We're expanding our work to facilitate understanding of Maryland state government with updated materials, new resources, and exciting partnerships.
As we near the midway point of the 2026 Maryland legislative session, thousands of Marylanders are making their voices heard through the legislative process.
From giving written and verbal testimony to contacting representatives, Marylanders are active participants in our state government. However, navigating the legislative process and the General Assembly’s structure can often be daunting. How does a bill become a law between two chambers? How do committees work? When is the appropriate time to give testimony? Not knowing how to answer these kinds of questions can be a barrier for many people to participate in the democratic process.
Two years ago, as part of our goal to facilitate understanding of state government, we created Annapolis 101, a free suite of resources and activities designed for use in curricular, co-curricular, and advocacy settings. These resources aim to educate participants about the Maryland General Assembly, the legislative process, and effective advocacy. The primary audience includes high school and college students, as well as grassroots leaders, but anyone can use the materials!
Over the past two years, hundreds of Marylanders have interacted with Annapolis 101 at conferences, classrooms, libraries, advocacy trainings, and more. The nature of the open-source materials has allowed for many kinds of local leaders to make these resources and curricula their own and educate their communities.
What is included in Annapolis 101?
We used a human-centered design process when creating Annapolis 101 to ensure our resources were accessible, relevant, and helpful to Marylanders who would use them. This has resulted in six resources that can be used dynamically to facilitate understanding of the Maryland state government:
Slideshow Presentation
A visually engaging slide deck to educate participants on their power, the legislative process, and how to advocate.
Presentation Guide
Includes the key point to communicate for each slide of the presentation, optional discussion questions to pose to your audience, and the recommended proportion of time for each section.
“Deeper Dive” PDF Resource
A more text-heavy version of the presentation that participants can use as independent reading material to enhance their understanding of the topics.
Annapolis 101 Workbook
A printable workbook where participants can take notes, retain key points, and chart out their own advocacy plans.
Annapolis 101 Foldable Pocket Guide
A foldable “zine” that contains top-line information from the curriculum with QR codes for participants to access important links.
Annapolis 101 Printable Trifold Brochure
A printable brochure that contains the same information as the Pocket Guide, but is great for those looking to print easy-to-fold brochures at scale.
Annapolis 101 Materials Request Form
With this new session, we have new updates.
This year, we have updated these materials to align with the 2026 Legislature and added new materials, including the printable trifold brochure that serves as a pocket guide for navigating the legislative process and a Canva template for users to make their own adapted versions of the slideshow.
Additionally, we are transitioning co-ownership of this project to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council (MYAC), a coalition of diverse young advocates and leaders from across the State that elevates and addresses relevant youth concerns and policy issues by influencing legislation, spreading public awareness, and serving as a liaison between youth and policymakers. Councilmembers are currently planning Annapolis 101 training sessions for the public. By filling out the materials request form, you can choose to be added to our email list and be the first to know about these training opportunities.
As the 2026 session unfolds, there’s no better time to get involved.
Whether you’re an educator, a grassroots leader, or simply a curious Marylander, Annapolis 101 can help you understand state government and make your voice heard. Request the materials below, share them with your community, and stay tuned for upcoming training sessions from MYAC. The more Marylanders who know how to participate in the legislative process, the stronger our democracy becomes!
Annapolis 101 Materials Request Form
Maddie Wolf is the Lead Social Designer at the University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement. Sam Novey is the Chief Strategist at the University of Maryland Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.
