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From Resistance to Resilience

A Strategic Guide for

Organizing Civil Society Field Hearings:

Create a Congressional Record of Civic Voice!

Introduction: Democracy in Action

Congress is the world's most powerful representative assembly. Yet it fails to question the actions of a President who flouts laws, eliminates congressionally established agencies, and manipulates funds that only Congress can authorize and appropriate. Communities across America should be asking three questions, gathering testimonial responses and storing the information as a civic voice archive for future lawmaking. They are:

1. Who in my community has lost their livelihood because of recent Presidential actions?

2. What gaps will my community now face because of this community member's missing knowledge and shared contribution?

3. If we could re-imagine this individual's public service in the future, how might we design it differently?

Here's the good news. The American people don't need to wait for Congress to act. We can start now and lead the way through the current chaos. This guide explains how you can gather and create a public record of community impact testimony--information that will be critical for revitalizing American democracy.

In times of constitutional challenge, political leaders and everyday citizens must affirm and strengthen the institutions that make democratic governance possible. Our Founders designed the U.S. House of Representatives to connect ordinary citizens to federal power. It is our most all-embracing governing institution, and its role as a check on the executive branch is essential to upholding the rule of law, our way of life, and our democracy.

This guide provides a practical approach to addressing concerns about presidential overreach by leveraging Congress's capacities. It proposes using Civil Society Field Hearings, which empower communities to harness shared intelligence with democratic participation, strengthen oversight, and create a public record that holds elected leaders accountable. This model is rooted in local engagement. It aims to foster governance where elected officials are active community members rather than distant targets of criticism.

The instructions here focus on the US House of Representatives. The idea is to simulate innovative governance alongside existing systems—an approach made possible by recent advancements in technology and data reforms. Civil Society can build public trust in these approaches by demonstrating effective new practices. Ideally, Congress will eventually integrate these demonstrations into its official workflow. In the meantime, the Civil Society Field Hearings will be a political opposition strategy and part of a national pro-democracy movement.

An official field hearing is a method Congress uses to gain "on the ground" perspectives on an issue. It is a feedback mechanism that began on the front lines during the Civil War. Today, committees in Congress convene field hearings across the USA to include more local perspectives in the deliberative process. Similarly, Civil Society Field Hearings–though not official– will be initiated and organized in communities and feature local civic voices.

Demonstrating a Constructive Alternative

Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that protest must be paired with constructive programs—approaches that build alternative systems rather than reflexively opposing oppression. Constructive programs complement direct action and reduce dependence on oppressive systems by promoting self-reliance, education, and community empowerment. Civil Society Field Hearings represent this constructive approach to democratic renewal.

Civil Society Field Hearings will be a decentralized demonstration of modern governance. Like a second track alongside the House of Representatives, they are a constructive program and a space for imagining what emerges next.

Federalism 2.0: Self-Determination For A New Era

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how Congress can quickly adapt to maintain its representative duties during a crisis. Throughout the pandemic, members voted by proxy, introduced legislation electronically, and held committee hearings online—dramatically increasing witness diversity and expanding participation

These lessons point toward a resilient approach: using technology and decentralization to strengthen our democratic institutions. By moving some congressional functions online and into states, we can create a more accessible, inclusive system of governance that successfully continues through volatility and challenge.

