The ABCs of Citizen Advocacy

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The ABCs of Citizen Advocacy

• Objectives
• Increase participants knowledge and skills in
  the following areas
• how government works and how policies and laws
  are made at the local, state, and federal level
• community organizing, grassroots advocacy and
  coalition building communicating with elected
  and appointed officials

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What is Advocacy?

• Advocacy means "to speak up, to plead the case of
  another, or to champion a cause."
• Legislative advocacy or lobbying specifically
  involves influencing public policy through the
  legislative process.
• Other kinds of advocacy client, direct action,
  etc

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Why do legislative advocacy?

• You CAN make a difference
• Laws are made by people, laws can be changed by
  people
• We know our issues better than anyone
• Lobbying is easy
• We can help thousands

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Civics Brush-Up 3 levels/branches of Government
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When Citizen Power Checks Govt Power

• Jurors have the power to decide the issue of
  the law, as well as the facts of the case.
• Jurors always have right to acquit.
• Jurors can question the law.
• Jurors must Know Their Rights because they
  cannot be told them in court.

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How a Bill Becomes Law
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ABCs and D of Citizen Lobbying

• Accuracy
• Brevity
• Courtesy
• Do follow up

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Six Practical Tips on How to Lobby Your
Legislator or Elected Official

• Establish your agenda goals
• Listen well
• Be prepared, but not The Expert
• Dont overstay your welcome
• Build relationship
• Follow-up

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Plan Your Meeting

• Who will come? No more than 4-5 best.
• Schedule an appointment with info on whos coming
  and what you want to discuss
• Call to confirm that day
• Know your legislators priorities and voting
  record
• Meet with lobbying group beforehand to agree to 2
  or 3 points, and assign talking points. Select a
  scribe to take careful notes of legislators
  questions, concerns, and requests.

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Executing The Meeting

• Be punctual flexible.
• Introduce yourselves, repeat why you requested
  the meeting and what you are asking for.
• Briefly make your pitch. Where possible, make
  connection between what you want and the
  interests of the districts voters.
• Thank them for meeting with you, and express any
  appreciation you have for past positions.
• Leave contact info for all participants, and
  other key informational material, neatly
  packaged.
• And Follow UP. Maybe invite them to your turf.

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Developing an Advocacy Strategy

• 9 Key Questions
• 1. OBJECTIVES What do you want?
• 2. AUDIENCES Who can give it to you?
• 3. MESSAGE What do they need to hear?
• 4. MESSENGERS Who do they need to hear it from?
• 5. DELIVERY How can we get them to hear it?

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Looking Inward

• 6. RESOURCES What have we got?
• 7. GAPS What do we need to develop?
• 8. FIRST EFFORTS How do we begin?
• 9. EVALUATION How do we tell if it's working?

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Inside-Outside Strategies

• "Inside" Lobbying includes
• Meetings with lawmakers and legislative staff.
• Providing analysis and information to committees
  and legislative offices.
• Testifying in committee.
• Negotiating with policy makers and other lobby
  groups.

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Outside Strategies

• Activity outside the chambers, aimed at shifting
  the politics and pressure around the issue.
• Media activity
• Building broad and diverse coalitions.
• Letter writing campaigns to legislators.
• Grassroots activity such as rallies, etc.
• Strategically coordinated with "inside" lobbying
  activity, in terms of timing, targeting,
  messages, etc.

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Targeting Legislators

• Champions give support info
• Allies encourage to do more
• Fence-sitters key targets to persuade
• Mellow Opponents give them pause but dont
  anger
• Hard Core Opponents isolate

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Prepare Your Organization for Legislative Advocacy

• Review the relationship between your organization
  and government.
• Create a whos who list.
• Prepare your board of directors.
• Connect legislative advocacy with governance
• Take stock of your human resources.
• Develop a public policy agenda.
• Assess your capacity to take action quickly.