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Throughout this course, I have gained a lot of new knowledge about how our democracy and presidential elections work. I will take this with me in the future because it is important knowledge to have as a citizen of the United States. I will take this knowledge with me as I vote in the next presidential election, as I will be of age when that time comes it. It is important to know how the presidential elections function in order to make the right choices when researching candidates and voting for the president. One thing in particular that stuck with me as I moved through this course was the different ways to be an active member of our democracy. There were so many different approaches that we learned about, and many of them can be applied in our daily lives. I will definitely continue to keep everything I learned in this course in mind because it is truly helpful information in terms of understanding our democracy. Even though I am not entering a career involving political science, it is still important knowledge to have as a citizen.

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One thing that I have learned in this course is how to get involved in our democratic government that isn't just voting or partaking in protests or boycotts. I have learned about community involvement like town meetings, volunteering, civic projects and more. This has stuck with me the most because it encouraged me to get involved in my community at Whitney Point. I have become more of an active member in my society. Before this course, I was barely involved and thought only adults could get involved. I was very wrong and was surprised but also glad to be proven incorrect. I hadn't realized that participation in the government happens everyday not once in a while. Even though I struggled with this extra class, I did enjoy this semester and learned a lot. Thank you. -Billie Leet

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I learned a lot from this course, but my favorite topic was learning about special interest groups and lobbying. I had never really thought too far into interest groups before, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about them. They are key in spreading public opinion and shaping policies. I especially liked getting the chance to research the NAACP so thoroughly, as I know how influential they are to American history. Throughout the past school year, I have gotten opportunities to work closely and frequently with the League of Women Voters, another special interest group. I can now better understand how they operate and why groups like them are so important to democracy. At the next meeting I attend, I will have a newfound appreciation for those ladies and their impact on the nation. Special interest groups was the thing that stuck with me the most because it is real citizens banding together for something they believe in to make a change, which I find very inspirational. Though they can sometimes be overlooked, joining a group that aligns with your beliefs can be a great way to increase your participation in government. In the future, I will always make a point to keep up with the movements of local special interest groups and lobbyists, and I will be able to recognize how they are safeguarding democracy and helping spread the voice of the people.

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One thing I’ve learned in this course that I’ll definitely take with me is how to be an active member of our democracy. Before this class, I always thought participating in democracy just meant voting every few years, but now I understand that it’s so much more than that. I learned that staying informed, having respectful conversations about issues, contacting elected officials, going to school board meetings, and even organizing within my community are all ways to get involved and make a real difference. This idea has stuck with me throughout the course because it made politics feel less distant and more connected to everyday life. It showed me that my voice actually matters, and that change doesn’t always come from the top—it often starts with regular people who care enough to act. Knowing that I have the power to speak up, take action, and help shape the world around me is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

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During this course I have learned several things apart of our democracy that I did not know before. Understanding is an important part of our democracy, and even to one of the first units, citizens are the most important part of our democracy. By being an educated citizen knowing our this country works is crucial to knowing how and where it is most important to participate in, voting, community service, or speaking out for what you believe needs to change in our government. I will take almost everything I learned into the future with me because as a citizen it is an important stance to keep up with the government, and to know what is happening in the world. This course was a really enjoyable course, and I have actually learned things about the government I did not know before.

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One thing that I have learned in this course that I will take with me in the future is the importance of being an informed and active participant in democracy. Before this cource, I understood that voting was important, but I didn't fully grasp how many other ways citizens can engage with the political process. To give just a few examples, active citizens contact representatives, put in the effort to stay informed on policies, participate in the local government, or join advocacy groups. This idea has stuck with me because it made me realize that that democracy isn't just something that happens once every four years when we vote for a president. It is something that we are given the opportunity to contribute to everyday. This course has helped me come to the conclusion that change starts with ordinary people who care enough to get involved. And because of this realization, I plan on doing my part.

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There are plenty of things that I have learned while taking this government class that will help me in the future and even just right now. One thing that especially stood out to me was how important my personal involvement in the US government was. I believe that this has stuck with me over the entire course because my original stance was to not be involved with the government at all. That view changed as I learned that there are so many ways to be involved and helpful. I didn't have to be the President to be involved I could vote or volunteer at voting polls. Over the entire course it has been conveyed to us that our US government is only as strong as the citizens who participate in it. Seeing what amazing effects civil participation can have on our society has influenced me to become more involved in my community and when I grow up in my country's government. I am especially interested in volunteering, voting in elections, donating, and especially connecting with my community. I have learned so much from this course that has helped me and will help me throughout my future.

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Please make sure to answer each part of the question. Answers should be at least three to five sentences long using proper spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation.