What is legislative advocacy? Why should you engage in legislative advocacy? When should you engage in legislative advocacy? How do you organize for legislative advocacy? How do you approach legislators and other policymakers? Legislative advocacy can help communities bring evidence, lived experience, priorities, and proposed solutions into decisions about laws, budgets, public programs, and government policy. Effective advocacy usually requires more than contacting lawmakers when a vote is approaching. Organizations may need clear goals, reliable internal communication, accurate information, meaningful participation by people affected, and an understanding of how the legislative process works. The purpose is not simply to build political power or gain personal access to influential people. It is to participate effectively and transparently in public decision-making. What is legislative advocacy? Legislative advocacy is organized activity intended to inform, influence, support, oppose, or improve decisions made by legislative bodies and other public policymakers. It may involve: Proposed legislation Amendments Public budgets Appropriations Resolutions Local ordinances Legislative oversight Implementation of existing laws Other public-policy decisions Legislative advocacy can include direct communication with lawmakers and staff as well as broader community participation. Activities might include: Meeting with legislators or legislative staff Providing testimony Submitting written comments or policy briefs Sharing research and community experience Recommending legislative language Participating in budget processes Organizing constituents to communicate their own views Monitoring bills, amendments, hearings, votes, and implementation Legislative advocacy and lobbying Some legislative advocacy may legally qualify as lobbying. The legal definition of lobbying depends on the jurisdiction, organization, funding source, and activity involved. Organizations should understand any applicable: Lobbying registration requirements Reporting requirements Ethics rules Gift restrictions Grant restrictions Tax rules Internal organizational policies Nonprofit organizations should not assume that all legislative advocacy is prohibited. Different nonprofit organizations and funding arrangements are subject to different rules, so obtain current guidance appropriate to your organization. What forms can legislative support take? Legislation with funding A bill may authorize or appropriate funding for a program, service, research activity, infrastructure project, or other public purpose. Advocacy may involve: Creating a new funding stream Increasing existing funding Preserving funding that has been proposed for reduction Changing how funds may be used Legislation that establishes policy A bill may establish responsibilities, rights, eligibility standards, program requirements, or other public policy even when it does not include new funding. Advocates should consider whether implementation resources will also be necessary. Regulation or statutory requirements Legislation may establish standards affecting: Health Education Housing Employment Transportation Environmental protection Civil rights Public benefits Other community concerns Avoid describing people receiving public assistance or other services primarily according to whether they have moved “off the rolls.” Evaluate policies according to outcomes such as economic stability, access to health care, employment, education, housing, safety, and other relevant measures. Local ordinances and policies Legislative advocacy also occurs at the local level. City councils, county commissions, school boards, and other local bodies may consider: Public-health measures Land-use decisions Housing policy Transportation Education Public safety Environmental requirements Local budgets Budget advocacy Budgets often determine whether policies can actually be implemented. Budget advocacy may involve: Requesting funding for a program or service Opposing a proposed reduction Recommending how funding should be distributed Asking for implementation or enforcement resources Examining whether existing spending is producing intended results Public support and oversight Legislators may also: Hold hearings Request information from agencies Convene working groups Ask for investigations or audits Communicate publicly about an issue Connect constituents with appropriate government offices These actions can matter even when new legislation is not immediately available. Why should you engage in legislative advocacy? Some goals require legislative action Legislative bodies have authority over many decisions that other organizations cannot make. Depending on the jurisdiction, these may include: Creating or amending laws Raising or appropriating public revenue Establishing programs Setting statutory requirements Conducting oversight Confirming appointments Advocacy can bring missing information into the process Lawmakers and staff may understand legislative procedures, legal constraints, budgets, and political conditions. Community members, service providers, researchers, practitioners, and people directly affected may hold other forms of knowledge. Legislative advocacy can bring those perspectives together. Advocacy can clarify your own goals Preparing for legislative advocacy often requires an organization to answer: What exactly needs to change? What evidence supports that change? Who would be affected? What implementation challenges exist? What would the proposal cost? What alternatives should be considered? The goal should be clarity, not forcing every participant to repeat identical language. Coalition members may support a shared objective while explaining it from different perspectives. Advocacy can increase public understanding Hearings, public meetings, reports, news coverage, community events, and other forms of communication may help people understand what a proposal would do and why it matters. Publicity should not be treated as an end in itself. The purpose is to improve public participation and understanding. Advocacy can build useful working relationships Ongoing communication with lawmakers, staff, agencies, and other organizations can make future policy discussions more informed and efficient. The goal should be to become a reliable contributor to the policy process rather than to accumulate influential personal contacts. When should you engage in legislative advocacy? Legislative advocacy can occur throughout the policy process, but some moments require particular attention. When legislation is being developed Early participation may allow advocates to: Identify unintended consequences Recommend alternatives Suggest language Provide evidence Include perspectives that were missing Before committee action or a vote If a bill or amendment is approaching a decision point, make sure relevant lawmakers have accurate information and understand the specific action you are requesting. During the budget process Budget advocacy is most useful before funding decisions are finalized. Learn the budget calendar and identify: Executive budget proposals Committee hearings Appropriations deadlines Amendment opportunities Final votes When new evidence or community experience emerges New research, data, implementation problems, community experience, or changing conditions may justify renewed legislative attention. Do not use heightened public attention merely as an opportunity to present your organization as the authority on the issue. Use the opportunity to contribute reliable information and include people affected by the issue. When a vote may be close Additional constituent communication may be useful when lawmakers are still deciding how to vote. Encourage people to communicate their own views rather than generating a flood of identical scripted messages. After a decision Legislative advocacy does not necessarily end when a bill passes or fails. Depending on the outcome, advocates may need to: Monitor implementation Participate in rulemaking Evaluate results Recommend amendments Address funding gaps Prepare for future legislative sessions How do you organize for legislative advocacy? Effective advocacy generally requires: Relevant participants Clear coordination Accurate research A specific policy objective Reliable communication Appropriate public communication Continued evaluation Step 1: Bring together relevant participants Include people and organizations whose knowledge, responsibilities, authority, or experience are relevant. Depending on the issue, participants may include: People directly affected Community organizations Service providers Researchers Professional associations Worker organizations Businesses Disability organizations Faith communities Youth organizations Other relevant groups People directly affected People affected by a proposed law or budget should not be treated primarily as “beneficiaries,” voting blocs, personal stories, or evidence that an advocacy group has political strength. When practical, involve them in: Defining the issue Developing policy proposals Reviewing evidence Meeting with lawmakers Giving testimony if they choose Evaluating outcomes Legislators who already support the issue Supportive lawmakers may help explain legislative procedure, sponsor or amend legislation, request hearings, or identify other relevant decision-makers. Do not assume a legislator will support an issue because of a disability, family circumstance, identity, or personal experience. Ask about the person's actual position. People with relevant technical knowledge Researchers, practitioners, policy specialists, attorneys, economists, and other people with specialized expertise may help evaluate: Evidence Legal requirements Implementation Costs Unintended consequences Professional status should not automatically make someone's perspective more important than lived or community experience. Community leaders and organizations Community organizations may bring relationships, practical experience, organizing capacity, or knowledge of local conditions. Do not select participants simply because their status, fame, wealth, or public recognition may impress legislators. Step 2: Create a coordination structure Determine how the advocacy effort will: Make decisions Communicate Respond to time-sensitive developments Approve public statements Resolve disagreements Assign responsibilities Coordination can be handled by: A staff member A steering committee A coalition leadership group Another structure appropriate to the organization A coordinator may need authority to respond quickly, but the process should also establish what decisions require broader participation. Avoid concentrating major strategic decisions in one person simply for speed. Step 3: Do the research Understand: The problem Relevant data Research evidence Existing law Current legislation Budget implications Implementation responsibilities Community experience Possible alternatives Understand competing arguments Learn why people or organizations disagree with your proposal. Ask: Are they relying on different evidence? Do they identify a cost or implementation problem you missed? Are they applying different values or priorities? Are there factual misunderstandings? Are there legitimate unintended consequences? Do not study competing arguments only so that you can produce point-by-point rebuttals. If another argument reveals an important weakness in your proposal, revise the proposal when appropriate. Be honest about uncertainty Do not exaggerate favorable evidence or hide information that complicates your position. Distinguish: Established findings Estimates Predictions