Citizen Advocacy
Overview
Advocacy involves strategies aimed at
influencing the creation and implementation
of laws and policy.
In addition to using their voting power,
citizens in a democracy can organize to alert
elected officials to problems in their
communities, states, and country and work to
promote solutions.
The Art of Advocacy
• Advocacy is the active support of a
cause and the attempt to persuade
others.
• Successful advocates must be
organized, use effective methods of
communication, and choose the
appropriate level of government to
which to address their particular
issue.
Rules of Advocacy
1.CLARITY – single message
2.QUANTITY - large network
3.FREQUENCY - lots
Example:
CLARITY – acronym w/5 main pts
P = perseverance
R = respect
I = integrity
D = dependability
E = excellence
QUANTITY – parents, students & staff
FREQUENCY – classrooms, halls,
Lobbying
• Lobbying is an attempt to influence
the law by convincing lawmakers to
vote a certain way.
• Lobbying is protected by the U.S.
Constitution because it involves the
right to free speech and other First
Amendment protections.
Lobbying – The Basics
• Anyone can be a lobbyist and try to convince
lawmakers to vote for or against a particular
issue.
• Some businesses and organizations hire
professional lobbyists to advocate their
positions.
• Some people are concerned that individuals and
special interest groups use the lobbying process
to buy the laws they want.
• However, others say that lobbying is an effective
strategy for groups to make their voices heard.
Lobbying – The Basics
• Lobbying legislators is about persuading them
to do what you want.
• There are five main categories of legislators to
think about, each requiring its own special
strategy:
Types of Legislators
• Champions
All issues need a group of lawmakers dedicated to
being tireless, committed advocates for your cause.
What they can do for you is make the case to their
colleagues, help develop a strong "inside" strategy, and
be visible public spokespeople. What they need is good
information, and visible support outside the Capitol.
• Allies
Another group of legislators who will be on your side
but can be pushed to do more -- to speak up in party
caucuses or on the floor.
• Fence Sitters
Some legislators will be uncommitted on the issues,
potentially able to vote either way. These are your key
targets and lobbying strategy is about putting together
the right mix on "inside" persuasion and "outside"
pressure to sway them your way.
• Mellow Opponents
Another group of legislators will be clear votes against
you, but who are not inclined to be active on the issue.
With this group what's key is to keep them from
becoming more active, lobbying them enough to give
them pause but not to make them angry.
• Hard Core Opponents
Finally, there are those lawmakers who are
leading your opposition. What is important
here is to isolate them, to highlight the
extremes of their positions, rhetoric and
alliances and to give other lawmakers pause
about joining with them.
Inside Lobbying
• One form of lobbying takes place in the
Capitol. It includes a mix of the following:
– 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.
Outside Lobbying
• Outside of Capitol Building
• these activities include:
– Media activity including news conferences, editorial
board visits, and assisting reporters with stories.
– Local lobbying visits by constituents to their
legislators.
– Building broad and diverse coalitions.
– Letter writing campaigns to legislators.
– Grassroots activity such as rallies, etc.
• Establish your agenda and goals.
– Know what subject you are going to address. Don't
overload with issues -- stick to no more than two or three.
– Decide what you would like to get out of the visit, i.e., a
commitment to vote for your issue, leadership on the
issue, or you may decide the visit is simply informational.
– Allow time for small talk at the outset, but not too much.
Remember, it's your visit.
– If it is a group visit, decide who will start the discussion and
put your agenda on the table.
– Listen well.
• Be prepared, but don't feel that you need to be an expert.
– Most elected officials are generalists, like many of us. Do
your homework, but don't feel that you need to know
every little detail of an issue. Air personal feelings and
experiences where appropriate. Relate the concerns of
your friends and members of the community.
– Know when to admit "I don't know," and offer to follow up
with the information.
– Be open to counter-arguments, but don't get stuck on
them. Don't be argumentative or confrontational.
• Don't stay too long.
– Try to get closure on your issue. If you hear what you had hoped for,
express your thanks and leave. If you reach an impasse, thank
her/him, even if disappointed, and say so. Leave room to continue the
discussion at another time.
• Remember you are there to build a relationship.
– If the elected official is good on an issue you've been involved in or has
supported your position in the past, be sure to acknowledge your
appreciation during the course of the visit.
– If the opposite is true, think of the phrase, "No permanent friends, no
permanent enemies." Some day, on some issue of importance to you,
s/he may come through. In the meantime, your visit may prevent the
official from being an active opponent. In other words, you may help
to turn down the heat on the other side.
• Follow-up is important.
– Be sure to send a thank-you note after the visit. If commitments were
made in the meeting, repeat your understanding of them. If staff
members were present, write to them too. They can often be
important allies.
