Kelly Shaw, co-director of Iowa State University’s Center for Cyclone Civics and teaching professor of political science, and Clair Lewis, a senior in political science and Cyclone Civics intern, recently collaborated with the League of Women Voters of Ames and Story County to create “The Citizens’ Handbook: An Iowan’s Guide to Being a Good Citizen.”
The handbook describes how local, state, and national governments are structured and how Iowans can participate and make their voices heard.
After the League of Women Voters of Indiana developed a Citizens’ Handbook for their state in 2024, the League of Women Voters of Ames and Story County (LWV-ASC) obtained permission from that league to adapt the handbook for Iowa.
Under the direction of the LWV-ASC and with funding from a Making Democracy Work grant from the League of Women Voters Education Fund and community donors, Shaw and Lewis revised the content in the Indiana handbook to reflect Iowa’s governmental structures, political processes, and civic participation opportunities.
“The League of Women Voter’s Citizens’ Handbook makes an important and timely contribution to public life in Iowa,” Shaw said. “By clearly explaining how government works and how citizens can meaningfully participate in it, the Handbook strengthens our collective understanding of the political process and inspires informed, active civic engagement. In the end, we hope that the Handbook provides readers with the confidence to participate fully in our democracy.”
You can download the handbook from the League of Women Voters of Iowa website.