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Congress posted 628,998 times in 2024. Here’s what they’re talking about.

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Why is Public Policy Advocacy Important?

Public policy advocacy is important because it bridges the gap between constituents and decision-makers like city council members, state legislators, school boards, or even members of Congress. It also helps hold elected officials accountable and urges elected officials to pay attention to the interests of their constituents. By advocating for specific policies, citizens and organizations can influence the political agenda and promote positive change in their communities. Lastly, public policies can have large impacts on businesses. For example, a policy could change the way a business must operate, forcing the business to shutter. Conversely, policy changes can sometimes open up new opportunities, leading to the launch of new businesses, products, and services.

Types of Policy Advocacy

There are different advocacy activities that can be used when influencing public policy. Combinations of each can be used concurrently to get the message across.

Grassroots Mobilization

Grassroots advocacy is a bottom-up approach to public policy advocacy where ordinary citizens unite to make their voices heard by elected officials and other decision makers. Grassroots campaigns can take many forms, including simple actions like writing a letter to Congress or signing a petition. Grassroots activities can also be more advanced, like participating in a Hill Day or organizing a protest. [post_title] => What is Public Policy Advocacy? Types and Examples [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => public-policy-advocacy [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9189 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [queried_object_id] => 9189 [request] => SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = 'public-policy-advocacy' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'resources' ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9189 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-04-10 10:00:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-04-10 10:00:31 [post_content] => Public policy advocacy is the process of influencing decision-makers to affect the outcome of public policies, such as laws and regulations. Citizens often use public policy advocacy to support or denounce policies such as healthcare, education, and environmental regulations. Businesses often advocate for or against policies that impact operations and bottom lines, such as tax incentives and trade agreements. Nonprofits work on policies that align with their mission, such as human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Even government agencies advocate for policies that impact their operations and responsibilities, such as defense.

Why is Public Policy Advocacy Important?

Public policy advocacy is important because it bridges the gap between constituents and decision-makers like city council members, state legislators, school boards, or even members of Congress. It also helps hold elected officials accountable and urges elected officials to pay attention to the interests of their constituents. By advocating for specific policies, citizens and organizations can influence the political agenda and promote positive change in their communities. Lastly, public policies can have large impacts on businesses. For example, a policy could change the way a business must operate, forcing the business to shutter. Conversely, policy changes can sometimes open up new opportunities, leading to the launch of new businesses, products, and services.

Types of Policy Advocacy

There are different advocacy activities that can be used when influencing public policy. Combinations of each can be used concurrently to get the message across.

Grassroots Mobilization

Grassroots advocacy is a bottom-up approach to public policy advocacy where ordinary citizens unite to make their voices heard by elected officials and other decision makers. Grassroots campaigns can take many forms, including simple actions like writing a letter to Congress or signing a petition. Grassroots activities can also be more advanced, like participating in a Hill Day or organizing a protest. [post_title] => What is Public Policy Advocacy? Types and Examples [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => public-policy-advocacy [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9189 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 1 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9189 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-04-10 10:00:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-04-10 10:00:31 [post_content] => Public policy advocacy is the process of influencing decision-makers to affect the outcome of public policies, such as laws and regulations. Citizens often use public policy advocacy to support or denounce policies such as healthcare, education, and environmental regulations. Businesses often advocate for or against policies that impact operations and bottom lines, such as tax incentives and trade agreements. Nonprofits work on policies that align with their mission, such as human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Even government agencies advocate for policies that impact their operations and responsibilities, such as defense.

Why is Public Policy Advocacy Important?

Public policy advocacy is important because it bridges the gap between constituents and decision-makers like city council members, state legislators, school boards, or even members of Congress. It also helps hold elected officials accountable and urges elected officials to pay attention to the interests of their constituents. By advocating for specific policies, citizens and organizations can influence the political agenda and promote positive change in their communities. Lastly, public policies can have large impacts on businesses. For example, a policy could change the way a business must operate, forcing the business to shutter. Conversely, policy changes can sometimes open up new opportunities, leading to the launch of new businesses, products, and services.

Types of Policy Advocacy

There are different advocacy activities that can be used when influencing public policy. Combinations of each can be used concurrently to get the message across.

