Government - Evaluate your Senator or Representative "We didn't pick the legislators," said Thomas Dominguez. "It's not our job to evaluate their performance. That's the job of each voter." Dominguez is a member of the California Citizens Compensation Commission.1

Many lobbying and advocacy organizations "Grade" elected officials regarding their performance
on the groups' special concerns.

NAACP - 109TH Congress Receives Failing Grade on Civil Rights Matters

Legislative Scorecard 2007-2008 | Legislative scorecard on business

National Environmental Scorecard

Information tools:

Evaluate one of the elected officials who represent you at the Federal level.

You could examine the legislator's record on the whole or focus on a specific issue like energy.

Establish criteria. Examples - Attendance, voting record, legislation proposed by them, Committees, earmarking, ethics issues.

Gather facts.

Grade/Score their work to date. Are they meeting your expectations?

Debate the rating with your classmates.

 

Do Something:

Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper explaining your evaluation process and the grade
you are giving the elected official.

Do you support their reelection?

Would you consider volunteering for or making a donation to their reelection campaign?

 

Extended Efforts

Evaluate one of the elected officials who represent you at the State or local level.

Assess your local and state legislators' record on environmental issues.

"The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life,
make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can." John Gardner

Resources: