|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Previous Issues > June 2007 > What's It Like To BE... > What's It Like To Be A State Representative?
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
 What's It Like To BE...
What's It Like To Be A State Representative?
"I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill." You probably have heard that catchy song from Schoolhouse Rock. The political process is sometimes hard to understand. That's why we hold elections where grown-ups select the leaders that they want to make decisions on laws for our states and country. This month, we caught up with our friend Margaret Dickson, a state Representative in North Carolina. What's it like to work at the state's Capitol building and make decisions that affect the whole state? Mrs. Dickson was kind enough to answer our questions.
 Truman: What does it take to become a Representative?
REP. DICKSON: There are a few requirements. You must be at least 21 years of age. You must be a qualified voter. And you must have lived in the district (for which you are campaigning) for one year prior to the election.
Truman: When, and why, did you become a Representative?
REP. DICKSON: I've always been interested in politics. My grandfather was former Speaker of the House. I am in my third term as a member of North Carolinas House of Representatives. I was first elected in November of 2002 and took office in January of 2003. I was re-elected in 2004 and 2006 and plan to run for re-election in 2008.
Truman: So, what do you do every day? What's a typical day on the job?
REP. DICKSON: On any given day, I
attend committee meetings and House sessions and discuss bills. I talk with constituents (the people in the community that I represent), lobbyists and even school groups. I also have to prepare letters and other documents. And sometimes I make speeches.
Truman: What's the hardest part of your job?
REP. DICKSON: Telling people that the laws they want passed and funding are not going to happen.
Truman: What's the best part of your job?
REP. DICKSON: When we can accomplish something for the people of North Carolina, particularly for children. We want students to be able to get an excellent education so that they can grow into productive adults with families of their own.
Truman: So how does the law-making process work?
REP. DICKSON: The legislative process is a little different for each and every bill, but the basic outline is this. A bill is introduced into the House and assigned to a committee in the bills subject area to be examined. If it is approved by the committee, it may go to another committee for additional examination, or it may go directly to the House floor to be debated by the full membership. If it passes the House, it goes over to the Senate where the same process is repeated. If the bill passes the Senate, it goes to the Governor for his or her approval. If the bill originates in the Senate, the process is reversed. Either way, it is clear that any successful bill receives a great deal of scrutiny before it becomes law.
Truman: Are there a lot of women lawmakers? It seems to be mostly men. What's it like to be a woman in politics?
REP. DICKSON: There are more men in the North Carolina General Assembly than women, and this is true in almost all states and in the United States Congress. In my state, there are 37 women and 83 men in the 120-member House. There are eight women and 42 men in the 50-member Senate. This is true in part because many women, including me, raised families before running for office and because women may be less likely to have the business or social contacts necessary to raise campaign funding.
Truman: So what did you do before you became a State Representative?
REP. DICKSON: I spent almost all of my career prior to election to the General Assembly in my family radio business. We had several radio stations in southeastern North Carolina for 60 years, and we later went into wireless communications -- cell phones and pagers. Our family business was sold in 2001, which gave me the opportunithy to run for the House of Representatives. While my family was in the communications business, I did almost every job, from writing advertising, to reporting, to writing editorials, to overseeing the businesss financial records. 
Truman: Do you have any aspirations to become a U.S. Representative or Senator, or maybe even Governor or President?
REP. DICKSON: No one knows the future, of course, but I find being a state representative a rewarding job. It is satisfying to know I am helping people in my state and my community.
Truman: What advice would you give to kids interested in running for political office?
REP. DICKSON: Pay attention to current events in their schools,
community, state, nation and world.
Truman: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to tell us what it's like to be a State Representative! You've got a great responsibility. Keep up the good work!
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
