Democracy Notes

Your quick guide to getting ready to vote

Ballot Vocab

Simple explainers about the jobs you’re hiring for

Democracy In Action

Current news to help you understand what’s at stake in your next election

Civics Guides

Reference to understand elections, democracy and why your vote matters
Agricultural commissioners oversee and regulate the agriculture industry within their state. They have a direct impact on the safety, sustainability, and growth of agriculture. They oversee food safety and inspection, provide support to farms and ranches, allocate resources such as water and grants, and set norms around environmental conservation and pest control.

A comptroller is your town or city's top accountant! They oversee issues such as keeping the city's books balanced, auditing aspects of the city's spending, making decisions about the city's employee pension plans and assisting in budgeting questions other elected officials in the city may have. They ensure that a city's financial records are accurate and comply with government regulations.

A council member is a person who is elected by voters in their community to represent them and make decisions about local issues. They are part of a group called the city council (most city councils are between 6-30 members). Council members listen to the ideas and concerns of the people who live in their community, and use laws and ordinances to try to find ways to make their city or town a better place.

County or City clerks distribute birth, marriage and death certificates and other business records and licenses, while also overseeing how elections are run in their county or city. The clerk's office prints and mails ballots, sets up ballot drop box locations and early voting locations, and ensures that polling places operate smoothly on Election Day. Clerks deal with a lot of the tiny details that are critically important to our everyday lives!

District Attorneys are elected or appointed officials who serves as the chief prosecutor at the county or district level. Their primary role is to represent their state or government in court, with responsibilities including investigating crimes, making decisions around what crimes their office will prioritize charging, deciding on charges and recommend sentences, negotiating plea bargain and representing the government in court while advocating for victims.

Federal District Courts, also known as "trial courts" "courts of first instance," are local courts where legal cases begin. There are 94 different district courts throughout the United States. District courts hear evidence, listen to witnesses, and decide on the outcome of the case based on legal principles. These courts handle various types of legal cases. District court decisions can be "appealed" to an appeals court, or ultimately, a state's supreme court or the federal supreme court. 

The governor is elected to represent voters and make important decisions as the government's leader on the state level. They can approve or veto bills once they are passed by the state's congress. Governors also work closely with various departments of their government on issues such as education, healthcare, and transportation to make their state a better place for everyone.

The lieutenant governor most often operates in a role that is similar to the Vice President at the federal level. They often step in as acting governor when the governor is absent or unable to fulfill their duties, while assisting the governor in advancing their legislative goals and acting as an ambassador for the state. In some states, the Lieutenant Governor presides over the state senate, breaking tie votes and influencing legislative agendas.

Mayors are elected to be in charge of a city or town. They are the leaders of their local government. They work with other elected officials such as council members and city employees to prioritize projects within their city, setting legislative goals to advance their community through legislation and ordinances.

A planing and zoning commission decides how land is used and what can be built where in a city. Land can be "zoned" as residential, commercial or industrial, which greatly impacts how cities grow and develop. These commissions play a critical role in towns and cities that are currently facing housing shortages.

The president is the leader of our entire country, overseeing foreign policy and relationships, leading the US military, and signing into law or vetoing bills that are passed by Congress. Issues of immigration, public health, climate change and foreign spending and aid have all been center-stage in the president's work.

Representatives are elected to serve federally in the House of Representatives. Their main job is to write and pass laws that will benefit the communities that elected them. There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives, and each state has a different number of representatives proportional to their population (Counted every 10 years during the census). Representatives serve 2 year terms.

Elected school board members in a community are responsible for overseeing the local public school district. They play a key role in shaping education policies, approving budgets, hiring superintendents and staff, and ensuring the district operates properly and that students are given all the resources necessary to learn.

The duties and functions of the Secretary of State are diverse and wide ranging, but most importantly include interpreting state election laws and overseeing how elections are run in a state! They work with counties to make critical decisions such as how people can register to vote in their state, how many polling places are open in a given city or community and processes around early voting and absentee voting that ultimately make voting easier or more difficult.

Senators are elected to serve federally in the US Senate. Their main job is to write and pass laws that will benefit the communities that elected them. There are 100 senators in the US Senate, 2 from each state. This means that every state, regardless of size or population, has the same representation in the senate. Senators serve 6 year terms.

The precise role of elected sheriffs varies depending on the town or city they are elected in; Some common duties, however, include overseeing county jails, transporting prisoners and pretrial detainees, investigating crimes and sometimes even acting as coroners.

The speaker is responsible for running and overseeing the House of Representatives, and playing a crucial role in the legislative priorities and strategies of their political party. The speaker is elected by the other members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each new congress (which happens every 2 years). They are a member of whichever political party holds the majority in the House of Representatives. 

