<P> According to the Vermont Secretary of State's Citizen's Guide to Town Meeting, Vermont gives state employees the day off on town meeting day . Vermont "law also gives a private employee the right to take unpaid leave from work to attend his or her annual town meeting, subject to the essential operation of the business or government . An employee must give the employer at least seven days notice if he or she wants to take advantage of this right to attend town meeting . Students who are over 18 also have the right to attend town meeting" and not be declared truant . </P> <P> Moderators are elected to one - year terms in towns . The moderator's duties include reviewing the "warning" (published agenda) for the town meeting, presiding over town meetings, deciding questions of order, making public declarations of each vote passed, and prescribing rules of proceeding . </P> <P> Towns in several western states and counties also practice town meeting, though generally with more limited powers . Michigan was the first western state to adopt the town meeting system, but it was initially very restricted in its function . </P> <P> Minnesota has had town meetings as the policy - setting bodies of townships . They were required once the voting population of a township reached 25 persons . Townships still hold town meetings . </P>

How are town hall meetings an example of direct democracy