Discuss objectives:o Why should nurses be engaged/involved in the policy process?o How can they influence the process/have their voice heard?

What is “government”?o Government defined

Merriam Webster defines government as “the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc.” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/government

In the United States, we have a representative democracy Citizens elect leaders to represent their interests in the lawmaking

process The people that an elected official (i.e. Senator, Representative, etc.)

represent are known as their “constituents” Once an individual is elected to public office, nothing legally binds them

to vote in a certain way

o Brief overview of different branches of government, their roles, duties, etc.: The system of government used in the United States is characterized by a

“separation of powers” Government is divided into three branches: the legislative branch, the executive

branch, and the judicial branch Certain powers are reserved to each branch, creating a system of “checks and

balances” This was designed to prevent any branch of government from obtaining too

much power

Legislative This is the branch that passes laws At the federal level, the legislative branch is often referred to as

“Congress”; at the state level, it is usually simply referred to as the “state legislature”

For both the federal and state government, the legislative branch is “bicameral”

o This means that it is divided into two separate chamber, the “house” and the “senate”

o Apportionment & Terms Federal level—outlined in the U.S. Constitution

Senateo Each state has two U.S. senators,

regardless of populationo Senators represent their entire state—

elections are conducted statewideo Senators are elected to terms of 6 years

o Elections are “staggered”, meaning every 2 years, 1/3 of the country’s senate seats are up for election

o The senate was designed to be the more deliberative, slower-moving chamber

Houseo The number of house seats allocated to

each state is done proportionately, based on population

o The larger a state’s population, the more house seats they are allocated

o Regardless of population, each state is guaranteed at least 1 seat in the House of Representatives

o “Reapportionment” is done every 10 years—if the census shows a state has grown or shrunk in population, relative to other states, they may gain or lose a house seat

o In states with a single house seat, like North Dakota, representatives are elected by a statewide vote, and they represent the entire state

o Most states have multiple house seats Here, the respective state

legislatures divide the state into “congressional districts” (each district is required to be approximately equal in population)

These representatives are chosen by elections held within each district, not by a statewide vote

In Congress, they are tasked with representing the constituents of their particular district, not the entire state

o House Representatives are elected to serve 2-year terms

o In contrast with the U.S. Senate, all members of the U.S. House of

Representatives face election at the same time

o “The People’s House”o This chamber was designed to be faster

moving than the U.S. Senate and more reflective to the people’s immediate opinions, which is why its members face reelection every 2-years

State level—outlined in the North Dakota Constitution Both members of the ND Senate and the ND

House of Representatives are elected to serve 4-year terms

The state is divided into 47 districts, approximately equal in population

Each legislative district is represented in Bismarck by 1 state senator and 2 state representatives

Elections are staggered, so that approximately half of the state’s legislative districts hold elections every 2 years

The Senate and the House vote on laws separately If a law passes one chamber, it is sent to the other for consideration If a law is passed by both the Senate and the House, it is sent to the

executive branch to be signedo At the federal level, it is sent to the Presidento At the state level, it is sent to the Governor

A law cannot be sent to the executive branch to be signed unless it passes both chambers

Executive The executive branch is the branch of government tasked with

executing the laws passed by the legislative branch At the federal level, it is led by the President of the United States At the state level, it is led by the Governor Both the President and the Governor are elected to serve 4-year terms

o At the federal level, Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates run together as a “ticket”

They are elected by the “electoral college” Each state has a designated number of votes in the

electoral college, equal to the sum of their number of U.S. Senators and their number of U.S. Representatives

If a Presidential ticket wins the popular vote in a state, they win the whole of that state’s electoral votes (ignoring a few exceptions)

Currently, there are 538 votes in the electoral college; because a candidate must receive a simple majority of the votes in the electoral college to win, 270 votes are required

This system can allow for a Presidential ticket receiving fewer votes nationwide than another ticket, that is, losing the popular vote, to still win the presidency (i.e. George W. Bush in 2000)

Small state like North Dakota have greater influence under this system because they are guaranteed 3 votes in the electoral college

o At the state level, candidates run for the positions of Governor and Lieutenant Governor together as a unified ticket

They are elected to 4-year terms In contrast to the use of the electoral college at the

federal level, a simple statewide election is used to determine North Dakota’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor

The executive branch has the power to sign into effect laws passed by the legislative branch

o The President, or Governor, has the power to “veto” legislation sent to them by the legislative branch

If this occurs, the law does not go into effect—it is “sent back” to the legislature

The legislature can override the executive’s veto with the vote of a “supermajority”, 2/3, of each chamber

The Vice-President (federal) and Lieutenant Governor (state) are also members of the executive branch

o The Vice-President serves as the President of the U.S. Senate and the Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the N.D. Senate

o In the event of a tie in the senate, they cast the tie-breaking vote

All of the various departments, charged with implementing and enforcing laws passed by the legislative branch, are a part of the executive branch

o Examples at the federal level Department of Agriculture Department of Health and Human Services Department of the Treasury

o Examples at the state level Department of Health Department of Transportation Department of Commerce

Judicial The courts system Much more than just trying individuals for crimes From whitehouse.gov: “Federal courts enjoy the sole power to interpret

the law, determine the constitutionality of the law, and apply it to individual cases. The courts, like Congress, can compel the production of evidence and testimony through the use of a subpoena. The inferior courts are constrained by the decisions of the Supreme Court — once the Supreme Court interprets a law, inferior courts must apply the Supreme Court's interpretation to the facts of a particular case.” http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/judicial-branch

The judicial branch provides a crucial check on the legislative and executive branches

o Can strike down any law passed by Congress on the grounds of constitutionality

o May also rule actions of the President (executive branch) to be unconstitutional

Executive orders Actions of executive agencies, such as the EPA

o Weakness The courts cannot act alone

A case must be brought to them In order for someone to bring a case to them,

they must have been wronged The courts have no enforcement mechanism

They may strike down a law on constitutional grounds, but they have no way of enforcing their decision

The courts need the support of the executive branch to implement their decision

At high levels, the judicial branch is insulated from the peopleo Justices of the Supreme Court/Judges of Federal Courts are

appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senateo In contrast with the legislative/executive branches, they are not

elected by the people—they don’t have any voters to appease, nor any fear of an upcoming election

o Theoretically, this allows justices to vote their conscience, whether or not it will be politically popular

o How is government divided? What do each of them do? Federal

National level President, Congress, Supreme Court, etc. Powers are both originated and limited by the U.S. Constitution

o 10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

State Laws apply only to the individual states Governors, state legislatures, state supreme courts, etc.

City (“Municipal”) Mayor, City Council, Municipal Court

o School Board, Park Board, etc. Policies apply only to cities themselves

o Called “ordinances”, not “laws” County

County commissions, Sheriffs, etc. Why do I need to know about government? Why is it important to be informed/engaged in the

process?o Everything that government does affects us

Recent-historical example of issue that had an effect on the nursing industry (this issue will be referenced throughout module)

o Laws are always changing at the state and federal level Upcoming issues (on-the-horizon) that may affect the nursing industry (these

will be referenced throughout module as well) Government by the people, for the people

If you don’t stay informed, take advantage of your right to make a difference, you’re surrendering your voice

Laws will still be made without your involvement in the process, but are they the laws that are best for you, your family, your organization, etc.?

Engagement and involvement allows you to influence the outcome How does something become law? (very brief overview)

A couple of different ways—can be made by elected officials, or can be done by a vote of the people (explain referendums, initiatives, etc.)

The first way is far more common How does this way work?

First, must be passed by the legislature, which is divided into 2 groups called “chambers”

o Both chambers have to pass the lawo Houseo Senateo **content on each of these chambers**

Next, it has to be signed by the Governor’s office (executive branch)o Without his signature, the bill doesn’t become law (veto)o Supermajority to override vetoo Governor’s office has an agenda they are working to get

through the legislature Finally, the law is implemented according to the text

Is it really this simple? Yes and no… This is how the system works, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the

scenes Let’s learn more about the legislature

o How many members are in the House & Senate? Federal level

Senate: 100 members House: 435 members, plus 5 nonvoting members that represent the

District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands http://www.house.gov/content/learn/

State level Senate: 47 members House: 94 members

o Why the difference? At both the state and federal level, the House of Representatives is larger than

the Senate The House is supposed to be the chamber that is more connected to the

peopleo By having more members, there is a greater likelihood that a

broader range of viewpoints will be represented The Senate is designed to be the more deliberative, slower-moving body

o It was envisioned as the more “experienced” chamber—at the federal level, Senators must be a minimum 30 years of age while Representatives need only be 25

o Because the chamber is smaller, it should be easier for negotiations to take place and for consensus to form

o How do citizens get chosen to serve in the House & Senate? Quick overview of campaign process

2-party systemo The American political process is characterized by some as a “2-

party system” This is in reference to the two major political parties in

the United States Republicans & Democrats

But aren’t there more than two political parties? Yes! In fact, there are dozens

o Two of the more well-known “third-parties” include the Libertarian Party and the Green Party

o Some candidates run as independents So, why do people say we have a 2-party system?

It’s hard to win unless you’re a Republican or a Democrat

Advantages given to candidates belonging to either the Republican or Democratic parties…

o Electoral College In order to win any votes in the

electoral college, a candidate has to win the popular vote in a state

In the 1990s, Ross Perot ran for President twice as a 3rd party candidate and gained a sizeable amount of the vote (18.9% in 1992 (“United We Stand” party) and 8.4% (“Reform Party” in 1996) http://thecontenders.c-span.org/Contender/15/Ross-Perot.aspx

Perot earned a sizeable amount of the popular vote, but didn’t receive a majority of the popular vote in any state; didn’t earn any electoral votes either year

o Ballot Accesso Party Infrastructure

Primary Electiono When most people think of political elections, they think of the

general election in Novembero The candidates that voters get to choose from in November are

usually determined through a “Primary Election” held sometime prior

Per North Dakota Century Code, primary elections are held “On the second Tuesday in June of every general election year”

o Primary systems differ by state, so we’ll focus on North Dakota “Open Primary”

Voters can only vote for candidates of one political party on election day, i.e. only Republicans or only Democrats

All candidates are on the same ballot o There are not separate ballots for

Republicans and Democrats, just

different sections on the ballots for candidates of the different parties

Voters can choose to vote for either Republican or Democratic candidates once they are in the ballot box

o This means that a voter who considers themselves to be a Democrat could choose to vote for Republican candidates in the primary (or vice versa) and vote for the candidates that they think their party’s candidate would be able to defeat in the general election more easily

Most of the time in North Dakota, primary elections are a formality, that is, the majority of the races are not contested

How do candidates get their names placed on the ballot?

Most common way: Party endorsement conventions

o The Republican and Democratic parties in North Dakota conduct “endorsement conventions” at both district and the state level

o District level Conventions held to endorse

candidates for the state legislature (generally one senate candidate, two house candidates)

Voters attending the convention must be residents of the district

Candidates deliver speeches to attendees, who then vote on their favorites

The candidates that are selected at the district convention are then submitted for inclusion on the primary ballot

These conventions are very grassroots and easy to get involved with

Generally, there are relatively few people in attendance, so each person’s vote can carry significant influence

o State level Attendees at the state

endorsing conventions are known as “delegates”

Each district is represented at the state endorsing convention by their delegates

The number of delegates allotted to each district is determined by party rules and are not equal

Delegates for each district are elected to serve in the role at their district conventions

Candidates are endorsed for partisan offices to be voted on statewide, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Public Service Commissioner, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Tax Commissioner, and Treasurer

o Most of the time, the candidates selected at endorsement conventions go into the primary uncontested, but sometimes they face challengers who have their name placed on the ballot through a different route

Less common way: petitionso Candidates can have their name placed

on the primary election ballot by submitting a petition signed by a sufficient number of qualified electors

o Number of signatures required varies by circumstance

o For legislative offices, “the signatures of at least one percent of the total

resident population of the legislative district as determined by the most federal decennial census.”

o Required number of signatures for other circumstances can be viewed here: http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t16-1c11.pdf?20140215185946

Makeup of legislative districts North Dakota is divided into 47 legislative districts Each district is represented in the legislature by 1 senator and 2

representatives Every 10 years, after the census, the legislatures goes through a

“redistricting” process when district lines are reevaluated based on changes in population

o Each district is supposed to be roughly the same size in population

o Section 2 of the North Dakota Constitution states that the legislature shall “guarantee, as nearly as practicable, that every elector is equal to every other elector in the state in the power to cast ballots for legislative candidates.”

The last time redistricting happened in North Dakota was in 2011o Each district was designed to include approximately 13,664

residents The largest district was 14,249 The smallest district was 13,053 http://www.legis.nd.gov/files/resource/62-2011/

legislative-management-final-reports/2011ssfinalreports.pdf?20140214165316

o How often does the legislature meet? The legislature meets for its regular session once every two years The maximum length of the regular session is 80 days, according to the North

Dakota Constitution: “No regular session of the legislative assembly may exceed eighty natural days during the biennium.” http://www.legis.nd.gov/constit/a04.pdf?20140214171800

These days do not need to be consecutive North Dakota legislative sessions generally begin in January and end

sometime in late April or early May of odd-numbered years In 2013, the Legislative Assembly convened on January 8th and

adjourned on May 4th http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013/regular

The Governor may call special sessions of the legislature, which do not count toward the 80 day maximum

o Where does the legislature meet? The legislature meets for its general session at the state capital building in

Bismarck, ND Interim legislative committees, which meet between legislative sessions, may

meet elsewhere in the stateo What does the legislature “do”? What powers do they have?

The Legislative Assembly passes the laws which govern the state They appropriate funds for the operation of state government “Advise and Consent”

Applies only to the Senate, not the House The Governor has the power to make appointments to a variety of

positions As a check on the power of the executive branch, the North Dakota

Senate has the power to “advise and consent” the governor on some of these appointments—they must vote to confirm the governor’s appointees.

Offices that this applies to include:o Members of the State Board of Higher Educationo Commissioner of Financial Institutionso Securities Commissioner

http://www.legis.nd.gov/research-center/library/legislative-branch- function-and-process

Oversight It is the duty of the legislature to maintain proper oversight over

executive agencies, government subdivisions, and other organizations receiving support from the legislature

They must ensure that these groups are respecting the intent of legislation they enact

They must ensure that the taxpayer-funds they allocate are being spent appropriately

o What’s a bill? What’s a resolution?

A bill, as defined on the website of the North Dakota legislature: “Bills create, amend, or repeal law. To become law, a bill must pass the

House of Representatives and the Senate by a majority vote of the members-elect in each house. Bills may be introduced by members of the Legislative Assembly, standing committees, or the Legislative Management. A state executive agency or the North Dakota Supreme Court can have bills automatically introduced in the name of the standing committee to which the bill will be referred. House bills begin with the number 1001, and Senate bills begin with the number 2001. The Constitution of North Dakota (Article IV, Section 13) provides that bills adopted by the Legislative Assembly generally take effect August 1 after filing with the Secretary of State. However, certain appropriations and tax measures become effective July 1. The effective date may be

later if specifically written into a bill. The effective date may be earlier if the Legislative Assembly declares an “emergency” and the measure receives a two-thirds vote of the members-elect in each house.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/general-information A resolution, as defined on the website of the North Dakota legislature:

Resolutions propose constitutional amendments, express opinions, request actions, congratulate, or console. Resolutions do not have the effect of law. Resolutions are the vehicles used to propose constitutional amendments for voter consideration. Resolutions are used to request an interim study by the Legislative Management on a specific subject. Resolutions frequently express legislative opinion to Congress or other federal offices with regard to federal programs or policies. House concurrent resolutions begin with the number 3001, and Senate concurrent resolutions begin with the number 4001. Concurrent means that a particular resolution must be approved by both the House and Senate. The House or Senate may use resolutions for their own separate business such as memorial resolutions for deceased members, e.g., House Memorial Resolution 7001 and Senate Memorial Resolution 8001.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/general-information o What is a “Session Law”?

“Session Laws contain the text of all measures enacted (bills) or adopted (resolutions) by a particular Legislative Assembly. Session Laws also include:

Constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislative Assembly. Vote totals are provided for those “approved” or “disapproved” since publication of the preceding Session Laws.

Initiated laws or constitutional amendments and referred bills submitted to voters since publication of the preceding Session Laws (includes vote totals).

Governor’s veto messages. Lists of House and Senate members. A statewide legislative district map.

Recent Session Laws are online at http://www.legis.nd.gov. “

http://www.legis.nd.gov/general-information

o Who are my legislators? Where do I go to find out? Is it okay to get in contact with

them? Every district in North Dakota contains one seat in the Senate and one seat in

the House of Representatives This means that every North Dakotan is represented in the Legislative Assembly

by one state senator and two state representatives (except in rare circumstances where a seat is vacant for whatever reason)

To find out who your legislator is in, you must first know what legislative district you are in

Your legislative district is determined based on your residency in the state

How is my residency determined? Section 54-01-26 of the North Dakota Century Code “Residence – Rules

for determining” lays out some basic rules, several of which are displayed below

o “Every person has in law a residence. In determining the place of residence, the following rules must be observed:”

It is the place where one remains when not called elsewhere for labor or other special or temporary purpose and to which the person returns in seasons of repose.

There can only be one residence. A residence cannot be lost until another is gained. The residence can be changed only by the union of act

and intent http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t54c01.pdf?

