The United States is an indirect democracy where citizens elect officials to national, statewide and local offices to serve as their voice on political issues.
As the new administration ushers in numerous policies affecting the country’s social and political sphere, the need for activism, truthful information and clear, direct communication with government figures and representatives becomes increasingly important.
One of the ways citizens can have their voices heard, besides voting, is to get in touch with their Congressional representatives.
“Writing to your congressman is one of your duties as a citizen … their role is to provide a service to you, they work for you, the people, because you elect them into office,” said Molly Henderson, a political science professor at the University of Memphis.
It is important for today’s youth to contact their representatives, said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).
“Make your voice heard!” Cohen said.
A large majority of millennials, people born during the 1980s and ‘90s believe they can make the United States a better place to live, a study by the Millennial Impact Project discovered. While 83 percent of respondents thought they could make an impact, only 47 percent saw themselves as activists.
Millennials don’t get much of their news from traditional TV or print sources, according to data from the American Press Institute. Instead, they get most of their news from social media.
“If it’s important enough for you to feel strongly about, it’s important enough for you to take a few minutes of your time to either send the email, write the letter, whatever it is in order for your voice to be heard,” Henderson said. “If you say your voice isn’t being heard, you aren’t speaking loud enough.”
A student writes a letter to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn). Writing to your representative can be one of the best ways to make your voice heard.
