Active Citizenship Project

History of U.S. Government and Economics

Project Rationale:
In order to provide students with a practical understanding of how our democracy functions in terms of
its direct connection and relevance to them, students in History of U.S. Government and Economics will
be required to attend and report on a local public governmental meeting.

Project Description:

Students will choose a local Bernards Township governmental meeting to attend between September 15,
2017 and May 4th, 2018. A list of meetings of the various governmental units to choose from is included
here and will be posted in the classroom. At the public meeting students will observe the business
conducted and take notes about the structure, form of government and content of the meeting. Students
will write a reflective essay chronicling the experience and evaluating the effectiveness of this local
government organization. Finally, students will make a presentation at the end of the fourth marking
period presenting their analysis of the meeting and the committee and the local government
organization. Students will submit meeting handouts and their notes along with a reflective essay
chronicling the experience and effectiveness of this level and body of local government.

Directions for Public Meeting Project:

● Carefully choose a unit of local government that you would like to know more about. See the
attached list of potential committees and fall/winter dates. Spring dates will be updated in
January, 2018.
○ Not all committees are equal. Some deal with more important and substantive issues than others. The
five committees that tend to have the most action are . . . The Township Committee, Bernards Township Board
of Education, The Planning Board, The Board of Adjustment, and the Municipal Alliance.

○ Please see your teacher for guidance.

● Sign up for meeting on classroom sign up sheet.
● Call ahead to confirm meeting that day to ensure it has not been canceled or postponed. Check
website for more information.
● Check the relevant websites for more information about the meeting. Research the committee
and issues on the agenda to prepare for the meeting. *Guiding Questions attached
● Arrive early for the meeting. Leave signature sheet with the Committee Chairperson. Depending
on the committee, you may be asked to leave the signature there and retrieve it sometime after
the meeting from Town Hall.
● Be respectful during the meeting and follow all meeting rules.
● Take notes at the meeting, using the guiding topics and questions. *Guiding Questions attached
● Collect and attach any related documents such as agendas, or meeting informational handouts.
Note: Most meetings begin between 7 and 8 PM, if you should find yourself at a particularly long
running meeting you do not have to stay until the end.

● Write a reflective essay analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of this committee. See
attached instructions and rubric.
● Submit essay to www.turnitin.com within one month of meeting attendance.
● If not submitted, student will receive a zero (0) for the assignment. (15% of the 4 th Marking
Period)

Name_______________________ Date___________ Period_________

 History of U.S. Government and Economics

Bernards Township Meeting Attendance Questions

Directions: Take notes (on separate paper) on relevant meeting information including, but
not limited to the following guiding questions. Your notes are due the day you make your
presentation.

1. Before the meeting:

Visit the committee’s website. Research any history of the committee. What is their
mission statement? What are their responsibilities? What are their powers? What are their
procedures? What is their mission statement?

2. At the meeting:

Details of the meeting:

Name and date of meeting attended: _______________________________

Date Reflective Essay is due on Turn-It-In: (30 days)____________________

How long was the meeting? _____________________________________

What members were present? List their full names.

How many people were in the audience? _____________________________

Time and duration, new and old business discussed, any decisions voted on.

Guiding Questions for Note-taking:

● What was the first order of business? Describe it.

● How was the meeting conducted?
● What new business was introduced over the course of the meeting? Was the audience
involved in the discussion of those issues? Be detailed in your answer.
● How well was the agenda followed?
● What impact do the issues discussed at the meeting have on the citizens of Bernards
Township?
● Did anyone from the audience speak? Did they ask about agenda or non-agenda items?
Did the committee answer the question(s)?
3. After the meeting. See attached directions for reflective essay - due 30 days after the
meeting.

Fall 2017 Meeting Dates/Times

*** Bernards Township ***Bernards Township ***Bernards Township,
Board of Education, Planning Board, Municipal Township Committee
RHS- PAC or WAMS Building 7:30PM: Public Session Municipal
Aud. 7PM: 9/5/17 Building 8PM
9/11/17 (R) 9/19/17 9/12/17
9/25/17 (R) 10/3/17 9/26/17
10/9/17 (R) 10/17/17 10/10/17
10/30/17 (R) 11/7/17 10/24/17
11/13/17 (W) 11/21/17 11/28/17
11/27/17 (R) 12/5/17 12/12/17
12/18/17 (W) 12/26/17
1/2/18 (P) 1/2/18 (7 PM )

***Bernards Township Environmental Recreation, Parks and

Board of Adjustment Commission Pathways
Municipal Building Municipal Building 7PM Town Hall 7PM
7:30PM 9/25/17 10/2/17
9/14/17 11/13/17 11/6/17
10/4/17 1 /11/17
10/12/17
11/8/17
11/16/17
12/6/17

Municipal Alliance Board of Health Pool Commission

Bernards Township Health Department 8PM Town Hall 7pm
Town Hall 6:00 p.m. – 9/14/17 9/25/17
8:00 p.m 10/23/17
10/12/17
First Tuesday after the first
Monday of the month (except 12/7/17
July and August)
 Reflective Essay for Public Meeting Project

Directions: After attending your chosen School Board or Bernards Township meeting you will write
a 1-2 page paper in which you reflect on, and evaluate the experience. Rubric attached.

The essay should:

● Explain why you chose the meeting you attended.
● Discuss the business/issues acted on during the meeting. Rate the importance of the issues
discussed.
● Relate and evaluate the purpose/goals of the committee/board.
● Interpret the effectiveness of the body you observed. Where does the Board or Committee you
viewed get its power? Are there any checks on their power? If so, from who?
● Discuss the public/citizen interaction with the governing body.
● State your opinion of the success of the event in meeting its purpose.
● Rate your overall experience and describe the local political process in terms of its value to
Bernards Township citizens.
History of Government and Economics Name _______________
Active Citizenship Project Rubric Per______ Date _______
15% of 4th MP Grade

1. Reflective Essay Excellent Good Fair Poor Missing

(70%)

To receive a good-
The essay
● explains why you chose the meeting you attended.
● discusses the business/issues acted on during the meeting
○ evaluates the importance of the issues discussed.
● evaluates the purpose/goals of the committee/board.
○ effectiveness of committee/board in serving the citizens of Bernards Township
● reflects on the public/citizen interaction with the governing body.
● asserts your opinion of the success of the event in meeting its purpose.
● summarizes your overall experience
Format - the essay
● is written in complete sentences
● is well organized in paragraphs, with topic sentences
● is edited for proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Is submitted to turn-it-in on time

Is submitted with a signed form verifying attendance – required

2. Presentation Excellent Good Fair Poor Missing

(30%)

To receive a good-
Student’s content
● summarizes the meeting clearly and concisely
● evaluates the success of that particular meeting
● evaluates the purpose of the committee/board, and its effectiveness in serving the citizens of
Bernards Township
● reflects on his/her own experience
Presentation skills - student
● does not read, but uses notes sparingly
● uses excellent speaking skills
○ maintains eye contact with audience, projects voice, moderates pace, projects
enthusiasm

_________