Procedure:

Assignment Procedure:

Obtain the legislators names and addresses

Using web sites listed on this page find out the following facts on your Federal (in Washington DC) and state (in Trenton) representatives:

1. the names (split in into title, first, and last)
2. addresses (split it into street, city, state, zip)
3. party (Democrat or Republican)
4. year of next election
5. email address or web page on their website with an email form
6. their position on one or more issues important to you

Record these facts in your data source

By setting up two windows:

you can easily drag and drop or cut and paste.

Create an Access Database (done automatically by MS Word  XP) to use as a Data Source for the Mail Merge.  Gather the required facts from web sites or other sources and enter them.

Write a letter either complaining about or praising something that your elected representatives should know about or do something about.  Include one or more merge fields in the body of the letter. For example "The ??? party should blah blah or I will not be voting for you in ???."   I feel strongly you should support <<issue>>. 

Write the letter

Be sure as this is a proper business letter that has your Name,  address and email address on top. .
Each letter must have complete inside address.  Word XP will do this automatically using Insert Address Block icon . With other word processors, you must insert each field individually:

Title FirstName LastName
StreetAddress
City, state ZipCode

Note the comma (,) and the space following it are typed in the letter.

No one said your letter has to be dull, so you can use some interesting fonts and clipart and borders if you like (but it is a business letter).

Submit

Submit either on paper or via your briefcase.

Put both files (the form letter and the data source) on your briefcase and send an email notifying me to grade per the guidelines.

Federal:

State:

Check Search Engines for NJ legislators

Congress.ORG let you easily write your Federal legislators. Check this useful site out for sample letters and more information about your legislators, like how they voted on important issues.

A brief civics (social studies) lesson

The federal Government (in Washington, DC) is divides into 3 branches:

The 2 US Senators and 1 House of Representative for YOUR district are the ONLY ones interested in your opinion since you cannot vote for the others. 

Each state determine its own government structure, but most, like NJ, have modeled it after the federal government with 3 branches:

NJ elections are held on odd years, 2007, 2009 etc, while Federal elections are held on even years, 2006, 2008. etc..

Assessment