On the 2nd of March we attended a Dubuque City Council meeting in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Historic Federal Building. It convenes the mayor of Dubuque, Roy D. Buol, and the 11 members of the City Council. These members are At-Large Representatives or Ward Representatives. They meet on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 and discuss the agenda items, and vote them.
At the beginning of the City Council, they say the National Anthem, holding their hand on their heart and standing toward the American, the Iowa, and the Dubuque Flags : this is the "Pledge of Allegiance". Then, and more surprising, a priest comes and tells a prayer to "give mercy ans perfect order in this room. (...)'". For the politicians of the City Council, he asks God "to help them, fulfil them with His light", and that they do well their job. They pray also for their families. This prayer makes America unique in its genre, because in France religion and politics are incompatible for a lot of people and politicians. Even constitutionally they are incompatible.
This night, it was really quick because they all agreed on the agenda items, like on the creation of a service agreement for roads and highways.
Citizens could attend the City Council. Most of the time, they left after the City Council answered to their questions, and we were already the last ones at the end.
Like the Cracker Barrel, it is a way to be closer to what is going on in the City and tell them about their concern.
