From Resistance
to Resilience
A Constitutional Support Playbook
WE ARE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
In times of constitutional challenge, political leaders and everyday citizens must affirm and strengthen the institutions that make democratic governance possible. The U.S. House of Representatives was designed to connect ordinary citizens to federal power. It is our most all-embracing governing institution, and its role as a check on executive power is essential to upholding the rule of law, our way of life, and our democracy.
This playbook provides a practical approach to address concerns about presidential overreach by leveraging the powers of Congress. It proposes the use of Civil Society Field Hearings, which empower communities to harness shared intelligence with democratic participation, strengthen oversight, and create a public record that holds those in power accountable. This model is rooted in local engagement. It aims to foster governance where elected officials are seen as active members of the community rather than distant targets of criticism.
How to Take Action
1
Read the Playbook
Civil Society Field Hearings represent a constructive approach to democratic renewal. They complement direct action while promoting self-reliance, education, and community empowerment. Read the full playbook here.
2
Host a Field Hearing
If you are ready to host a Civil Society Field Hearings, let us know. We will create a map of action. Like a second track alongside the House of Representatives, these hearings are a way to shape what emerges next.
3
Share Your Story
Describe your service here. What makes it great? Use short catchy text to tell people what you offer, and the benefits they will receive. A great description gets readers in the mood, and makes them more likely to go ahead and book.
About Civic Salon
We are dedicated to promoting a more transparent and accountable democracy. Our mission is to empower communities through Civil Society Field Hearings, which provide a platform for local civic voices to be heard and strengthen oversight. We are a grassroots organization of democracy nerds who love participatory governance.
We intend for this playbook to be a constructive plan for building opposition to an overreaching president. At the same time, we believe this playbook offers guidance to create new norms and methods in a modern democracy.
We hope this information will prompt a truly American journey–devolving power outward and to the People, decentralized, but also connected through values into action. Our goal is for this playbook to be adapted, improved, and expanded into a democracy movement.
Please send a note letting us know if you used this playbook to organize a Civil Society Field Hearing and let us know how it went. If you would like to add your Field Hearing testimony to an open-source repository at the Impact Project, please reach out. We would also be glad to hear about lessons learned, comments, and suggestions for other civic curriculum. Contact us at ConstitutionalDefense@proton.me.
This publication is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license and should be cited as Kelly, L., 2025, From Resistance to Resilience, Center for Emergent Diplomacy, Santa Fe, New Mexico.