Assumptions Values or policy preferences Trust is easier to maintain when advocates are willing to acknowledge limitations. Understand the legislative process Identify: Relevant committees Sponsors and cosponsors Committee chairs Hearing schedules Amendment deadlines Budget committees Floor-vote procedures Executive approval or veto procedures Implementation agencies Use current official legislative sources rather than relying on informal descriptions of the process. Step 4: Define the policy request Be specific about what you want. The request might involve: A particular bill An amendment Legislative language A budget amount A hearing Oversight A local ordinance Another concrete legislative action Explain: What problem the proposal addresses What the proposal would do Who would be affected What evidence supports it What it would cost How it would be implemented What important tradeoffs exist Shared goal does not require identical language Coalition participants should understand the common policy objective. They do not necessarily have to use exactly the same script. Different participants may explain the same objective through: Lived experience Research Professional practice Community priorities Fiscal analysis Drafting legislative language Advocates may provide suggested legislative language. However, drafting legislation requires attention to: Existing law Defined terms Enforcement Funding Administrative authority Conflicts with other statutes Implementation Work with legislative counsel, attorneys, agency staff, or other qualified drafters when appropriate. Do not assume that advocates' draft language will necessarily be more effective than language prepared by legislative professionals. Step 5: Create a reliable communication system Legislative developments can move quickly. Participants need a reliable way to receive accurate information and know when action is needed. Communication options may include: Email Text or messaging systems Group collaboration platforms Phone Websites Newsletters Other accessible channels Do not assume one technology works for everyone. Consider: Disability access Language Internet access Mobile access Communication preferences Privacy Urgency Maintain accurate information Designate responsibility for verifying: Bill numbers Hearing dates Vote schedules Amendments Contact information Advocacy materials Avoid distributing unverified legislative alerts simply because the issue is urgent. Create a feedback process Participants should be able to report: What lawmakers or staff said Questions they were asked New developments Concerns from community members Results of advocacy activities Use this information to improve strategy rather than simply measuring how many calls or messages were sent. Step 6: Communicate with the public and news organizations Public communication may help explain a legislative issue and make participation easier. Possible channels include: News organizations Community media Websites Social media Newsletters Public meetings Reports Opinion pieces Journalists should not be treated as advocacy partners whose role is to provide favorable coverage. Provide accurate information, appropriate sources, and opportunities to ask questions. Respect editorial independence. Step 7: Take a long-term but sustainable view Legislative change can take time. A proposal may require: More than one legislative session Additional research Revision New funding Administrative implementation Continued oversight Persistence can matter. However, advocacy does not need to continue forever in the same form. Periodically ask: Is this still the right policy goal? Has the evidence changed? Has the problem changed? Are people directly affected still supporting this approach? Is continued legislative advocacy the best use of available resources? Has implementation become the more important focus? A successful policy may eventually need routine institutional oversight rather than permanent advocacy by the original coalition. How do you approach legislators and other policymakers? Identify the right people Depending on the issue, relevant contacts may include: Your own elected representatives Bill sponsors Committee members Committee chairs Budget or appropriations members Legislative staff Leadership offices Agency staff responsible for implementation Use current official directories and legislative information. Legislative staff are important participants Staff may: Research legislation Draft or review policy Analyze budgets Review constituent correspondence Prepare lawmakers for hearings and votes Coordinate meetings Treat staff members as policy professionals rather than simply as pathways to the elected official. Use appropriate communication channels Offices may accept: Meetings Email Official web forms Phone calls Public testimony Virtual meetings District office hours Postal mail Follow the office's current procedures. Personal recognition by the legislator is not required for your concern to deserve consideration. Respect personal boundaries Build professional working relationships through official or mutually agreed channels. Do not seek private contact primarily because access may increase your influence. Organize constituent participation appropriately Constituents may: Attend scheduled meetings Participate in hearings Send individual messages Join a coordinated meeting Provide testimony Participate in public forums A large group can demonstrate that an issue concerns many people. Do not use group size to intimidate staff or lawmakers. Office visits should be scheduled or conducted according to applicable public-access procedures. Let people directly affected speak for themselves Personal experience can help lawmakers understand how policy operates in practice. When people directly affected want to participate, support them in telling their