RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP -Part IBecause America is a self-governing nation, the course America takes depends on the action or inaction of each one of us. James Madison had this to say: "We have staked the whole future of the American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it, we have staked the future of all our political institutions on the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments." Governments are ordained institutions of God. God governs the world by two institutions -- civil government and the Church. As a citizen of this country, each of us has a civil responsibility to become involved in our government. As people of faith, each of us also has a responsibility to God, our families and our society to influence our nation for good. Alexis de Tocqueville once noted: "America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." When people of faith fail to fulfill their civil responsibilities, there will be consequences: 1) ungodly leaders; 2) immoral laws; 3) moral decline; and 4) judgment. Dr. Charles Stanley has said: "When we fail to carry out our divinely given responsibility before Almighty God and ... the State ... ultimately the judgment of God will reach its ultimate height in the life of that nation." ["A Call to Civil Responsibility", Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministries, 1993] UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTPRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20500 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 Comment Line: 202-456-1111 E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov MISSOURI U. S. SENATORSCHRISTOPHER BOND(R) 202-224-5721 F 202-224-8149JOHN ASHCROFT (R) 202-224-6154 F 202-228-0998 Combined District Offices for Sens. Bond & Ashcroft: Kansas City 816-471-7141 F 816--471-7338 Jefferson City 573-634-2488 F 573--634-6005 St. Louis 314-727-7773 F 314-727-3548 Springfield 417-881-7068 F 417-881-8532 Cape Girardeau 573-334-7044 F 573-334-7352 TO WRITE: The Honorable (first & last name): U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. TO CALL: Senate Switchboard - 202-224-3121 TERMS EXPIRE: Bond - 1998 Ashcroft - 2000 MISSOURI U.S. REPRESENTATIVESDISTRICT 1: WILLIAM L. CLAY (D) DISTRICT 2: JAMES M TALENT (R) DISTRICT 3: RICHARD A GEPHARDT (D) DISTRICT 4: IKE SKELTON (D) DISTRICT 5: KAREN MC CARTHY (D) DISTRICT 6: PAT DANNER (D) DISTRICT 7: ROY BLUNT (R) DISTRICT 8: JO ANN EMERSON (I) DISTRICT 9: KENNY HULSHOF (R) MISSOURI STATE GOVERNMENTGOVERNOR MEL CARNAHAN (D)216 State Capitol; Jefferson City, 65102. 573-751-3222 MISSOURI STATE SENATORSTO WRITE:The Honorable (first & last name); State Capitol; Jefferson City, 65101 TO CALL: Switchboard - 573-751-2000 SENATE BILL INFORMATION: 1-800-877-5982 SENATE HOME PAGE: MO Senate webpage TERMS EXPIRE: Even districts -1998 Odd districts - 2000 MISSOURI STATE REPRESENTATIVESTo Write:The Honorable (first & last name); State Capitol; Jefferson City, 65101 TO CALL: Switchboard - 573-751-2000 HOUSE BILL INFORMATION: 1-800-751-3659 HOUSE HOME PAGE: MO House webpage TERMS EXPIRE: 1998 Missouri General Assembly In Session January - May KANSAS U. S. SENATORSSAM BROWNBACK (R) PAT ROBERTS (R) WASHINGTON SWITCHBOARD: 202-224-3121 KANSAS U.S. REPRESENTATIVESDISTRICT 1: JERRY MORAN (R) DISTRICT 2: JIM RYUN (R) DISTRICT 3: VINCE SNOWBARGER (R) DISTRICT 4: TODD TIAHRT (R) 316-262-8992 F 316-262-5309 U. S. REPRESENTATIVE TERMS EXPIRE: 1998 WASHINGTON SWITCHBOARD: 202-224-3121 KANSAS STATE GOVERNMENTGOVERNOR BILL GRAVES (R)State Capitol, 2nd Floor. Topeka 66612 913-296-3232 KANSAS STATE SENATORSTo Write: The Honorable (first & last name); State Capitol; Topeka, 66612.To Call: Senate Switchboard - 913-296-0111 Legislative Hotline: 1-800-432-3924 Legislative Document Room: 913-296-4096 Kansas State Senate Terms Expire: 2000 KANSAS STATE REPRESENTATIVESTo Write: The Honorable (first & last name); State Capitol; Topeka, 66612.To Call: House Switchboard - 913-296-0111 Legislative Hotline: 1-800-432-3924 Legislative Document Room: 913-296-4096 Kansas State Representative Terms Expire: 1998 NOTE: Senate & House Switchboard, Legislative Hotline, and Legislative Document Room are in operation only during the legislative session. Kansas General Assembly Meets January - May, 1997 |