The Citizen's Guidebook

Democracy is often understood as a system where people elect representatives through voting. While elections are an essential part of democracy, democracy is much larger than the act of casting a vote. A democracy survives through the daily actions of citizens. It depends on people who understand their rights and respect the rights of others. It depends on citizens who question governments but also contribute solutions.
It depends on communities that cooperate instead of remaining divided. It depends on individuals who understand that freedom requires responsibility. Many people know the names of political leaders but do not understand how government actually functions. They know that they have rights but do not know how to protect them. They criticize public systems but do not know how to participate in improving them.
They demand accountability but often do not understand the mechanisms available to them. The Citizen's Guidebook was created to bridge this gap. This book is not only about government structures, constitutions, laws, or elections. It is about developing a mindset of active citizenship.