TL;DR

From its founding, America has aspired to government by and for the people. Yet its most representative institution—the U.S. Congress—has struggled to keep pace with how people communicate and organize today. As new digital tools emerge, they open fresh opportunities for communities to be heard. Deliberative platforms, voice-to-data tools, and AI can help people share their lived experiences and collective insights directly with elected leaders. This guide offers a starting point. It shows how communities can gather testimony, create a shared public record, and turn civic voice into a lasting resource for both policymakers and the public.

Around the world, countries are going through transition and change.  Old institutions are adapting to new communications methods and responding to demands for participation. This moment presents an opportunity.to increase civic voice in lawmaking. 

Modern technology illuminates a path forward. These are digital tools—such as deliberative platforms, public archives, and community-run data cooperatives—that help people come together to share experiences, learn from one another, and find common ground. They turn public conversation into information that can be preserved, trusted, and used. In doing so, they renew core First Amendment practices of assembly and petition by creating safe, constructive spaces and lasting public records of what communities say, know and desire. Over time, these tools can build trust in shared data and strengthen relationships among neighbors, local news media, and elected leaders. They also arrive at a critical moment for the U.S. Congress. As lawmakers take on greater responsibility for writing clear, accountable laws—especially following recent guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court—these tools can help Congress listen more closely and govern in ways that better reflect the public it serves.

Congress is the bridge between the local and the national

Our Founders designed the U.S. House of Representatives to connect ordinary citizens to federal power. This guide offers a practical way to strengthen the connection between communities and Congress by building on an existing information sharing method--the committee hearing.  It introduces Civil Society Field Hearings, a locally grounded model that helps communities share collective knowledge, support democratic participation, strengthen oversight, and create a public record that holds leaders accountable. The approach focuses on the U.S. House of Representatives and is designed to work alongside current systems, made possible by recent advances in technology and data reform. By demonstrating effective new practices, civil society can build public trust and show what is possible. Over time, these models may be adopted into official congressional workflows. For now, Civil Society Field Hearings contribute to a growing national movement to renew American democracy and bring elected officials closer to the communities they serve.

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, official committee hearings typically happen on Capitol Hill.  Yet committees in Congress also 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 voices. 

Peaceful protest is a long tradition in democracies around the world. Yet even Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that protest must be paired with constructive programs—approaches that build alternative systems rather than reflexive opposition. Constructive programs complement peaceful protest and reduce dependence on official systems by promoting self-reliance, education, and community empowerment. Civil Society Field Hearings represent this constructive approach to democratic renewal.

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.  Today, states are the laboratories of democracy.  Communities are the maker-spaces. 

• Electronic submission of legislation 
• Remote witness testimony with a 100% increase in witness diversity 
• Redesign of correspondence management system 
• Competency in using remote video technology in all offices 
• Proxy voting capabilities (temporary) 
• Online committee hearings streaming and accessible nationwide 
• Prototype of online collaborative editing of law with civil society 
• Artificial Intelligence integrated in the House of Representatives workflow
• Revised House rules allowing members to partner with civil society for constituent services and share information 
• Communications standards updated from analog to digital 
• Standardization of labeling and format of documents 
• Increased usefulness of congressional data
• Designation of trusted data partners in Congress' data map

Civil Society Field Hearings differ from town halls. Because they simulate an official process, they are a more formal and curated method of gathering community input, creating a record, and connecting local experience to national decision-making.  They build on the civic momentum generated by town halls and other sorts of gathering.

Civil Society refers to the networks of groups, communities, and associations between individuals and government—clubs, non-profit organizations, task forces, and membership organizations. It exists nationwide. This guide shows how Civil Society can take the lead in designing modern democratic methods, holding elected representatives accountable and   restoring checks and balances. 

Whether official or community-initiated, field hearings allow your representative to fulfill three  roles:

• A connector and moderator of federal power
• A community member
• A civic information provider

Because Civil Society Field Hearings will be initiated locally by the community and centered on local civic voice, member attendance is desirable but not mandatory.  The most important outcome: building muscles for modern democracy!

• Strengthen solidarity and relationships while working together 
• Establish a "Congressional Record" of Civic Voice through submitting formatted testimony.  For hearings about local impacts of recent presidential actions, submit here.  You can also create an account at the Internet Archive, build a data coop, or ask your member to submit it officially in the Congressional Record.  
• Generate a visible profile for civic action and the defense of democratic institutions
• Renew a democratic value that the people closest to a problem should help solve the problem 

Congress plays a key role in overseeing the executive branch by reviewing public policy implementation, often through committee hearings that evaluate programs, address issues, and ensure agency accountability. Similarly, Civil Society Field Hearings aim to gather community input and become trusted, useful data providers. 

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

• 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 recent local impacts. 
• A data map of Congress

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 laws, policies or presidential actions   
• A local attorney, retired judge, civics educator, or former member who can provide explanatory testimony on the role of Congress in our federal system  
• State and local government officials can provide data and first-hand information
• Veterans can speak as a public servant about use of force,  and often have international perspective
• 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 importance of research and science 
• Park personnel can address loss and damage to public lands
• Health worker can testify about community resilience
• Local business owners impacted by the ripple effect of budget cuts or tariffs
• Small farm operators and business owners in a disrupted supply chain
• Community members who can share reform ideas and a positive vision of the future

Preparation materials must include clear guidelines.  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 in the appendix 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 helpful organizing documents:

• Invitation to Member
• Press Release
• Finding Witnesses
• Possible Questions for Witnesses
• Witness Prep Guidelines
• Recording and Submitting Witness Testimony
• Room Prep Guidelines
• Moderator Guidelines
• TL;DR Handout

• Select an accessible venue suitable for community proceedings. Consider a location with security. 
• Identify a qualified moderator (local civic leader, educator, trained facilitator, or former elected official).
• Define organizing 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 locally or at Internet Archive. 

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