own stories. Do not treat people primarily as persuasive examples designed to “put a face” on a stigmatized category. Avoid labels such as: “Welfare recipients” “AIDS patients” “The homeless” Use person-centered, specific language appropriate to the context. Participation should be voluntary, and people should understand any privacy implications of meetings, testimony, media coverage, or public records. Site visits can provide useful context Inviting policymakers or staff to observe a program, neighborhood, facility, or service may help them understand: Physical conditions Implementation barriers Program operations Community experience Arrange visits with the knowledge and consent of the people or organizations involved. Protect privacy and confidentiality. Educational briefings can be useful Advocates may organize: Issue briefings Listening sessions Community forums Research presentations Site visits Make clear whether the event is informational, advocacy-oriented, public, private, or open to news coverage. Hiring professional lobbying assistance Some organizations may hire a lobbyist or government-relations professional. Before doing so, consider: Applicable registration requirements Cost Relevant experience Conflicts of interest Reporting requirements Who the professional represents How community participants will remain involved Professional access should supplement rather than replace community participation. Approach policymakers with a clear request Policymakers should be able to understand quickly: Who you are Whom you represent What issue you are discussing What action you want Why you recommend it Useful requests might include: Sponsor a bill Support an amendment Vote for or against legislation Fund a particular budget item Hold a hearing Request agency information Review implementation Meet with affected community members Include bill numbers, budget line items, hearing dates, or other identifying information when available. Bring useful material Depending on the issue, you may provide: A short policy brief Proposed amendment language Fiscal information Research Local data Implementation examples Written testimony Do not overwhelm staff with unnecessary material. Explain the consequences of the policy Explain how the proposed action may affect: Constituents People directly affected Public budgets Services Workers Businesses Agencies Communities Use accurate numbers where available. Do not imply that legislators should support a policy primarily because doing so will help them win reelection, gain publicity, or take credit for a popular outcome. Constituents may appropriately hold lawmakers accountable Constituents may: Ask how lawmakers plan to vote Review public voting records Communicate support or opposition Consider legislative records when voting This is part of democratic accountability. It need not be communicated as a personal threat. Avoid artificial message volume Coordinated advocacy can demonstrate organized concern, but a high volume of identical phone calls, emails, or scripts may provide less useful information than individual messages explaining: Why the issue matters How the person is affected What action they want Encourage people to understand the issue and communicate in their own words. Maintain constructive communication after the vote Continue communication when it serves a useful purpose, regardless of whether a legislator supported your position. You may: Thank the office for its time Provide requested information Ask for an explanation of the vote Discuss implementation Identify areas of future agreement Correct misunderstandings Do not assume that every relationship must become a friendship or permanent alliance. Professional, respectful communication is sufficient. Evaluate your legislative advocacy After a campaign or legislative session, ask: Did we define the policy goal clearly? Was our evidence accurate? Were people directly affected meaningfully involved? Did we understand competing arguments? Did we accurately represent community support? Were our communication methods accessible? Did we respect legal and ethical requirements? Did lawmakers understand what we were asking for? What changed because of the effort? What should we do differently next time? In Summary Legislative advocacy is organized participation in decisions about laws, budgets, public programs, and government policy. Effective advocacy begins with a clear policy objective and an understanding of which legislative or public body has authority to act. Build participation around relevant knowledge, experience, responsibility, and community connection rather than prestige, celebrity, or political influence alone. Include people directly affected as meaningful participants rather than treating them primarily as beneficiaries, voting blocs, or persuasive stories. Create a clear coordination structure and establish how decisions will be made. Research the issue carefully, understand arguments for and against the proposal, acknowledge uncertainty, and revise your position when credible evidence warrants it. Develop a clear, feasible request and explain its likely benefits, costs, implementation needs, and unintended consequences. Use communication methods that are current, reliable, accessible, and appropriate to the people involved. Communicate with news organizations and the public to improve understanding and participation rather than simply to generate favorable publicity. Use official or mutually agreed channels when communicating with legislators and staff. Treat legislative staff as substantive policy professionals. Explain how policies affect constituents and communities, but do not base the case primarily on lawmakers' electoral or reputational self-interest. Constituents may appropriately monitor votes and consider legislative records when voting, but