Algerian MPs Visit U.S. During Election Season
A twelve-member delegation of parliamentarians from both legislative chambers in Algeria visited the U.S. for a two-week study tour from October 28 to November 10, 2006. The purpose of the visit was to expose the MPs to American-style election campaigning, focusing particularly on the communications and outreach angles.
The first stop of the tour was Washington, DC. Here, the delegation received an overview of the U.S. election process, enjoying highly informative lectures at organizations like Stateline.org and FairVote that set the stage for future visits. Highlights of the visit also included experiencing campaign coverage during a tour of C-SPAN; visiting the offices of Congressman Edward Royce of California and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas - co-founders of the House of Representatives' Algerian caucus; touring the White House and the Capitol; and dinner at the Algerian Ambassador's residence on Algerian National Day.
At the second stop of the tour, Annapolis, Maryland, delegates received both a warm welcome and an appreciation for federalism in the United States. As they came to understand the Maryland legislative process, they were able to compare and contrast this with Algeria's highly centralized system and so better appreciate the value that America's government puts on openness, transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. An exciting rally at Bowie State University attended by U.S. Senator Barack Obama, U.S. Senator-elect Ben Cardin, U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer, and Governor-elect Martin O'Malley and a visit to the Maryland Democratic Party headquarters helped round out a very informative and interesting visit.
Finally, the delegation ended their stay in Dover, Delaware, hosted by the current Vice President of NCSL, State Representative Donna Stone. Representative Stone graciously escorted the group on Election Day to visit several polling places in Kent, Sussex, and Newcastle County where they had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Congressman Mike Castle, State Senator Jim Steele, and Ferris Wharton, candidate for Attorney General. The delegates also visited two get-out-the-vote centers and the Delaware Republican Party headquarters in Wilmington where they had the opportunity to talk with Terry A. Strine, Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party. Representative Stone invited the delegation to the Republican Results Party that evening, and accompanied the group to the festivities of "Return Day" on the day following the elections in Dover.
The delegation members were enthusiastic and curious throughout the study tour, and were impressed by some of the differences that they observed between their process and the American election process. Below are photos of the delegation attending a briefing at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and in a House Committee Room of the Maryland State Legislature. Other photos from the tour can be found here.
 
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