Grassroots Mobilization

Grassroots advocacy is a bottom-up approach to public policy advocacy where ordinary citizens unite to make their voices heard by elected officials and other decision makers. Grassroots campaigns can take many forms, including simple actions like writing a letter to Congress or signing a petition. Grassroots activities can also be more advanced, like participating in a Hill Day or organizing a protest. [post_title] => What is Public Policy Advocacy? Types and Examples [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => public-policy-advocacy [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-04-10 18:59:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=9189 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 1 [max_num_pages] => 0 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => 1 [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => 1 [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => d61e341825ea345bb1ed34bfdb9c34be [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )
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Dictionary

What is Public Policy Advocacy? Types and Examples

What is Public Policy Advocacy? Types and Examples

Public policy advocacy is the process of influencing decision-makers to affect the outcome of public policies, such as laws and regulations.

Citizens often use public policy advocacy to support or denounce policies such as healthcare, education, and environmental regulations. Businesses often advocate for or against policies that impact operations and bottom lines, such as tax incentives and trade agreements. Nonprofits work on policies that align with their mission, such as human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Even government agencies advocate for policies that impact their operations and responsibilities, such as defense.

Why is Public Policy Advocacy Important?

Public policy advocacy is important because it bridges the gap between constituents and decision-makers like city council members, state legislators, school boards, or even members of Congress.

It also helps hold elected officials accountable and urges elected officials to pay attention to the interests of their constituents. By advocating for specific policies, citizens and organizations can influence the political agenda and promote positive change in their communities.

Lastly, public policies can have large impacts on businesses. For example, a policy could change the way a business must operate, forcing the business to shutter. Conversely, policy changes can sometimes open up new opportunities, leading to the launch of new businesses, products, and services.

Types of Policy Advocacy

There are different advocacy activities that can be used when influencing public policy. Combinations of each can be used concurrently to get the message across.

Grassroots Mobilization

Grassroots advocacy is a bottom-up approach to public policy advocacy where ordinary citizens unite to make their voices heard by elected officials and other decision makers. Grassroots campaigns can take many forms, including simple actions like writing a letter to Congress or signing a petition. Grassroots activities can also be more advanced, like participating in a Hill Day or organizing a protest.

Seven Examples of Effective Grassroots Advocacy Campaigns

Lobbying

Although it takes many forms, lobbying, in general, involves communicating directly with members of Congress or other government officials to influence policy decisions. Lobbying tactics can include in-person meetings, phone calls, and written communications. Successful lobbyists know who to talk to, how to get meetings with them, and what messages will resonate with them.

Media Campaigns

Media campaigns can include social media advocacy, digital advertising, and traditional media outreach and are used to raise awareness about specific issues and to create a sense of urgency around policy changes.

Traditional media outlets, like newspapers, are great targets for media campaigns. The most common tactic includes writing op-eds in key districts. Buying ads in a local newspaper or website can help you reach the same audience if an op-ed isn’t possible.

Social media advocacy is like a grassroots approach to media campaigns. Advocates can use social media platforms to share information, organize events, and connect with elected officials and other stakeholders.

Advising

State and federal legislators see hundreds, if not thousands, of bills every session. Public policy advocacy often includes educating decision makers in hopes that they come to the same conclusion as your campaign. This process is sometimes referred to as advising and is often a part of bigger lobbying and media campaigns.

For example, lobbyists can provide data and analysis to elected officials to help guide their policy decisions. Or grassroots activists can provide stories on how a bill directly impacts their life.

How to Educate Lawmakers on Tech Policy

Activism

Activism is sometimes a component of grassroots campaigns. Commonly seen on the news, activists work to raise awareness about issues by engaging in various forms of protest and demonstrations. Demonstrations can be as simple as holding signs on the sidewalk or as extreme as handcuffing yourself to a tree.

Public Policy Advocacy Examples

There are many examples of organizations that have used policy advocacy tactics to influence policymakers.

NAMI’s Advocacy Outreach

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of people with mental illness and their families. When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came under fire in 2017, NAMI activated their grassroots network to defend the bill.

They started by sending emails to their advocates to educate them about new developments in the attempts to repeal the ACA. They also urged recipients to visit their online action center where they could take action by sending letters to their representatives and posting on social media.

The result? NAMI drove over 200,000 grassroots actions and motivated 1,066 advocates to participate in a Hill Day.

Texas REALTORS® Advocacy Day

Texas REALTORS® is a trade association that advocates for private property rights and the real estate profession at the state level. As part of their public policy advocacy program, they turned an advocacy day into a virtual action month at the Texas Capitol, resulting in 181 meetings with legislators.

IHRSA’s Advocacy Dashboard Drives 30,000 Emails to Congress

IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) is a trade association that advocates for health and fitness policies. They used an email campaign to target key policy issues, such as tax incentives for gym memberships and workplace wellness programs.

The campaign was successful in generating over 60,000 emails to Congress. You can view the live campaign dashboard here and learn more about IHRSA’s advocacy campaign here.