For democracy to succeed, it is vital for citizens to take an active interest in their government. State and Local Programs. Close Up Connections programs provide students and other participants with opportunities for citizenship education and direct involvement in the democratic process. They also help participants understand the connections between the federal government and their own community, between their rights and their responsibilities, and between their community s needs and the political process. All state and local Close Up programs are limited only by the imagination and ingenuity of the program planners.
Local programs take place nearby and usually last one day.
They may include workshops, debates, or study visits, and may also involve more than one school in a given town or city as well as local residents and community leaders. State Programs State programs involve participants from across a particular state, and usually take place in the capital city. These programs often last from one to six days, and are designed to help participants understand important state issues and witness how their state government works. Intergenerational Programs Intergenerational programs bring together students and adults to discuss issues of concern across generations. They follow the same format as other state and local programs.