---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans need to be engaged and invested…"
description: "\"Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives, otherwise we are just democracy in name only.\" — H..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg"
---

#  Americans need to be engaged and invested in the…

![“Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives, otherwise we are just democracy in name only.” quote by Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg)

> “Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives, otherwise we are just democracy in name only.”

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Citizens must actively participate in lawmaking to ensure democracy works beyond just a name.

**In simple terms:** Engagement in politics makes democracy real.

Key Takeaway

Vote, contact representatives, stay informed.

Themes

civic duty political participation democracy

Mood

motivational concerned

Type

call to action educational

When to use this quote

- elections
- community meetings
- public hearings
- online petitions

Key Concepts

public policy citizen empowerment

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you make political involvement fit your schedule?
- What issues matter most to you locally?

A Different Perspective

People may feel powerless or lack time to engage.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Legislative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislative-process/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/)

## Related quotes

> [From where you sit, the White House may look as untidy as the inside of a stomach. As is said of the legislative process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/from-where-you-sit-the-white-house-may-look-as-untidy-as-the-inside/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [I love working the legislative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/i-love-working-the-legislative-process/)

[Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/)

> [First, the American legislative process isn't well suited to large and complex measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/first-the-american-legislative-process-isn-t-well-suited-to-large-and/)

[George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/)

> [The most significant impact is what it does in terms of the integrity of the legislative process and the executive process, as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/the-most-significant-impact-is-what-it-does-in-terms-of-the-integrity/)

[Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/)

> [This has not been a legislative process worthy of the Senate. Members of the Judiciary Committee, as I just said, were implored to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/this-has-not-been-a-legislative-process-worthy-of-the-senate-members/)

[Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/)

> [Question Period is not part of the legislative process,and has nothing to do with it. It is a means of monitoring the Executive that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-fraser/question-period-is-not-part-of-the-legislative-process-and-has/)

[John Allen Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-fraser/)

> [I think people everywhere have a very dismaying feeling that politics are going over their heads, are being decided by wealthy interests that don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stille/i-think-people-everywhere-have-a-very-dismaying-feeling-that-politics/)

[Alexander Stille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stille/)

> [Lobbyists are in many cases expert technicians and capable of explaining complex and difficult subjects in a clear, understandable fashion. They engage in personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/lobbyists-are-in-many-cases-expert-technicians-and-capable-of/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [What will happen is the bills will start out the way we like them; in order to move them - we'll probably have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/what-will-happen-is-the-bills-will-start-out-the-way-we-like-them-in/)

[Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/)

> [If we can't get where we need to go to protect people through our regulatory channels, through our legislative process, then unfortunately what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bilott/if-we-can-t-get-where-we-need-to-go-to-protect-people-through-our/)

[Robert Bilott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bilott/)

> [That will change over time the entire flow of information and the entire quality of knowledge in the country and it will change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/that-will-change-over-time-the-entire-flow-of-information-and-the/)

[Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/)

> [Social media is such a key organizing and communication tool, and I've made a major commitment to use it as a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/social-media-is-such-a-key-organizing-and-communication-tool-and-i-ve/)

[Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/)

> [It typically takes bipartisan work to build enough consensus to get things through our legislative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/it-typically-takes-bipartisan-work-to-build-enough-consensus-to-get/)

[Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/)

> [I am specifically concerned about the idea that the legislative process is one that gets characterized the way it is as the 'fiscal cliff.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-blankfein/i-am-specifically-concerned-about-the-idea-that-the-legislative/)

[Lloyd Blankfein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-blankfein/)

> [Going through the legislative process is always better, in part because it's harder to undo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/going-through-the-legislative-process-is-always-better-in-part/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## More by Harris Faulkner

