Public Policy Advocacy
A. Legislative Advocacy
During the legislative process, elected officials introduce, amend, and pass legislation. Advocates can influence this process with comments, messaging, testimony during legislative process.
According to US Congressional staff, the most effective legislative advocacy methods are: visiting in-person, individualized e-mail message, individualized letter, phone call, form email message (most common), form letter, petition, postcard are (from most effective to least):
Advocacy Toolset
- Contacting legislators about an issue (through visits, phone calls, postcards, letters, emails, etc.)
- Mobilizing others to contact legislators about an issue
- Contributing subject area expertise to community conversations
- Providing testimony/statements/comments at legislative hearings and committee meetings
- Lobbying: One type of legislative advocacy. More strictly governed by state laws. Seeks to directly influence specific legislation at the local, state, or federal level. Lobbying usually means directly asking legislators to vote in a way that supports certain interests.
Direct Lobbying Communications
Direct lobbying communication is
either:
- directed to a legislator, their staff or other governmental employee who may participate in the formulation of legislation AND refers to AND expresses a view on specific legislation
- directed to the general public AND refers to AND expresses a view on specific legislation or referenda or other ballot measure.
- Grassroots: If the communication also asks readers to contact their legislators or includes contact information for legislators (or employees of the legislature), then it is a grassroots lobbying communication
B. Regulatory/Administrative
After a law is passed, the responsible agency, or agencies, develop the regulations to implement and enforce the law. Regulatory/administrative advocacy tries to influence this process.
C. Budgetary
Budgetary advocacy is informing/influencing decisions about how public money will be allocated. Elected officials make decisions about how much money will be spent on the programs that are funded by the government. Funding decisions can have big implications for how an agency writes rules, implements programs, enforces laws