A state's attorney general is the top legal officer and prosecutor for the state government. They provide legal advice to state agencies, representing the state in legal matters, and overseeing criminal prosecutions. The attorney general is important in upholding and enforcing state laws, protecting consumers, and ensuring the overall legal well-being of the state.

State auditors make sure that government agencies and anyone that receives state funds are using their money properly, legally, and what it is allocated for. Their work is important as they can assist offices in how to use their money responsibly, and allows them to detect the possibility of fraud if something unusual presents itself in their inspections.

The state house of representatives is a chamber of the states legislative body, that has very similar roles to the federal house, just at a state level. Their roles include writing legislation, budgeting, oversight of the executive branch, redistricting, pursuing impeachment when necessary and representing constituents through the legislation they pass.

The state senate is a chamber of the state's legislative body that has similar roles to the federal senate, but at a state level. Their roles include passing legislation, ratifying treaties, confirming judicial appointments, and representing their constituents through the legislation they pass.

The state supreme court is the highest court in each state. It's similar to the Supreme Court of the United States but focuses on cases that deal with their specific state's laws and issues. The state supreme court helps make important decisions about the laws in that state. Members of the state supreme court are appointed or elected, depending on the state.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the entire United States. They have the final say on any important court cases that have been appealed on a local and state level, and their decisions have a massive impact on countless aspects of how the United States operates. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate and hold a lifetime appointment (meaning they are justices until they retire or pass away!). Abortion, voting rights and affirmative action have all been issues that the court has decided on in recent years.

Trial courts, also known as "courts of first instance," are local courts where legal cases begin. They are the first stop in the judicial system when someone has a problem or dispute. Trial courts hear evidence, listen to witnesses, and decide on the outcome of the case. These courts handle various types of cases, such as criminal trials, civil disputes, and family matters like divorces or child custody.

The vice president presides over the US Senate and casts tie-breaking votes when the senate has a 50-50 split. They also advise the president, pursue legislative goals of the administration, and act as a key international ambassador for the United States.

A comptroller is your town or city's top accountant! They oversee issues such as keeping the city's books balanced, auditing aspects of the city's spending, making decisions about the city's employee pension plans and assisting in budgeting questions other elected officials in the city may have. They ensure that a city's financial records are accurate and comply with government regulations.

A council member is a person who is elected by voters in their community to represent them and make decisions about local issues. They are part of a group called the city council (most city councils are between 6-30 members). Council members listen to the ideas and concerns of the people who live in their community, and use laws and ordinances to try to find ways to make their city or town a better place.

County or City clerks distribute birth, marriage and death certificates and other business records and licenses, while also overseeing how elections are run in their county or city. The clerk's office prints and mails ballots, sets up ballot drop box locations and early voting locations, and ensures that polling places operate smoothly on Election Day. Clerks deal with a lot of the tiny details that are critically important to our everyday lives!

District Attorneys are elected or appointed officials who serves as the chief prosecutor at the county or district level. Their primary role is to represent their state or government in court, with responsibilities including investigating crimes, making decisions around what crimes their office will prioritize charging, deciding on charges and recommend sentences, negotiating plea bargain and representing the government in court while advocating for victims.

Mayors are elected to be in charge of a city or town. They are the leaders of their local government. They work with other elected officials such as council members and city employees to prioritize projects within their city, setting legislative goals to advance their community through legislation and ordinances.

A planing and zoning commission decides how land is used and what can be built where in a city. Land can be "zoned" as residential, commercial or industrial, which greatly impacts how cities grow and develop. These commissions play a critical role in towns and cities that are currently facing housing shortages.

Elected school board members in a community are responsible for overseeing the local public school district. They play a key role in shaping education policies, approving budgets, hiring superintendents and staff, and ensuring the district operates properly and that students are given all the resources necessary to learn.

The precise role of elected sheriffs varies depending on the town or city they are elected in; Some common duties, however, include overseeing county jails, transporting prisoners and pretrial detainees, investigating crimes and sometimes even acting as coroners.

Trial courts, also known as "courts of first instance," are local courts where legal cases begin. They are the first stop in the judicial system when someone has a problem or dispute. Trial courts hear evidence, listen to witnesses, and decide on the outcome of the case. These courts handle various types of cases, such as criminal trials, civil disputes, and family matters like divorces or child custody.

Agricultural commissioners oversee and regulate the agriculture industry within their state. They have a direct impact on the safety, sustainability, and growth of agriculture. They oversee food safety and inspection, provide support to farms and ranches, allocate resources such as water and grants, and set norms around environmental conservation and pest control.

The governor is elected to represent voters and make important decisions as the government's leader on the state level. They can approve or veto bills once they are passed by the state's congress. Governors also work closely with various departments of their government on issues such as education, healthcare, and transportation to make their state a better place for everyone.

