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This Web site contains information focused on solutions to global issues related to the environment, energy, and international security. This organization works with members of Congress and the media, along with community representatives from all over the country. It is a 501(c)(4) organization. Key Terms:advocacy, election, government, lobbying, politics, voting
Preferred Practice:
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Recognize What Daily Activities Constitute Lobbying
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When you are communicating your views and urging action of the general public or a legislator regarding specific legislation, know that you are already engaging in lobbying.
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Understand Laws and Regulations Regarding Nonprofit Lobbying
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Training and education on lobbying provides the confidence needed to aggressively pursue public policy on behalf of your mission.
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This tutorial has a five-part curriculum of the elements of effective communication in advocacy. Sections include Delivering the Message and Legislative Process. Key Terms: advocacy, delivering the message, effective communication, government, legislation, political system
Preferred Practice:
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Promote News Stories, Editorials, Op-Ed Pieces, and Letters to the Editor in Support of Your Position
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Press coverage in a targeted legislative district and supported with grassroots lobbying by influential members of your nonprofit community, creates the best opportunity to have impact on a public policy issue.
Pitfall:
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Not Having a Comprehensive, Balanced Approach in Your Advocacy Campaign
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Be careful not to rely too much on technical and policy expertise without establishing the sort of grassroots constituent support likely to move individual elected officials; at the other extreme, be careful not to rely only on grassroots constituent support without the technical and policy expertise needed to fashion strong arguments and win influential allies, such as editorial boards.
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This book offers a practical explanation of how legislation moves in state government. It explains the details of how a bill becomes a law. This book offers step by step process on how to control the development and passage of legislation. Key Terms: advocacy, bill, government, legislation, legislative procedure, lobbying campaign, political system
Preferred Practice:
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Be A Helpful Resource to Elected Officials Regarding Your Area of Expertise
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Establishing yourself as a helpful and trustworthy resource is an effective means to creating a long-term relationship with elected officials and enhancing your ability to influence decisions on policy.
Pitfall:
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Meeting an Elected Official for the First Time When You Need the Official's Help
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It is much more difficult to garner support from an elected official in the first meeting rather than after having established a relationship of trust and mutual assistance.
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Trying to Convince A Legislator of the Merit of Your Cause without Any Support from the Legislator's Constituents
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Elected officials rely heavily on constituents for advice on policy, the essence of effective grassroots advocacy.
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This Web site includes a variety of nonprofit accountability, ethics and outcomes measurement resources including compendium of standards, codes, and principles of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Preferred Practice:
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If Not Electing the Expenditure Test, Tracking Advocacy Activities of Your Volunteers Becomes Very Important
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The Insubstantial Part Test is complicated, and requires meticulous record keeping to prove that your organization has not done too much lobbying.
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Use An Outside Lobbyist As Part of Your Advocacy Campaign
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After you have created an internal public policy program within your organization, using an outside lobbyist can be an effective strategy.
Pitfall:
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Relying on an Outside Lobbyist for Most of Your Advocacy Activities
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Though outside lobbyists can be an important part of your team, they do not take the place of developing an active grassroots public policy program within your organization.
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This book explores why outside lobbying activities like grassroots lobbying deserve a place in any model of interest group influence, institutional change, political participation, or legislative decision-making. Key Terms: advocacy, government, grassroots lobbying, institutional change, legislation, lobbying, public policy
Preferred Practice:
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Build a Grassroots Advocacy System to Impact Public Policy
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An effective grassroots advocacy system, with good communication and willing participants, is an essential part of building a constructive relationship with elected officials and having impact on public policy.
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