Problems + Research
Good policy problems are...
Framed in form of a question
Answered by an action
Narrowly scoped
Iterative
Based on prelim research
Not necessarily solved by legislation or regulation
What's the number one rule for communicating for policy?
Always lead with your Bottom Line Up Front
Stakeholder mapping includes...
Brainstorming stakeholders, connecting them, investigating their motivations.
Outputs are...
Deliverables that speak to your stakeholders
Advocacy is...
Convincing the stakeholder to take action and adopt solution
1 way to narrow a problem
Narrow the actors
Narrow to a specific jurisdiction
What should you do with jargon and acronyms in policy writing?
Key legislative powers
Make laws
Oversight
Budget/tax
Declare war
Support constituents
Solutions are
What you want the stakeholders to do. The answer to your policy question.
direct, indeterminate, and indirect
Policy research is for....
you, not your stakeholder!
What are common policy documents? Name 3.
Policy memos, white papers, public comments, emails
Key White House Powers
Commander in chief
Nomination power
Pardon power
Take care that laws are faithfully executed
Asks are...
The specific ask you make of each stakeholder: Implement your solution or help with steps along the way
The 5 steps of advocacy are...
Theory of Policy Impact
Identify Asks
Create Outputs
Build Advocacy Plan
Make the Ask (and keep making it)
Types of policy research
People
Paper
Policy writing is....
Direct, thoughtful, straightforward, simple
Makes a recommendation
Key Agency Powers
Pseudo-legislative power: Issue regulations
Pseudo-judicial power: Adjudicate actions
Executive power: Manage and enforce government programs
The 4 categories of outputs are...
Informational
Solution
Supporting
Advocacy
Name 3 example asks of companies
Put out a press release
Make a public statement
Release a policy paper
Attend a conference
Build a new tool
Change the way a tool works
Donate money
Policy research is... (name 3 things)
1. It's quick
2. Requires prioritizing
3. Assesses the nature of the problem, context of the policy ecosystem, provides info about potential solutions
What are the components of a policy memo?
Name 2 key differences in state/local gov vs. federal
- Balanced budgets
- Ballot measures + direct democracy
A suite of outputs should cover
What your solution is;
Why it is important;
How it can be implemented; and
The ways in which you can help make it happen
The 4 Ts of the advocacy campaign are...
Tactics
Timing
Technology
Tell your story