Lesson 3 Flashcards
what is advocacy?
- It broadly describes the influence of groups in shaping social and political outcomes in government and society.
- Advocacy describes a wide range of individual and collective expression or action on a cause, idea or policy.
- It may also refer to specific activities or organizations.
Definition of interest groups (according to Young and Everitt)
Any organization that seeks to influence government policy but not to govern.
Definition of advocacy (according to Jenkins)
Any attempts to influence the decisions of an institutional elite on behalf of a collective interest.
Definition of advocacy (according to Obar, Zube and Lampe)
Championing or supporting a cause or policy goals.
Characteristics of advocacy?
- Enabling and empowering people to speak for themselves;
- Giving support to a policy and persuading those with power to act in support of the policy at local, national, and international level;
- Gaining and exercising power to influence a political action; and
- Organizing efforts by citizens to influence the formulation and implementation of public policies and programs by persuading and pressuring state authorities, international financial institutions, and other powerful actors.
Another definition of Advocacy?
- The act of arguing in favor of something, such as a cause idea or policy - Raising your voice!
- There is no limit to the amount of non-lobbying advocacy your organization can do.
- Advocacy is the active espousal of a position or course of action.
Definition of lobbying?
- Any attempt to influence specific legislation. The organized and ongoing process of persuading the legislative or executive branches to enact policies that promote an individual’s or group’s interest.
- Attempting to influence legislators and their congressional votes and requires a high level of access to key government players, by for instance professional corporate lobbyists.
Definition of lobbying
The specific efforts to influence public decision making either by pressing for change in policy or seeking to prevent such change. It consists of representations to any public officeholder on any aspect of policy or any measure implementing that policy, or any matter being considered, or which is likely to be considered by a public body.
Definition of the federal lobbying act
The federal Lobbying Act defines lobbying as any paid communication with a public officer about: federal policy (including a amending, developing or making legislation, resolutions, regulations or programs), federal grants or other financial contributions and benefits, federal contracts, or setting up a meeting between a client and a public office holder.
How can lobbying be done?
- Contacting or urging the public to contact policy makers for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or
- By advocating the adoption or rejection of legislation.
What are the types of lobbying?
- Grassroots lobbying
- Direct lobbying
Definition of grassroots lobbying
- Any attempt to influence legislation by affecting the opinion of the general public.
- It is distinct from other form of citizen-to-legislator communication and other forms of lobbying.
- A mass strategy which involves communicating with, and calling to action, the general public on policy issues.
Definition of direct lobbying
- Sometimes called insider lobbying, is defined as the close consultation with political and administrative leaders, relying mainly on financial resources, substantive expertise, and concentration within certain congressional constituencies as a basis for influence.
- This is an elite strategy used to gain access and attention to policymakers.
Differences between advocacy and lobbying
- There is no limit to the amount of non-lobbying advocacy an organization can do, while lobbying activities are restricted to a percentage of an organization’s operating budget.
- Lobbying involves attempts to influence specific legislation at the local, state, or federal level while advocacy is focused on educating about a specific issue.
- Lobbying makes up a small portion of the total amount of advocacy efforts by most nonprofits.
Who are advocates?
- A person who argues for or supports a cause or policy.
- A person who works for a cause of groups and/or
- A person who argues for the cause of another person in a court of law
Individuals as advocates
- The individual advocator is a shape-shifting political actor. The place of the individual in politics and policy making is not fixed and is determined by society norms that define the rights of the individual, the tendency for individuals to associate others, and recognition of individuals diversity.
- Moreover, individuals can be more than one type of advocate.
Citizens in General
- While their involvement may be episodic and/ or far removed from the policy process, a citizen’s political clout should not be underestimated.
- Citizenship confers rights and responsibilities that in and of themselves exert significant influence.
- In addition to asserting their right to vote, calls for increases civic engagement and strategies for engaging citizens through grassroots mobilization efforts make citizens formidable advocates alone and together
Who/what are lobbyists
While they typically act on behalf of a variety of organizations, such as unions, corporations or public sectors agencies, they are distinct category of actors whose role may go well beyond trying to influence decision maker support for or against a specific bill or measure such as networking and conducting research.
What are policy entrepreneurs
- These are advocates who are willing to invest considerable energy and resources and have political connections and savior-faire to secure a policy win.
- They have the ability to make policy change occur and/or introduce and diffuse innovation into the policy arena.
Definition of policy champions
They have the ability to directly promote or affect policy and are points of contacts for outside groups.
What are the three categories of champion traits?
- Demonstrates interest and awareness of a policy.
- Promotes awareness and understanding of delivering positive statements about a policy issue and,
- Advocates for improved policy and practice.
What is the definition of Bellwethers
These are less directly involved in supporting or passing legislation. They are influential individuals who intentionally track policy issues and whose knowledge of the current and future policy agenda carries weight with others. Elected and nonelected officials may be bellwethers and carry significant political weight, as well as have tenure, creating stability and certainty in their decision making capacity.
Who are the different kind of organizations?
- Government
- Political parties
- Non-profit and non-governmental organizations
- Media
What are the different types of advocacy?
- Self-advocacy
- Case advocacy
- Cause advocacy
- Issue advocacy
- Policy advocacy
What is self-advocacy
Is speaking for, representing the interest of, or defending the rights of oneself.
What is case advocacy
Is speaking for, representing the interests of, or defending the rights of another person or specific group of people who are not in a position to defend their rights at that very moment.
What is cause advocacy?
Speaking for, representing the interests of, or defending the rights of a general category of people, or the general public.
What is issue advocacy
This is about the raising of awareness around a broader problem or issue.
What is policy advocacy?
Refers to organized initiatives that seek to change official policy or legislation, or the manner in which these regulations are applied.
What are the advocacy tactics?
- Mobilizing citizens and uniting advocacy allies
- Expanding Public and policymakers awareness
- Researching and monitoring policy
- Representation
- Forum
- Systematically
- Influence
What are the principles of influence used to take action?
1.Identify the issues and set goals
2.Get the facts
3.Plan strategies and tactics
4.Supply leadership
5.Get to know decision makers and their staff
6.Broaden the base of support
7.Be persistent
8.Evaluate your advocacy effort
What can interest groups contribute to by engaging in advocacy
By engaging in advocacy, interest groups can contribute to a deliberative democracy where contestation and deliberation encourages broad exploration of disparate ideas.
What are the two way interest groups can contribute to a deliberative democracy ?
- First, they school those that participate in them in democratic practices and providing an environment where they can learn about political issues and be politically active. They ‘‘cultivate the habits of collective action, thus producing an active, self-sufficient, and vigilant citizenry’’.
- Secondly, advocacy ensures that the views and voices of other, marginalized interests are represented in the policy process.
