidence and APA for more information on how to cite your sources.
Refer to the Congressional Email scoring guide to ensure that you meet all criteria. To earn full points for each criterion, be sure to note the details on what constitutes distinguished performance.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 3: Explain the historical development of current political issues and policies.
o Describe how a political, social, or economic issue affects a community.
• Competency 4: Explain how individuals and groups influence local, state, and national government, and vice versa.
o Explain what should be done about a selected issue, including specific recommendations for changes to a policy or law.
o Explain how proposed changes to a specific policy or law would benefit a community.
• Competency 6: Address assessment purpose in a well-organized manner, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
o Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Resources
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
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Governmental Structure and Representation
The textbook chapters suggested below offer an overview of the institutions of our federal government and the interactions between them. The reading list links you to websites where you can find your representative in the House of Representatives and your Senators.
• O’Connor, K., & Sabato, L. J. (2022). American government: Roots and reform, 2020 presidential election edition (14th ed.). Pearson. Available in the course room via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
o Chapter 6, “Congress,” pages 133–165.
o Chapter 7, “The Presidency,” pages 166–189.
o Chapter 8, “The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy,” pages 190–212.
o Chapter 9, “The Judiciary,” pages 213–240.
• Assessment 3: Governmental Structure and Representation reading list.
Writing Members of Congress
See the resources in the following reading list for ideas and advice about how to write a policy proposal. While your email for this assessment is not a formal policy proposal, it should, essentially, be similar. Many of the ideas transfer nicely and logically when writing an email to a member of Congress. The list also contains general tips for writing effective emails to elected officials.
• Assessment 3: Writing Members of Congress reading list.
Library Research Guide
You may want to find other resources to prepare for this assessment, and you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The General Education Information Research Skills Library Guide provides links to library skills instruction, subject-specific resources and tools, and assessment-focused help you can use in all your general education courses. The Political Science page in the guide includes links to eBooks, background information, and specialized databases in the area.