The Council publication, Public Policy Advocacy Guide, offers helpful information and tactics on being an effective Christian public witness advocate. This 4 page document can be downloaded or printed from PDF format.
What Is Public Policy Advocacy?
Public policy Advocacy is the way we govern our communities through laws and administrative rules. Public Policyis a way of loving our neighbors as ourselves by helping shape public policy in ways that will affect their lives for the better.
What Is An Advocate?
An Advocate is anyone who cares enough about the good of his or her community and its members to speak up on their behalf. An advocate does not have to be an “expert” or a “political activist,” only someone who takes seriously the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. An advocate learns about issues affecting the community and expresses his or her views and concerns to the appropriate policy makers, building relationships with them through regular contact.
Why Should I Be An Advocate?
Being an advocate means being:
- A good steward of the gift of citizenship in a democracy;
- A faithful witness to God’s will for a just, peaceful, and healthy world;
- A loving neighbor to those whose lives are impacted by public policies – especially the most vulnerable among us.
How Can I Be a Public Witness Advocate?
The Guide provides information on developing skills as a public policy advocate, contacting legislators, attending public hearings and other strategies.
Useful Resources for Advocacy:
For information on the Governor, the Wisconsin Legislature, proposed legislation, state agencies, and local and federal government, go to: http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/government.html
For information on lobbying regulations and activity at the state level, visit the website of the Wisconsin Ethics Board. http://ethics.state.wi.us/
How a Bill Becomes Law gives a basic overview of the legislative process in Wisconsin. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/acc/images/PDFs/habbl2003.pdf
The Wisconsin Bluebook is published every two years and contains information on Wisconsin government and elected officials. It is on the web at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/bluebook.htm It may be purchased from the Department of Administration, 202 S. Thornton Avenue, Madison (P.O. Box 7840, Madison 53707-7840). VISA or MASTERCARD orders may be made by telephone at (800) 362-7253 or (608) 264-9419 (local calls). For pricing information, call (608) 266-3358.
Information on federal legislation can be found at THOMAS on the Library of Congress website. Copies may be purchased from Document Sales Unit, http://thomas.loc.gov/
