State and Local Public Policy

Throughout this topic, you learned how citizens can influence public policy at the regional level. In Virginia local and state governments, citizens can have more direct contract with their government officials than at the national level. At the regional level, citizens can meet with their representatives personally, serve on a commission or board with them, or speak to them directly at a public hearing held in their community. As a result, citizens can often have a greater impact on the public policy of their state and local governments.

You also examined the American Progressive Movement and the democratic reforms that were a result of the efforts of average citizens. By participating in the political process, citizens were able to remove corrupt politicians and big business from state and local governments. Direct primaries, initiatives, referendums, and recalls were also successes of the Progressive Movement.