Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator -- a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to enhance civic education and improve the understanding of Congress -- http://www.webcommunicator.org.

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NEWS FROM THE DIRKSEN CENTER
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Join The Dirksen Center Friends!

The Dirksen Congressional Center is pleased to announce an opportunity for you to join TheDirksen Center Friends. Your $25 annual dues will support the work of The Dirksen Congressional Center, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts educational and research programs for scholars, teachers, and students.

Join now and enjoy the benefits listed at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/friends.htm. Instructions for becoming a Dirksen Center Friend can be found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/friends-membershipform.htm.

Thank you for your support!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the following Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants winners for the October 2002 round of competition:

* Social Science Department at Missouri Southern State College, Congress and the Nation -- funded at $5,400

* Raimonda Mikatavage, Independent T.V. Producer, A Short Course in Civic Duty -- funded at $3,500

* Plainville (Connecticut) High School, Curriculum Units for Civics and American Government Courses -- funded at $4,000

* Yvonne Powell, Jeremiah E. Burke High School, Dorchester, Massachusetts, Congressional Firsts -- funded at $3,000

Learn more about these grant projects and others at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm#Michelwinners

Do you have a project? Submit a grant proposal! For more information about how to submit a Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants proposal, please visit: http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm. Final proposals for our next round of competition must be received by May 1, 2003. If you have questions about the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants, contact Frank Mackaman at mailto:fmackaman@dirksencenter.org.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

On February 11, 2002, The Dirksen Center announced plans to build a new facility -- follow developments at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/dcbuildingproject.htm. Find pictures of the October 24, 2002, groundbreaking ceremony at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/dcbuildingprojectgroundbreaking.htm.

VOTING AND ELECTIONS: VOTER TURNOUT

Today it's easier to vote than ever, but there is still a significant percentage of Americans who choose not to cast their ballots. In voter participation among the countries of the world, the United States ranks near the bottom.

In midterm elections, voter turnout has hovered around 35 percent for the past several years. This means that slightly more than one-third of eligible voters actually turn out at the polls and vote in midterm elections. Teachers, to help your students understand voting as a form of political participation introduce the following online activities posted on Congress for Kids:

Political Participation and Voting: Expressing the Popular Will:

Crossword puzzle -- http://www.congressforkids.net/games/houseofrep/2_legislativebranch.htm

Self-assessment multiple-choice and true/false quizzes -- http://www.congressforkids.net/games/senate/2_senate.htm

Redistricting simulation - http://www.congressforkids.net/games/senate/2_senate.htm

Voting in the United States is a two-step process: a person registers to vote at one time and then casts his or her ballot at another. Are you registered to vote? If not, register now! Visit our AboutGovernment Web site and complete the entire process online in only a couple of minutes. Find Election.com -- Voter Registration for U.S. Citizens in the United States at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/electionsvoting.htm

Teachers, if you are looking for an opportunity to make American Government more interactive and the process of voting more meaningful for students, introduce our featured CongressLink lesson plan. Find Election Activity: Decision 2002 or 3 or 4 at: http://www.congresslink.org/lessonplans/TQElection.htm

Political scientists have analyzed voting patterns and have found that older people with more education and higher income tend to be very active politically. The group aged 18 to 21 years old has the lowest voting percentage despite the passage of the Twenty-sixth Amendment. Why is it important to vote? Steve Frantzich, Professor of Political Science at the U.S. Naval Academy, answers this basic question in the selection at: http://www.congresslink.org/whyvote.htm

Featured Project

Sarah Dwelle, The Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies, Richmond, VA, was awarded a $2,840 Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grant for her project, Promoting Civic Involvement Through Simulated Elections and Related Activities. The Virginia Student/Parent Mock Election (VSPME) is a nonpartisan effort that gives students an opportunity to participate actively in the political process by simulating an election in schools throughout the state of Virginia. The objective of this project is to create a handbook for all participating schools. Learn more about this project and others at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm#Michelwinners

Who Can Vote? Who Can Play?

1. The party of the president almost always loses congressional seats in _____ elections, although President Bill Clinton and the Democrats bucked this trend in 1998.

A) Direct
B) Mid-term
C) Indirect
D) Open Primary

2. Match the amendment with the group to which it gave the vote.

3. Which three groups of U.S. citizens are not eligible to vote today?

Possible Essay Question:

In 1960, 63% of eligible voters voted, but in 1996, only 49% voted, reflecting a steady decline in voter turnout over the last 36 years. Why do you think this is the case?

Answers to October's issue of Fun, Facts, and Trivia link here: http://www.webcommunicator.org/funfactstrivia1002ans.htm

That will do it for this month. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Encourage your colleagues to subscribe to the Communicator. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, contact Cindy Koeppel at mailto:ckoeppel@dirksencenter.org Your feedback makes a difference!