Ways to Make Your Voice Heard
• Letter Writing: Writing to a public official does make a difference. They know that every
person who writes represents many others who feel the same but don't write. Follow these
tips to be most effective:
– Be clear about what you want, listing the bill, etc.
– Tell a story or example to make the issue real.
– Ask for a direct response with his or her position.
– Personal letters are much better than form letters or petitions.
• Visits: Every citizen has the right to seek a meeting with their legislator, councilperson or
other elected representative. These tips will help make visits effective:
– Keep your group small (4-5 people).
– Make your group diverse.
– Discuss in advance how to handle the meeting.
– Be direct but not threatening.
– Know your facts.
– Leave informational material with the official.
–
Try to arrange the visit on your turf. Invite the person to tour a clinic or whatever facility or site which
conveys your message in real and human terms.
• Establish a relationship with staff: Many elected officials have staff people you can
contact. These people are generally more accessible than the official and can usually help to
get your message through.
Guidelines for Advocates
Identify your issue.
Set a goal.
Become an expert.
Recruit allies & identify roadblocks.
Identify strategies.
Work the media.
Create a resource pool.
Plan for success.
Now it’s Your Turn
• Groups of 3-4
• Create a plan for advocacy at FDHS or in the
Community
– Decide on an issue for which you want to advocate
– Create a chart with the list of advocacy guidelines
• Answer the questions to each of the guidelines questions
• Create a visual campaign for your program
– Billboards, tv commercials, magazine ads, flyers, brochures, etc
•
Identify your issue.
– What is your cause?
– Why will you be trying to advocate?
•
•
What is your goal? Be specific.
How will you become an expert?
–
–
–
–
•
How will you find out about your issue?
How will you research?
What questions will you ask?
Include at least 5 questions.
Who will you recruit as your allies?
– Who will you get to work on your side?
– Why did you choose these people?
•
What roadblocks do you foresee?
– What will your problems be?
– What people will be your hard-sells? Why?
•
What strategies will you use to reach your goal?
– List at least 5 strategies you will use to advocate for your issue.
•
How will you work the media?
– What forms of media will you use? Be specific.
•
Who will be in your resource pool?
– Who will be your helpers?
– Why did you choose them?
Voting
• Voting is a basic constitutional right.
• In general, eligible citizens in a
democracy elect representatives to
act on their behalf when making
and enforcing laws.
• However, some procedures allow
voters to directly determine
particular laws.
Voting
• An initiative allows voters to petition to propose
a new law.
• A referendum allows voters to decide whether
or not a proposed law should be passed.
• Some people believe that initiatives and
referenda allow voters to be more involved in
the democratic process.
• However, others fear that these tools are
inefficient for a variety of reasons.
Voting
• To vote in the United States, you must be at
least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a
resident of the district in which you want to
register.
• Federal laws govern voting
– prohibit voting by non-eligible voters or registering
in more than one district.
• It is also important for voters to be
informed about the candidates and their
positions in order to make wise decisions.
Voting
• Today, registering to vote is easy,
but this was not always the case.
• In the past, African Americans,
women, Native Americans, and
people below the age of 21 were
prevented from voting.
Voting
• In 1971, the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the
Constitution lowered the official voting age
from 21 to 18.
• In many states, people who have committed
serious crimes are prevented from voting,
even after release from jail.
• Many Americans who are eligible to vote do
not register or participate in elections.
Guidelines for Advocates
Identify your issue.
Set a goal.
Become an expert.
Recruit allies & identify roadblocks.
Identify strategies.
Work the media.
Create a resource pool.
Plan for success.
Advocacy Brochure
• You and a partner will decide on an issue for
which you want to advocate
• You will design a 6 panel brochure following
directions on brochure project handout
• You must save your brochure on a flash drive
& present it to the class
• You must print a copy of your brochure for me
Be an Advocate:
• By the end of the period complete and turn in
the following:
– You and a partner will decide on an issue for
which you want to advocate
– Create a chart with the list of advocacy guidelines
• Answer the questions to each of the guidelines
questions
• turn in your chart by the end of the period
• Identify your issue? What is your cause? Why will you
be trying to advocate?
• What is your goal? Be specific.
• How will you become an expert? How will you find out
about your issue? How will you research? What
questions will you ask? Include at least 5 questions.
• Who will you recruit as your allies? Who will you get to
work on your side? Why did you choose these people?
• What roadblocks do you foresee? What will your
problems be? What people will be your hard-sells?
Why?
• What strategies will you use to reach your goal? List at
least 5 strategies you will use to advocate for your issue.
• How will you work the media? What forms of media will
you use? Be specific.
• Who will be in your resource pool? Who will be your
helpers? Why did you choose them?
Advocacy on Poverty
• Article “To Be Young and Homeless”
•
•
•
•
Choose a partner (that’s 2 per group)
Read the NY Times story
Answer the questions
Design an ad for this cause