This handbook contains learning activities on political participation for use in secondary level American government or civics courses. It is designed to orient students and teachers to politics and the political process, to be successful at political endeavors, and to become involved in political activity within the school and local community. The handbook contains three sections. Section I deals with political participation, section II treats voting and elections, and section III examines local government. Students are involved in reading and discussing case studies which give examples of people using the political process to attain their goals. Students also analyze statistical data. Other teaching strategies include role playing, observing meetings of political organizations, interviewing politicians, developing scripts for political advertisements, and conducting a voter registration drive. Each activity contains planned outcome, a list of concepts to be learned, and discussion questions. To complete some of the activities, students will need additional information from the Code of Iowa or the Iowa Official Register, both of which are contained in the handbook's appendices. Although the handbook is intended to be used by students in Iowa, teachers in other states can very easily use or adapt the activities to teach students about political participation. (RM)