> [If there is something I don't know and I suspect that I need clarification and so does the viewer, I just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/if-there-is-something-i-don-t-know-and-i-suspect-that-i-need/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [It's social media. You can't be thin-skinned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/it-s-social-media-you-can-t-be-thin-skinned/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [Remembering growing up on U.S. Army bases stateside and abroad, the Star-Spangled Banner was played at important occasions... and often. It was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/remembering-growing-up-on-u-s-army-bases-stateside-and-abroad-the/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [Downtime for me is just when I can sit still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/downtime-for-me-is-just-when-i-can-sit-still/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities he gave me and not once have I ever been ashamed to say these five words: Roger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/i-am-profoundly-grateful-for-the-opportunities-he-gave-me-and-not/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [I'm curious when I look across the dial Monday through Friday, you know, where are the other female black anchors?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/i-m-curious-when-i-look-across-the-dial-monday-through-friday-you/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [One thing every Army pilot knows is that there is no such thing as a routine mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/one-thing-every-army-pilot-knows-is-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [The thing that I really love to do, that I now only do in the shower, is to sing the national anthem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/the-thing-that-i-really-love-to-do-that-i-now-only-do-in-the-shower/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [I'm pretty disciplined. But your brain needs boredom. It needs routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/i-m-pretty-disciplined-but-your-brain-needs-boredom-it-needs-routine/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [When you see me up on a breaking-news story, it is not good news. I'm not about to give you the secret to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/when-you-see-me-up-on-a-breaking-news-story-it-is-not-good-news-i-m/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [I got to travel to some pretty awesome places, learn other people's customs, and see what works in their world differently than in ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/i-got-to-travel-to-some-pretty-awesome-places-learn-other-people-s/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [Unfortunately, we've reached a point in society where we don't mind staying mad at each other for awhile. It wasn't always like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/unfortunately-we-ve-reached-a-point-in-society-where-we-don-t-mind/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [I'm a motivational speaker, so I'm going to look at something in as much of a positive way as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/i-m-a-motivational-speaker-so-i-m-going-to-look-at-something-in-as/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [It's not annoying to get a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/it-s-not-annoying-to-get-a-compliment/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

> [My father, a Vietnam War pilot, used to tell me that the only really bad decisions are the ones you stick to even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/my-father-a-vietnam-war-pilot-used-to-tell-me-that-the-only-really/)

[Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

[Explore all 98 Harris Faulkner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/)

## More Daily quotes

> [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [I don't have to deal with the issues of the daily news cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-don-t-have-to-deal-with-the-issues-of-the-daily-news-cycle/)

[Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/)

> [In daily or everyday life, I am so impressed with tiny details, like when I look up at a street lamp falling on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/in-daily-or-everyday-life-i-am-so-impressed-with-tiny-details-like/)

[Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/)

> [I want to show that drama doesn't lie only in blood and destroyed buildings but in daily life, in ordinary human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmila-zbanic/i-want-to-show-that-drama-doesn-t-lie-only-in-blood-and-destroyed/)

[Jasmila Zbanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmila-zbanic/)

> [I do some kind of work, whether writing or painting or recording, on a daily basis. And it's so essential that when I'm involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-do-some-kind-of-work-whether-writing-or-painting-or-recording-on-a/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I found by daily experience, the more I did, the more I might do for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/i-found-by-daily-experience-the-more-i-did-the-more-i-might-do-for-god/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [Daily, I visualize the smart-ass troll who lives deep in my subconscious, and I pelt him with rainbows and unicorns. I fight a battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/daily-i-visualize-the-smart-ass-troll-who-lives-deep-in-my/)

[Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/)

> [A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/a-small-daily-task-if-it-be-really-daily-will-beat-the-labours-of-a/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [One must not only die daily, but every day we must be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/one-must-not-only-die-daily-but-every-day-we-must-be-born-again/)

[Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/)

> [Most restaurant people work much harder physically, on a daily basis, than most entertainers. Though most people in entertainment complain more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rosenthal/most-restaurant-people-work-much-harder-physically-on-a-daily-basis/)

[Philip Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rosenthal/)

> [I organize all my footage by the date it was shot, and then arrange everything in a timeline once I begin a project. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/i-organize-all-my-footage-by-the-date-it-was-shot-and-then-arrange/)

[John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/)

> [Sibi Malayali sir saw a picture of me in a Malayalam daily and felt I was suited for a role in his movie 'Ishtam.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navya-nair/sibi-malayali-sir-saw-a-picture-of-me-in-a-malayalam-daily-and-felt-i/)

[Navya Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navya-nair/)

> [As the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I dealt on a daily basis with China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-former-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-dealt-on-a-daily-basis-with/)

[Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/)

> [There are many females in my life I couldn't function on a daily basis without who I've purposely put there that work with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/there-are-many-females-in-my-life-i-couldn-t-function-on-a-daily/)

[Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/)

> [The gym is somewhere you can go to just forget for an hour what you do for a living, what you are doing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/the-gym-is-somewhere-you-can-go-to-just-forget-for-an-hour-what-you/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

Browse all 1,563 Daily quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives, otherwise we are just democracy in name only.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harris Faulkner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-invested-in-the-legislative-process/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Daily"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-invested-in-the-legislative-process/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/harris-faulkner-6729_daily_americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-investe_340005.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives…” — Harris Faulkner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Harris Faulkner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Americans need to be engaged and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-invested-in-the-legislative-process/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/americans-need-to-be-engaged-and-invested-in-the-legislative-process/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