The lieutenant governor most often operates in a role that is similar to the Vice President at the federal level. They often step in as acting governor when the governor is absent or unable to fulfill their duties, while assisting the governor in advancing their legislative goals and acting as an ambassador for the state. In some states, the Lieutenant Governor presides over the state senate, breaking tie votes and influencing legislative agendas.

The duties and functions of the Secretary of State are diverse and wide ranging, but most importantly include interpreting state election laws and overseeing how elections are run in a state! They work with counties to make critical decisions such as how people can register to vote in their state, how many polling places are open in a given city or community and processes around early voting and absentee voting that ultimately make voting easier or more difficult.

A state's attorney general is the top legal officer and prosecutor for the state government. They provide legal advice to state agencies, representing the state in legal matters, and overseeing criminal prosecutions. The attorney general is important in upholding and enforcing state laws, protecting consumers, and ensuring the overall legal well-being of the state.

State auditors make sure that government agencies and anyone that receives state funds are using their money properly, legally, and what it is allocated for. Their work is important as they can assist offices in how to use their money responsibly, and allows them to detect the possibility of fraud if something unusual presents itself in their inspections.

The state house of representatives is a chamber of the states legislative body, that has very similar roles to the federal house, just at a state level. Their roles include writing legislation, budgeting, oversight of the executive branch, redistricting, pursuing impeachment when necessary and representing constituents through the legislation they pass.

The state senate is a chamber of the state's legislative body that has similar roles to the federal senate, but at a state level. Their roles include passing legislation, ratifying treaties, confirming judicial appointments, and representing their constituents through the legislation they pass.

The state supreme court is the highest court in each state. It's similar to the Supreme Court of the United States but focuses on cases that deal with their specific state's laws and issues. The state supreme court helps make important decisions about the laws in that state. Members of the state supreme court are appointed or elected, depending on the state.

Federal District Courts, also known as "trial courts" "courts of first instance," are local courts where legal cases begin. There are 94 different district courts throughout the United States. District courts hear evidence, listen to witnesses, and decide on the outcome of the case based on legal principles. These courts handle various types of legal cases. District court decisions can be "appealed" to an appeals court, or ultimately, a state's supreme court or the federal supreme court. 

The president is the leader of our entire country, overseeing foreign policy and relationships, leading the US military, and signing into law or vetoing bills that are passed by Congress. Issues of immigration, public health, climate change and foreign spending and aid have all been center-stage in the president's work.

Representatives are elected to serve federally in the House of Representatives. Their main job is to write and pass laws that will benefit the communities that elected them. There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives, and each state has a different number of representatives proportional to their population (Counted every 10 years during the census). Representatives serve 2 year terms.

Senators are elected to serve federally in the US Senate. Their main job is to write and pass laws that will benefit the communities that elected them. There are 100 senators in the US Senate, 2 from each state. This means that every state, regardless of size or population, has the same representation in the senate. Senators serve 6 year terms.

The speaker is responsible for running and overseeing the House of Representatives, and playing a crucial role in the legislative priorities and strategies of their political party. The speaker is elected by the other members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each new congress (which happens every 2 years). They are a member of whichever political party holds the majority in the House of Representatives. 

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the entire United States. They have the final say on any important court cases that have been appealed on a local and state level, and their decisions have a massive impact on countless aspects of how the United States operates. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate and hold a lifetime appointment (meaning they are justices until they retire or pass away!). Abortion, voting rights and affirmative action have all been issues that the court has decided on in recent years.

The vice president presides over the US Senate and casts tie-breaking votes when the senate has a 50-50 split. They also advise the president, pursue legislative goals of the administration, and act as a key international ambassador for the United States.

Know Before You Go: Democracy in Action

Current news to help you understand for what’s at stake in your next election

Civics Guides: Beyond the Polls

Reference to understand elections, democracy and why your vote matters

Pre-Registration FAQs: Get Ready to Exercise Your Right to Vote!

In many states, you do not have to wait until you turn 18 in order to participate in politics! Pre-registration is one of the ways in which 16 and 17 year olds can get ready to vote. Read more to learn how pre-registration works in your state!

Understanding Gerrymandering: How It Impacts Elections and Voting

Democracy relies on the premise of one person, one vote - that is until people's votes don't all hold the same weight. Read more to learn about how gerrymandering is a complex tool used by politicians to keep power and weaken democracy!

Understanding Redistricting: How It Shapes Our Democracy

Every few years redistricting impacts where and how our communities vote... Read more to learn about the in's and out's of this critical aspect of democracy.

What Are Ballot Measures? 

Ballot measures are one of the most impactful ways that voters can impact their community from the ballot box - read on to learn the in's and out's of how they work!

Why Voting is Important: Your Voice Matters

From the president to our city councilmembers and everything in between, our vote is a critical way to use our voice to impact our communities. We dive into the nuances of why it's important to use your voice at the ballot box!