Every community has its “very important people” (VIPs),
those who hold influential positions and whose names
are likely to appear frequently in the news. The highestranking
state official is the governor. Local officials include
the mayor or city manager, chief of police, sheriff,
and members of the city council (or whatever the local
legislative body is called). Certain businesspeople will be
considered “prominent,” as will certain active citizens.
Each state has two members of the U.S. Senate; each
part of the state has one representative in the U.S. House
of Representatives, commonly referred to as “the House.”
Institutions such as businesses and universities have
their own VIPs—the chief executive officers and other officers
who hold positions of power.
Local celebrities (for example, media personalities and
athletes) are also considered to be VIPs in many communities.
You can learn the identities of these VIPs in various ways.
Read the newspapers. Go to the library and either look up
the information in publications or ask a librarian for help.
The most direct way to obtain such information is to ask
neighbors or other Americans you meet.
(Do not be surprised
to find Americans who cannot name their elected
political representatives. You may have to ask more than
one person before you get all the information you want.)