Supporting Children, Youth and Families: Download video training Getting Involved in Legislative Advocacy

Workshop Goals

Understand the meaning of advocacy Understand the process of legislative

advocacy

Acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to

lobby federal, state and local legislators and gain support for policy affecting children,
youth and families Download video training

Workshop Goals

Make Politics Work on issues that we care deeply about.

What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is the process of creating positive change in the lives of individuals to protect them from harm, insure inclusion in society, and allow for personal empowerment, as developmentally appropriate. Download video training
*Paul Williams, Partners in Advocacy, United Kingdom, May 11, 2006

Why is Advocacy Important?

It is our moral and ethical obligation as human beings, as well as psychologists, to speak for children, youth and other individuals who have no voice of their own. Download video training

Why is Legislative Advocacy Important?

POLICY

Share Psychological Research Enhances Status of Psychology

PROGRAMS

Provides the Potential to Influence Legislation

FUNDING

Provides the Potential to Gain Funding

Why is Legislative Advocacy Important?

Implications of Non-Involvement POLICY

Lack of Understanding of Psychology Not Considered Essential Science

PROGRAM

Psychology Excluded Entirely Psychology IncludedBut With Obstacles Amendments Favorable to Psychology Not Adopted

FUNDING

No Funding or Flat-funding Reduction or Modest Increase

The Federal Legislative Process The Basics

Understanding the Federal Legislative Process Goals and Objectives

Learn the Basics of the Federal Legislative Process Understand How a Bill Becomes a Law Understand the Committee Structure and the Role in the Legislative Process Learn about Federal Agencies and the Regulatory Process Learn How to Obtain Congressional Documents Download video training

The Federal Legislative Process

Congress 535 Members of Congress
Senate
100 Members
Addressed As : Senator

House of Representatives
435 Members
Addressed As : Congressman/woman Representative Mr./Ms.

The Federal Legislative Process

General Facts Regarding Congress

Lasts for two years

Commences in January of the year following the biennial election of Members

Divided into two sessions Download video training

The Federal Legislative Process

Differences Between House and Senate

Larger (435) Elected every 2 years More restraints Smaller constituency Specialists (avg 2 committees) Less media coverage Power less evenly distributed Less reliant on staff More partisan Only the House of Representatives originates revenue bills

Smaller (100): 2 from each state Elected every 6 years Fewer restraints Larger constituency Generalists (avg 4 committees) More media coverage Power more evenly distributed More reliant on staff Less partisan Only the Senate consents to treaties and certain nominations

The Federal Legislative Process A Senator

Be at least 30 years old Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years When elected, be a resident of the state they represent Six year term One-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every 2 years There is no limit on the number of terms a senator can serve

The Federal Legislative Process A Congresswoman/man

Be at least 25 years old Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years When elected, be a resident of the state they represent Two year term Download video training There is no limit on the number of terms a representative can serve

The Federal Legislative Process 109th Congress

Republicans
Democrats Independents House 232 201 1 Senate 55 44 1

Vacancies

The Federal Legislative Process

Legislation vs. Regulation LEGISLATION:

How a bill becomes a public law or private law Public laws affect society as a whole and private laws affect a particular person, family or group Download video training

The Budget & Appropriations Cycle

Nov to Jan Jan 20 Nov to Feb February Feb to Apr Jan to Apr May to Jun May to Aug May to Aug Jun to Sep Jun to Sep Sep to Nov Agency budget development State of the Union address Preparation of Presidents Budget Presidents Budget released Congressional Budget Resolution approved Appropriations hearings on bud get Appropriations subcommittee allocations Mark-up of House subcommittee appropriations Subcommittee, full committee, House passage Senate action in subcommittee, full committee Senate action on floor House-Senate conference to resolve differences

Oct 1
VSA

Fiscal year begins

VSA