Lobbying
The act of attempting to influence legislative decisions.
What is lobbying?
Supporting or arguing for a cause or policy change.
What is advocacy?
The official process to become eligible to vote.
What is voter registration?
Participation in activities that influence public policy or help the community
What is civic engagement?
Influencing lawmakers to vote or make decisions.
Define lobbying.
Lobbying done by ordinary citizens contacting their representatives directly (e.g., writing letters).
What is grassroots lobbying?
Gathering facts, developing communication skills, and engaging multiple forms of participation.
What is essential for effective advocacy?
A direct vote by the electorate on a particular issue.
What is a referendum?
Voting, advocacy, volunteering, attending meetings, petitioning, running for office.
What are examples of civic engagement?
The act of supporting or arguing for a cause or policy change
Define advocacy
Lobbying is legal and protected as free speech but regulated by law
What are the legal aspects of lobbying?
Anyone regardless of age can participate in advocacy
Who can participate in advocacy?
A procedure allowing voters to remove elected officials before their term ends.
What is a recall election?
Citizens can engage through various activities like voting, volunteering, and attending public meetings.
How can citizens participate in civic engagement?
Lobbying done by ordinary citizens rather than professionals.
Define grassroots lobbying.
To influence lawmakers to vote in a certain way
What is the primary purpose of lobbying?
Advocacy is broader than lobbying and includes speaking up for policy changes.
How does advocacy differ from lobbying?
Voter registration, understanding the voting process, and participating in the election.
What are the key steps in the voting process?
Common misconceptions include that civic engagement is limited to voting or requires formal training.
A process by which voters can propose or approve laws by petition
Define referendum
Professional lobbying involves paid consultants or lobbyists, while grassroots lobbying is conducted by ordinary citizens.
What distinguishes professional lobbying from grassroots lobbying?
Common myths include the belief that advocacy is limited to those with certification or formal training.
What are common myths about advocacy?
Reasons include feeling uninterested, being too busy, forgetting to vote, or disliking candidates or issues.
What are the reasons people may choose not to vote?
Civic engagement helps shape public policy and strengthens democracy.
What role does civic engagement play in democracy?
Various ways citizens participate in democracy.
Define civic engagement