advocacy does not need to take the form of personal threats. Encourage people to communicate their own views rather than manufacturing large volumes of identical messages. Legislative change may require sustained effort, but advocacy does not need to continue forever in the same form. Reassess goals, evidence, community priorities, implementation, and organizational capacity over time. Finally, remember that successful legislative advocacy is not simply about becoming a powerful organization or gaining access to influential people. It is about bringing reliable evidence, lived experience, community priorities, and practical policy options into public decisions in a transparent and accountable way. Resources Online Resources These Internet sites are arranged in two groups. The first includes examples of the ways advocacy organizations can use websites to keep advocates informed, involved, and aware of new developments. The second group is composed of sites which are general resources for legislative advocates, with constantly-updated information about Congress and the state legislatures and other government issues. Group 1: Advocacy organization websites American Bar Association legislative action page. A well-set-up page including information for ABA members, information on current legislation, etc. American Social Health Association. A good example of how to use a web page to support advocacy efforts. Includes some information on coalition building. California School Boards Association. A multi-purpose site with legislative priorities, current issues, "alerts," and links directly to legislators. The Christian Coalition. A guide to Congress: complete contact information, thumbnail biographies, photos, find-your-Representative-by-zip-code, and more. Congressional E-mail Directory. House of Representatives e-mail addresses. Congressional E-mail Directory. Senate e-mail addresses. Oregon School Boards Association. Includes tips for effective advocacy, suggestions about communicating with legislators, and information on the legislative process. A Guide to Legislative Advocacy is a guide specifically designed as a resource for advocating for youth with disabilities, though the information is widely applicable to other causes. Network--A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. A site detailing the organization's legislative and social priorities, as well as suggested action on major issues. Prevent Child Abuse New York. Information on a legislative advocacy conference -- one way to get legislators, advocates, and members of the target population all together in one place and talking to one another. Group 2: General resources for legislative advocates Legislative Advocacy. From Health Links: University of Washington. Links to a lot of information about advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels from the U. of Washington. A Legislative Advocacy Guide for Members. Another legislative advocacy manual, this one from the American Library Association. Gives an idea of how the association makes advocacy information available to members, and alerts them when they should take action. Legislative Advocacy 101, a guide for members from the Pacific Alliance on Disability Self-Advocacy. Legislative Advocacy Handbook is a resource provided by the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, and it offers practical information for legislative advocacy. Legislative Training Manual. Advocacy manual for health care professionals, specifically for lobbying at the U.S. federal level. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Links to lots of sites having to do with state legislatures, including all official state Internet web pages. THOMAS. The Library of Congress legislative branch resource page. Everything you'll ever need to know and more: e-mails, committees, ins and outs of Congressional operations, and links to a myriad of other important sites. An excellent site. THOMAS - The Library of Congress. The absolutely indispensable website for advocates. Named for Thomas Jefferson, this Library of Congress site has the actual texts of all federal bills, budgets, pending and passed legislation (all this from 1993 on), as well as that currently or recently under discussion, and access to everything else. State and Local Government on the Net. A resource for all 50 state legislatures. Information for each state on each legislator, each legislative committee, texts of bills and budgets, etc. The site also includes the other branches of government, pending and passed legislation, and other information, depending on the state. A huge resource, especially for groups working in more than one state University of Michigan Library. Another terrific site, including links to information for the federal and all 50 state governments--laws, courts, executive branches, and everything else. Print Resources Avner, M., & Smucker, B. (2002). The lobbying and advocacy handbook for nonprofit organizations: Shaping public policy at the state and local level. Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. This book offers a clear step-by-step guide to implementing a successful advocacy program at both the state and local levels. Fitch, B. (2010). Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials: Citizen Advocacy in State Legislatures and Congress: A Guide for Citizen Lobbyists and Grassroots. The Capitol Net, Inc. This book offers practical guidance for reaching elected officials with a variety of different communication strategies. Libby, P. (2011). The lobbying strategy handbook: 10 steps to advancing any cause effectively. SAGE Publications, Inc. This book provides a 10-step framework that walks readers step-by-step through the elements of a lobbying campaign. Three separate case studies are used to show how groups have successfully employed the model.
