The Constitutional Foundation

A strong American democracy values individual rights, the peaceful transition of power, and the neutral application of the law.

The goal of the Civil Society Field Hearing is to actively oppose presidential actions that contradict these values while simultaneously building representative power for the future. Showcasing foundational documents is a formidable starting point.

Article One: The People's Voice

The foundation of our democracy rests upon government by the people, for the people. Article One establishes the legislative branch as the citizens' voice, granting Congress the power to make laws and ensuring governance reflects elected representatives' collective wisdom rather than a single ruler's will. Congress should safeguard debate, demand accountability, and embody the essence of a republic, where leaders serve not themselves but those who trust them. As mediators between local and national concerns, members of Congress must navigate diverse constituent needs while shaping policies for the greater good. The American people are both collaborators and co-owners of the democratic process.

First Amendment Rights:

The First Amendment protects fundamental freedoms essential to democracy, freedom of speech being the most well-recognized. Civil Society Field Hearings illuminate two more of these rights specifically:

Right to Petition: The right to petition ensures every citizen has a voice in shaping government. Historically, the House maintained a formal petition capacity in the Clerk's office until the 1940s, providing representation even for the disenfranchised. Since that time, this grievance processing function has atrophied. Petitions to Congress helped end slavery and secure women's voting rights. Civil Society Field Hearings help revitalize this democratic function.
Right to Assemble: Freedom includes gathering peacefully in a public, deliberative process. From town squares to national marches to Civil Society Field Hearings, the right to assemble drives change in America. When we gather peacefully, we demonstrate that the people remain the trustworthy source of our democracy’s power.

Making an Impact

Civil Society Field Hearings create multiple avenues for impact:

Documented Record: Testimony becomes part of a preserved public record
Community Solidarity: Participants build relationships and collective purpose
Institutional Reform: Modeling how Congress should function through citizen initiative
Public Education: Increase understanding of constitutional principles and congressional role
Media Engagement: Create opportunities to amplify democracy’s values
Representative Accountability: Provide a structured forum for constituents to voice concerns
Defining a Democratic Republic: Establish modern norms in the digital era

The Civil Society Field Hearing's goal isn't merely to critique but to constructively demonstrate how governance can and should function in a healthy democracy. All democracies are living through a broad discussion about the role of government in society and the need for reform. While there is turbulence, upheaval, and harm, it is essential not to concede the premise that change is both natural and necessary. How can we responsibly reform the government while not harming democracy? What is the vision going forward? How shall we decide the appropriate role for technology in developing new methods? How do we transition peacefully to that vision?

Action Steps

Keep a list of attendees and interested community members, and continue building on it for future events. Reimagining and revitalizing democracy is a bold and ongoing effort worldwide. After submitting the witness testimony from your Civil Society Field Hearing, explore innovations in democracy and modern approaches to collective decision-making. '

Here is a memo to help you take action and learn more.
Share and expand your experience:
Host additional Civil Society Field Hearings.
Mentor a neighboring congressional district.
Establish a local Civic Voice Archive in a public space like a data coop, a community college, or a library.

Notify key stakeholders, including:

Local elected officials, your Member of Congress, if they did not attend.
State legislators
City and county officials.
State and local political party organizations.

Conclusion: Creating a Resilient Democracy

By organizing Civil Society Field Hearings, communities can transform from interested bystanders to active leaders in democratic governance. This initiative represents more than resistance—it embodies resilience. Constructive engagement strengthens democratic norms, establishes new relationships, and refines skills for future use.

The power of our constitutional system has always depended on an engaged citizenry willing to defend and reinvigorate its principles. These Civil Society Field Hearings demonstrate that the concept of "We the People" remains vital to America's future.

Lastly

The authors of this guide intend for it to be a constructive plan for building opposition to an overreaching president. At the same time, it offers an example for new oversight and decision-making practices in a modern democracy.

We hope this information will prompt a truly American journey–devolving power outward and to the People, decentralized but also connected through values and action. We aim for this guide to be adapted, improved, and expanded into a democracy movement.

Please send a note letting us know if you used this resource to organize a Civil Society Field Hearing. Remember to add your witneww testimony to an open-source repository at the Impact Project,

We would also be glad to hear about lessons learned, comments, and suggestions for other civic curricula. Contact us at Contact@ConstitutionalDefence .us.

This publication is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Please cite as: Kelly, L. 2025, From Resistance to Resilience, Center for Emergent Diplomacy, Santa Fe, New Mexico.