Making a difference through the political process

According to a national survey, three-quarters of U.S. teens believe they have the power to make a difference in the political process, even though they aren't old enough to vote. The survey was conducted among 502 teens across the nation by Yankelovich Partners in collaboration with the Lutheran Brotherhood's

RespecTeen: Speak for Yourself program. The program's curriculum is designed to help middle school students learn about the democratic process and how government works. The free curriculum can be obtained online [www.Respec Teen.org] or ordered by calling (888) 376-1876. The site includes worksheets and overheads teachers can use to give students a clearer understanding of how they can influence their representatives as constituents. The curriculum does not contain religious material.