On April 4, IU East is hosting two retired members of the U.S. House for the Congress to Campus event. David Minge, (D) Minnesota (1993-2001) and Steven T. Kuykendall, (R) California (1999-2001), will visit classrooms and talk with students interested in the democratic process. There will also be a reception from 5-6 pm in the Whitewater Hall lobby, and a Town Hall meeting directly following in the Community Room entitled “Election 2016: The Changing Nature of Political Campaigns.” Both the reception and Town Hall are open to the public. This is a great opportunity to hear inside perspectives on electioneering, what working in Congress is like, and the importance of the political system.

With 2016 being an election year, there are many opportunities to participate in the democratic process. Voting, of course, is the most obvious way of participating. If you aren’t registered to vote in the state of Indiana, you can do so here (but please note that April 4 IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY). The primary election is on May 3^rd and the general election is on November 8^th. October 11^th is the last day to register if you want to vote in the general election. And, if you’re already registered, you can locate your polling place here.

Communication with your already-elected representatives is important, too. Fortunately, it is easy to contact them. If you live in Indiana, you can find your Indiana state senator or representative here. In Ohio, look here. And for federal representatives, the listing can be found here.

The library also houses a wealth of information about governmental issues and the legislative process. Databases like ProQuest Political Science and EBSCO Military and Government Collection are great tools. CQ Researcher offers comprehensive reports and analysis of major political and social issues. OxResearch offers insight on worldwide political issues and developments. And for government information and publications, try the Government Printing Office and THOMAS, which features congressional bills, resolutions, treaties, committee information, activity, and schedules as well as the full text of the Congressional Record. Beyond databases, we also offer plenty of books like How Congress Works: And Why You Should Care by Lee Hamilton, Drafting Legislation by Constantin Stefanou, or How Laws Are Made in the U. S. A. by Helen Maes.

Need any help with finding the resources you need? Please ask us at iueref@iue.edu!