Chapter 03 Advocacy - Summary Notes

8/7/2019 Chapter 03 Advocacy - Summary Notes

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Chapter 03 - Summary


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Advocacy involvesstrategies aimed at

influencing thecreation and

implementation of

laws and policy.

In addition to usingtheirvoting power,

citizens in a

democracy canorganize to alertelectedofficials toproblems in their

communities, states,

andcountry andwork to promote

solutions.


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Advocacy is the activesupport of a cause and theattempt to persuade others.

Successfuladvocates mustbe organized

Use effectivemethods of

communication

Choose theappropriate level

of government towhich to addresstheir particular

issue.


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Lobbying isan attempt toinfluence the

law byconvincinglawmakers tovote a certain

way.

Lobbying is

protectedbythe U.S.Constitutionbecause it

involves theright to freespeech andother FirstAmendmentprotections.

Anyone canbe a lobbyistand try toconvince

lawmakers tovote fororagainst aparticular

issue.

Some

businessesand

organizationshire

professionallobbyists toadvocate

theirpositions.

Some peopleare

concernedthat

individualsand special

interestgroups usethe lobbyingprocess tobuy the laws

they want.

However,others say

that lobbyingis an effectivestrategy forgroups tomake their

voices heard.


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In general, eligible citizens in a democracyelect representatives to act on theirbehalfwhen making and enforcing laws.

Voting is a basicconstitutional right.

An initiative allows voters to petition topropose a new law.

A referendum allows voters todecide whetheror not a proposedlaw shouldbe passed.

owever, some proceduresallow voters todirectly

determine particularlaws.

However, others fear that these tools areinefficient for a variety of reasons.

Some people believe thatinitiatives and referenda allowvoters tobe more involved in

the democratic process.


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It is also important forvoters tobe informed about thecandidates and their positions in order to make wise decisions.

Federallaws prohibit voting by non-eligible voters or registeringin more than one district.

Tovote in the United States

you must be at least 18years old

a U.S. citizena resident of the district inwhich you want to register.


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Today, registering tovote is easy, but this was not alwaysthe case.

In the ast, African A ericans, women, NativeAmericans, and eople below the age of 2 were

prevented fromvoting.

In 97 , the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitutionlowered the officialvoting age from 2 to 8.

In many states, people who have committed seriouscrimes are prevented fromvoting, even after releasefrom jail.

Many Americans who are eligible tovote do not registerorparticipate in elections.


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Some people believethat the process ofraising money for

campaigning must bereformed tolimit the

influence of money onpolitics.

The goalofcampaignfinance reform is to

prevent corruption inthe election process.

Campaign financereform remains acomplicated and

controversial issue.

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