Table of Contents >
Chapter 31. Conducting Advocacy Research >
Section 5. Requesting Accountability >
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| Contributed by Phil Rabinowitz Edited by Val Renault |
Checklist
Here you will find a checklist summarizing the main points of the section.
What is accountability?
__ You hold entities (and individuals) accountable for the openness of their actions, practices and policies.
__ You advocate for laws, regulations, and policies that provide strong enough sanctions to assure that entities (and individuals) are accountable for the legality, ethics, and effectiveness of their actions, practices, and policies.
Why might you seek accountability? You seek accountability to:
__ Ensure that citizens get what they need.
__ Protect the public from harm.
__ Protect the public's right to know.
__ Protect the rights and information of whistleblowers.
__ Ensure that people harmed by the intentional wrongdoing of entities are compensated.
__ Guard against the misuse of public money.
__ Ensure that consumers get what they pay for.
__ Assure the ethical behavior of governments, corporations, organizations, and institutions.
__ Procure simple justice.
When might you seek accountability? You seek accountability when:
__ Members of the community are in need and nothing is being done.
__ An entity is about to, or continues to, do something harmful.
__ Economic damage to either the public at large or individuals is being, or about to be, done.
__ A business wants to locate in a community.
__ An elected official or someone running for office has violated the public trust, has misrepresented his positions or background, or is otherwise unfit for public office.
__ Some individual or interest has unfairly or illegally influenced official policy or the votes of elected officials.
__ A blatant injustice is about to be done.
Who is accountable? You determine the appropriate party or entities and request accountability from:
__ Elected and appointed government officials.
__ Law enforcement.
__ Government agencies.
__ Government contractors.
__ Nonprofits that seek money directly from the public.
__ Corporations and businesses.
__ Individuals and entities seeking to influence public policy.
__ Individuals whose positions within an organization give them power.
How do you request accountability?
__ You do the necessary research.
__ You decide what kind of accountability you want.
__ You appeal directly to the entity.
__ You go to the appropriate regulatory agency.
__ You go public.
__ You institute direct action.
__ You engage in legislative advocacy.
__ You initiate a lawsuit.