The 7 R's of Congressional Opposition Power

Rights: Congress is the heart of Article One in the U.S. Constitution—first among equals in our three branches of government. The First Amendment allows citizens to petition to redress grievances and assemble peacefully. Civil Society Field Hearings leverage these institutional prerogatives to strengthen democratic participation.
Rules: The foundational premise underlying the rule of law is maintaining checks and balances between the three branches of government. Congress must be fully functional and have the capacity and will to hold the executive accountable. Internally, Congress has adopted new technology, adapted rules, and increased its representative potential.
Reputation: Civil Society Field Hearings provide authentic shared knowledge and lived experiences to inform decision-making. Americans across the USA have unique expertise, and many are willing to share their knowledge for the public good. These hearings identify and elevate these voices.
Record: The Congressional Record (CR) is Congress's official documentation, preserving debates and proceedings. It holds the memory of our democratic republic and provides primary material for historical learning and contemporary lawmaking. Civil Society Field Hearings create a civic voice record, collected by communities and preserved digitally.
Rooms: Congress doesn't require its marble buildings for Civil Society Field Hearings. Districts nationwide offer suitable public spaces—libraries, schools, parks, amphitheaters, community centers, church social rooms, grange halls, or VFW posts—that can host civic events.
Recognition: Testifying before Congress is an honor that acknowledges the importance of citizen input in the world's most influential legislature. Civil Society Field Hearings demonstrate how the People's House can hear and value more local voices, shaping and co-owning our nation's institutional memory and our data for evidence-based lawmaking.
Representation: Members of Congress derive their leadership confidence and capacity for action through representative duties. An active, supportive constituency based in the district is the currency of power that can persevere and prevail against narrow vested interests and an aggressive executive branch intent on skewing the balance of power.

Preparing for Your Civil Society Field Hearing

Desk Research. Begin with thorough research on your Member of Congress
Identify your representative at www.house.gov
Study their official website for press releases and sponsored bills.
Check what your member has entered into the Congressional Record at Congress.gov. Might they enter your community's testimony? Ask!

Gather key information:

Note your congressional district number and the correct spelling of names
District office contact information
Staff contacts and communication channels
Committee assignments and caucus memberships
Leadership positions (institutional and party)
Demonstrated methods of public engagement.
Might your member feature the Civil Society Field Hearing as a constituent service innovation on their website? Ask!
The House switchboard is 202-224-3121

Helpful Resources: Links

GovTrack: Member Votes and Legislation
Public Disclosure: Repository of member newsletters
Tracking the Funds: Government Accountability Office record of community grants in districts across the USA
My Congressional District Census: An interactive tool for district statistics
U.S. Constitution Annotated: Legal analysis of the Constitution
Congressional Research Service: Policy research resources
Congressional Budget Office: Budget proposal information
A Presidential Executive Order Tracker
A map of local impacts.

Witness Preparation

Compelling testimony is crucial to a successful Civil Society Field Hearing. Witness selection should represent a cross-section of community perspectives with relevant expertise.

Individuals in the community impacted by recent Executive Orders
A local attorney, retired judge, civics educator, or former member who can provide testimony on the role of Congress in our federal system, the importance of laws, and the dangers of executive overreach and constitutional crisis.
State and local government officials often have first-hand information.
Veterans can speak as a public servant and/or person deployed to protect democracy.
Non-profit leaders or union members can explain the impact of cuts to public programs.
Federal employees who have been fired can make the loss visible
Health professionals can speak to the impact of research and science cuts
Park personnel can address loss and damage to public lands
Community member who has been active, visible, and vocal about the dangers of our democratic crisis
Local business owners, who are impacted by the ripple effect of budget cuts or tariffs
Small farm operators and other rural business owners in the supply chain

Preparation materials should include clear guidelines on format, time limits, and submission requirements. Materials should clearly state that the event will be recorded. Witnesses should prepare written testimony of 500-1000 words. (1-4 pages) that can be delivered in 5-7 minutes. Please have a look at the Witness Prep document for details. At the top of the document, please include:

Witness name,
The date that the Civil Society Field Hearing took place
The congressional district number code (i.e., AZ02 is Arizona’s second district), which you can find at www.House.gov

Focus testimony on how policies affect the community, especially the members' constituents. Maintain decorum, answer questions respectfully, and provide compelling evidence.

Here are:

Venue and Logistics

Select an accessible venue suitable for formal proceedings. Consider a location with security.
Identify a qualified moderator (local civic leader, educator, trained facilitator, or former elected official).
Define organizing leadership roles with clear responsibility for congressional staff contact.
Create a run-of-show with timeframes for each segment.
Develop an audiovisual plan and consider live streaming. Video can be transcribed and/or archived at Internet Archive.

Please take a look at the appendices for details on the above items.

From Resistance to Resilience

Introduction: Democracy in Action