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Content: One thing any citizen can do is to request to be on the agenda for the upcoming city council meeting so that they can publically have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. In order to get on the agenda, one must contact the mayor’s office and request to be on the agenda. They must state the purpose for which they want to be heard, and they must provide the name or names of the individuals who would like to speak. Very often, one person will be allowed to speak for a group that has come to address the same concern. Also, there will be a certain amount of time alloted for an individual to have the floor. All of this, by the way, should be done in a mature, respectful and civilized manner. Participating in a democracy by voting is one part of a larger freedom that allows the citizens of a community, and our nation, to make change. A free press is one part of a larger freedom because it gives citizens the right to be informed. But the part of a larger freedom that is often overlooked, or under appreciated, is participation — either by running for office or by being sure to take advantage of laws in place that allow for our voices to be heard. If you don’t like a decision made by your elected officials, let them know by asking them to publically explain their decisions.