The way I went about deciding what were my items were going to be was based on what I do everyday. It wasn’t hard figuring our what impacts my life because I thought about what I do and what governmental links it has. After choosing my twelve topics, finding out information was not hard at all. This process what not hard at all. The only thing that seemed to be hard was finding out ways that the topics were negative when they are made to be positive. After reviewing all the topics and seeing how they directly affect my life I noticed that as I get older this will effect me more along with other laws as well. Because I am a minor today it will be less likely that more laws apply to me instead of for me. For example, I am my parents responsibility until I turn 18.

Sending out emails to me is not effective. I would have to send out hundreds of emails to people who would not have the time to personally message me back in time to finish this project or not knowing if the person that replies to it is actually the person written to. Instead I would like to create a 30 second PSA or commercial with people from all ages and race groups that have been convicted served their time but cannot vote to say "I made a mistake but Ive changed" with a quick profile of the person running by on the screen with their age, race, what they did and how long ago. 

After making this video I would then:

• Publish on a public blogging site.
• Share the link with a News Station.
• Publish on SLA's blogging site.
• Send the link to the Washington Post
• Send the link to the congressman who introduced the law.

Reflection: 

Although I hope to still do this video, it was very hard to find people that would actually be comfortable talking about that they did, especially those who are able or not able to vote today. Instead I took their stories and anonymously wrote a word document that expressed how they felt about the bill and the fact they were not allowed to vote. There were two people who I interviewed and both stories were completely different. Attached is the google doc link.

Sending out emails to me is not effective. I would have to send out hundreds of emails to people who would not have the time to personally message me back in time to finish this project or not knowing if the person that replies to it is actually the person written to. Instead I would like to create a 30 second PSA or commercial with people from all ages and race groups that have been convicted served their time but cannot vote to say "I made a mistake but Ive changed" with a quick profile of the person running by on the screen with their age, race, what they did and how long ago. 

After making this video I would then:

• Publish on a public blogging site.
• Share the link with a News Station.
• Publish on SLA's blogging site.
• Send the link to the Washington Post
• Send the link to the congressman who introduced the law.

Reflection: 

Although I hope to still do this video, it was very hard to find people that would actually be comfortable talking about that they did, especially those who are able or not able to vote today. Instead I took their stories and anonymously wrote a word document that expressed how they felt about the bill and the fact they were not allowed to vote. There were two people who I interviewed and both stories were completely different. Attached is the google doc link.

A snapshot of our Prezi presentation (flow chart) that shows the process of getting divorce.

My lobbying assignment has much to do with the federal law making and a federal law would have to be made for my bill to become effective. After researching for the past three months it is evident that their is not a particular person against this law or their is not a particular person for this law. It is being handled on a schedule that would allow constant revising and opinions to be involved in the decision making.

As the process of this bill continues a person who may have been for the law may not be in another setting due to revisions made.

Idea:

Sending out emails to me is not effective. I would have to send out hundreds of emails to people who would not have the time to personally message me back in time to finish this project or not knowing if the person that replies to it is actually the person written to. Instead I would like to create a 30 second PSA or commercial with people from all ages and race groups that have been convicted served their time but cannot vote to say "I made a mistake but Ive changed" with a quick profile of the person running by on the screen with their age, race, what they did and how long ago. 

After making this video I would then:

• Publish on a public blogging site.
• Share the link with a News Station.
• Publish on SLA's blogging site.
• Send the link to the Washington Post
• Send the link to the congressman who introduced the law.

What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year? 

The "Democracy Restoration Act" best year was 2009. it was introduced around a time where not much on law and bill passing was a major concern. During 2009 it went through the process of being introduced and then it eventually moved to going through The House who altered. This year there ha not been much talk about the bill and things haven't been done with it. We see that the process begins to die down after the Health Care Reform bill came into play in March of 2010. The officials that were major players in passing the bill became more concerned with The Health Care Reform because it was such a large bill that affected everyone and not just a particular group of Americans. There is not much on public support that i have seen but that does not mean that it isn't there. I'm almost positive that ex felons are very supportive of this bill.

Who is essential to the outcome? 

People that are essential to the outcome are ex-felons who have either served their time, off parole or probation. This law is a federal/national bill or law the entire executive and legislative branch is involved with changes, passing and veto's. 

Who else is working on this?

No one else is the class is working on this topic. Therefore I cannot coordinate.

Who can you influence? 

For this bill the influence has to be in the communities. The government has to see changes in the behavior of the ex-felons because it is vital to the decision making. You can only influence the people to prove that they have learned their lesson through the process of incarnation.

What is the time frame? 

There is not set time frame for this bill. My only concern is that because there will always be felons and cons and people that are making the change over from being a felon to an ex-felon this process will be looked over as something that can be changed later. My concern is that the bill will be overseen and looked at as not relevant. The scary reality of this is that everyday people are being convicted of a crime for minor things that they may have been mistaken and because of stricter laws. Adults that have made mistakes when younger are still unable to vote when they could be completely "civilized" now. To me this is one of the most important, concerning bills of the 21st century.  

When are key dates - meetings, committee hearings, deadlines, etc.   

- Hearing on: H.R. 3335, the "Democracy Restoration Act of 2009"
Tuesday 3/16/2010 - 2:00 p.m.
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
By Direction of the Chairman

Blog Posts Links: 

- https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1EzNV5ncFBywxH2XzMqT9nUmdbQ20kSCTeqd9uDN1-jw

- https://docs.google.com/document/d/13UkHDxX2LdxS3fwUDt9_05TXMNa2f33AMAzuLcUFqLU/edit?hl=en#

-       http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/83057-290-bills

-       http://www.votesmart.org/resource_govt101_02.php

-       http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3590

-       http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3590/show