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Join Judge Stephen Knights and Joseph Henning for a new episode of The Citizen's Playbook, the Henry County Chamber's civic education podcast presented by Georgia Power.

This week's episode, "Under the Gold Dome," explains the unique, fast-paced environment of the Georgia legislature and its key procedural deadlines.

This week's featured guest is Greg Bluestein, Chief Political reporter at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Each episode in this series includes a specific call to action, or homework. Here's this week's assignment: When the legislature is in session, visit legis.ga.gov and watch the livestream for 15 minutes. Look for a daily calendar on the website to see which bills are scheduled for a vote.

Whether you're interested in federal, state, or local government, The Citizen's Playbook makes civics approachable, practical, and relevant to everyday life.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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If you think the U.S. Constitution is the only rulebook that matters, think again. Georgia has its own, and it affects your schools, taxes, and roads.

This episode's goal is to explain the unique features of Georgia's state constitution and how it governs "kitchen table" issues.

Here is this week's assignment: Find one right in the Georgia Bill of Rights (Article I) that is not in the United States Bill of Rights. Look at Paragraph II and think about how it applies to modern debates.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Seven is Chris Denson, Director of Policy and Research, Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Many of us grew up watching “I’m Just a Bill.” The reality is far more complicated, like a brutal obstacle course.

This episode's goal is to demystify the complex federal lawmaking process and explain why change in Washington is often slow.

Here is this week's assignment: Visit the website of your US Representative or Senator and find which committees they serve on. Take a look at their subcommittee assignments.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Six is Former Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), and Executive Director of the Concord Coalition.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Imagine a game with three teams, where each team has the power to stop the
others from scoring. That’s the basic design of the U.S. government. 

This episode's goal is to demonstrate the mechanisms of checks and balances in action as the primary defense against concentrated power.

Here is this week's assignment: Find one news story from the past year where one branch of the federal government limited the power of another. Analyze if the check was effective or just created gridlock.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Five is Dr. Michael Lynch, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Last week, we discussed the Constitution as the government’s instruction
manual. But many founders worried it didn’t do enough to protect the people from that government. The solution was the Bill of Rights. 

This episode's goal is to present the Bill of Rights as a powerful shield of explicit limitations on government to protect citizens.

Here is this week's assignment: Pick one of the first ten amendments and find a recent Georgia news story or court case about it. Take notice if the case is in a state or federal court.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Four is Judge Stephen Knights Jr., Judge, Henry County State Court.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Welcome back! 

If the Declaration of Independence was the "why" of America, the Constitution is the "how." It's the instruction manual, the operating system for the entire U.S. government, and it all starts with three of the most powerful words every written: "We the People."

This episode's goal is to explain the Constitution as the practical, structural solution to the chaos that preceded it, focusing on its core principles of separating and balancing power.

Here is this week's assignment: Look up Article V. This is the article that explains how the Constitution can be amended. Understanding how difficult it is to change the document underscores why it has lasted for over 230 years.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Three is Professor Eric Segall, the Ashe Family Chair Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Welcome back! This week, we examine the document that provides the moral and philosophical vision for the entire American enterprise: the Declaration of Independence. We frame this famous "breakup letter" as our enduring national mission statement and the foundational "why" of America.

This episode's goal is to frame the Declaration of Independence as the nation's enduring moral mission statement; the "why" of America.

Each episode in this series will end with a specific call to action. Here is this week's assignment: Find a copy of the Declaration of Independence online and read the second paragraph out loud. BONUS: Read the list of grievances and reflect on whether any feel modern.

Our Featured Guest for Episode Two is Dr. Stan Deaton, Senior Historian at the Georgia Historical Society.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.

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Welcome to The Citizen’s Playbook, an 18-part audio journey created to transform civics from a passive subject into an active tool. This series is a user manual for our
democracy, specifically tailored for the citizens of Georgia. We believe that understanding the rules of the game is the first and most critical step toward making a meaningful impact. It’s the difference between feeling frustrated by a problem and feeling empowered to help solve it.

This episode's goal is to establish civics not as a historical subject, but as an essential, empowering user manual for modern life in Georgia.

Our featured guest for Episode One is Michele NeSmith, Research and Policy Development Director at the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation.

Each episode in this series will end with a specific call to action. Your first assignment: Visit the official state website, Georgia.gov. On that site, you can find a tool to look up your elected officials. We want you to find just two: your State Representative and your County Commissioner. You don't have to call them or write to them yet. Just learn their names.

🎙️ Citizen's Playbook is produced by Henry Chamber Media, bringing you conversations that connect business, community, and leadership throughout Henry County.