Information
Praise and constructive criticism
Knowledge of the issues which concern your group
Identification of special community groups
Votes
All of us advocate every day when we try to influence other people’s decisions. Some people are paid to do so, but there are lots of others who at one time or another have a need to advocate for or against a bill for themselves or for the groups they represent. So it follows that not all advocacy happens in the Offices and Hearing Rooms on Capitol Hill. It happens in local offices, in people’s living rooms, through phone calls, letters, and telegrams, at social events, and at community meetings. The key to successful advocacy is basic common sense, courtesy and knowledge and concern for our issues.
Never give bad information. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so and offer to get back to them with the answer. Getting back to them offers the opportunity for continued dialogue.
Be concise. Your legislators are busy and will appreciate it if you are prepared and on time. Introduce yourself, describe the group you represent, bring written materials your card, contact information, etc. to leave with them, make some kind of follow-up contact.
Do your homework. It is likely that you will have a better working knowledge of the issue at hand than your legislator. Be prepared to answer questions which support your points. Learn more about the legislator; his/her profession, business interests, legislative and community committees, voting record on similar issues, etc.
Develop working relationships with staff. Don’t ignore secretaries or others who may have the ability to pass along your concerns to your legislator.
Don’t always call just when you need something. Call just to say thanks or share information. Develop a relationship.
If you’re doing media work or community meetings offer to include supportive legislators.
Get involved in the political process. Vote and get others to vote.
This depends on what it is you are trying to change. In January 2000, there were 67 counties, 56 cities, 962 boroughs, and 1,548 townships in Pennsylvania. It is important to determine which level of local government should be your primary target.
Before you start deciding on your advocacy plan you should address the following questions:
What is the problem you are trying to fix or prevent? What is the scope of the problem?
Who is impacted by the problem?
Know your problem from the consumers’ and the policy maker’s perspective.
Why should a policy maker consider this a priority?
If you have a proposed solution think about how it would be implemented, its impact on other programs, services, and consumers. Has it been tried before? What unintended problems may occur and what other options exist?
What funding sources can be used (state, federal, local, and other)?
Who needs to approve the action and who will support the action? Who will oppose your idea and why?
When does this action need to occur? When does a decision need to be made?
How did the decision maker obtain his/her current position and how does he/she keep that position?
Where has he or she shown the most interest and does he or she have experience with your particular problem?
Which methods of advocacy have your group tried that have worked and which have not worked
Why should he or she become involved and are there political risks for his or her involvement?
Remember, in general, the more you understand about the decision maker you are trying to educate and influence the greater the chances are you may succeed in gaining his or her support.
Make your message clear and concise and include how your plan would benefit the decision maker.
Decide what advocacy approaches you are going to take and who will participate. Practice your approach.
Make sure your timing to each approach is beneficial to your plan.
Determine if other consumers or groups in the county might work with you and what media would be bes to work with.
This depends on what it is you are trying to change. Certain policies are determined at the state agency level, while others involve the Governor’s Office, and some involve the General Assembly and/or the Regulatory Review Commission. Most involve several different levels of policy makers.
Before deciding on your advocacy plan make sure you know what the current Policy is and which policy makers were responsible for establishing it.
While it often doesn’t seem so, the bureaucracy does have a structure that determines who decides what and who collaborates with whom. Know the organizational structure and the limits of command or authority or influence each level has. Who are the key policy makers at each of these levels? Here are some examples.
Federal law or regulation -- Congress/President/Departments
Court case law -- Executive & Legislative Branches
State law -- Governor/Legislature/Departments
State regulation -- Departments/Governor/Legislature
Agency Policy Bulletin -- Departments/Governor
Agency practice -- Departments
Budget related policy -- Governor/Departments/Legislature
Labor related impact -- Departments/Governor
The easy answer is the Governor. However, office heads in the various Governor’s offices, Department heads, agency office heads and bureau and division directors often shape what will actually be decided on any given matter. Usually as issues develop, the lower level units are asked to look into the matter and provide research or information on the matter to those at the upper level. This input often includes recommendations for what action should be taken, The specific key players will depend on the specific policy you are trying to change.
Don’t always start at the top. Senior officials often seek input from lower level divisions. If they are not supportive, you have plenty of room to take it further and you will undoubtedly learn something in the process.
The timing during a legislative session and election timetable.
The budget impact the decision is believed to have.
Whether or not any federal or court mandate or sanction is involved.
Its relation to the overall priorities of the Administration.
The perceived impact on overall economy and its responsiveness to current public issues and concerns.
Public perception- media attention.
Have a clear Mission statement.
Determine your goals/objectives in order to accomplish your mission.
Identify the specific decision-maker(s) you are trying to influence.
Assess your group’s prior efforts in advocacy, successes/failures.
Identify both winnable, as well as, more difficult goals. Some may be short term and others more long term goals.
Remember each advocacy undertaking is an event seen as part of an overall process. Each will contribute to the relationship you will have with the policy maker on both the present issue you are addressing and future issues. Some policy makers are short term but others may be around for 10 or more years and their influence may grow.
Remember that today’s opponent can be tomorrow’s supporter, so do what you can to leave the door open.
Is our message clear for the particular policy makers?
Are there other groups with which to work in coalition?
When is the best timing?
Do we have the capacity to carry out the approach within the desired time frame?
What will be our follow-up plan?
Are you comfortable with the approach?
Will it strengthen the group as a whole?
Personal one-on-one meetings;
Public hearings;
Correspondence/Email/Phone campaigns;
Media – television, radio newspaper
Demonstrations
An invitation to special Events held by your own organization
Attendance at a policy maker’s event;
Participation on committees which affect policy
We hope that this information has been helpful to you as advocates. Should you need any assistance or information which has not been provided in either this hand-out or the convention session itself, please contact one of the members of the Governmental Affairs committee. Remember, we are in this together.
Contact senators, U.S. Representatives, State Governors and State Legislators Nation-wide.
Public records via the Right to Know act in Pennsylvania.
Find information on bills before the Senate and Senate committees in Pennsylvania.