20140221202219 Article II of the North Dakota Constitution emphasizes that “No elector

shall lose his residency for voting eligibility solely by reason of his absence from the state.”

o http://www.legis.nd.gov/constit/a02.pdf?20140221203528 Section 16.1-01-14 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes that,

to be a qualified elector for a given precinct or district, an individual must have resided there for at least 30 days prior to the election

o If you have lived in the same location for more than 30 days, that location is your residency

o If you have not yet lived in a location for 30 days, your previous address is still used to determine your residency

Biggest takeaway: you establish residency by living in a location for 30 days. If you move, you do not forfeit your previous residency status until you reestablish yourself somewhere else

This is a map of the state split up by legislative district

http://www.legis.nd.gov/files/district-maps/2013-2022/population.pdf?

20140221194112 If you live in one of the geographically-larger districts, it should be easy to tell

what district you were in. If you live in one of the state’s larger cities or near the border of two districts, it might be tough to tell which district you are a resident of

The state of North Dakota’s website provides maps provides maps of smaller geographic areas for the bigger communities in the state, as well as an interactive statewide map. If you live in an urban area, these options may be useful for you. Links to the various maps can be accessed through this site: http://www.legis.nd.gov/districts/2013-2022

Once you have found out which legislative district you are in, you are just one step away from knowing who your legislators are!

First, open up your internet browser and visit the website www.legis.nd.gov

On the left side of the page, click the link referencing the current legislative assembly. You will then be brought to this page:

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013 On the right side of the page, under the heading “Membership Information”,

click the link which reads “Members by District”--- http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013

You will now be viewing a page which lists all members of the current Legislative Assembly, divided by their districts. Simply scroll down until you find your district and your legislators!

To find out more about an individual legislator, and to see their contact information, simply click on their name

As an example, here is the state webpage for Representative Thomas Beadle. Each legislator’s page lists their district, political party, chamber, committee membership, contact information, and a brief biography.

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013/members/house/representative- thomas-beadle

o Speaking with your legislator A lot of people are intimidated about giving their legislator a call or sending

them an email—they shouldn’t be! Things to remember:

o North Dakota has a “Citizen legislature”—that means that, other than a period of about 80 days every two years, your legislators live perfectly normal lives. They probably have another other jobs and likely live in a home not so far from yours! If the idea of talking to a legislator makes you nervous, try and think of it as speaking with a coworker or neighbor: it probably isn’t too far from the truth!

o Legislators want to hear from you. Whether or not you voted for them, they know that their purpose is to represent you and your interests. The more informed they are, the more-able they are to do their job. They want to learn more about the issues being discussed, and have a better idea of how their constituents feel

o Be respectful and professional. This will help you build credibility with the legislator and maximize the impact you can have.

o Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back from your legislator right away

Legislators are busy people. In addition to their public service, many of them have other full-time jobs. Your feedback is important to them and you should expect

them to get back to you, but don’t be surprised if it takes them a little bit of time

Especially if you are trying to get in touch with them during the legislative session or close to an election. These are extraordinarily busy times for legislators, where they are balancing a lot of duties and obligations--responding to your feedback is certainly one, but be understanding if it takes a little while.

o Leadership in the House/Senate (majority/minority leaders, whips, Speaker of the House)—what is their role in this whole process?

Both chambers of the legislature have leaders elected by the two parties The party with more members is known as the “majority party”, while the party

with fewer members is known as the “minority party” Each party elects leadership within the chamber

Majority party elects “majority leadership” Minority party elects “minority leadership”

Senate Leadership: President: Lieutenant Governor Drew Wrigley (Republican)

o This position is not elected by the Senate, but through a statewide election as was previously covered

President Pro Tempore: Senator Terry M. Wanzek (Republican) Majority Leader: Senator Rich Wardner (Republican) Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Jerry Klien (Jerry Klein) Minority Leader: Senator Mac Schneider (Democrat) Assistant Minority Leader: Senator Joan Heckaman (Democrat) Majority Caucus Leader: Senator David Hogue (Republican) Minority Caucus Leader: Senator John M. Warner

House Leadership: Speaker of the House: Rep. Bill Devlin (Republican) Majority Leader: Rep. Al Carlson (Republican) Assistant Majority Leader: Rep. Don Vigesaa (Republican) Minority Leader: Rep. Kenton Onstad (Democrat) Assistant Minority Leader: Corey Mock (Democrat) Majority Caucus Leader: Rep. Joe Heilman (Republican) Minority Caucus Leader: Rep. Ed Gruchalla (Democrat)

House Leadership:

o “So, we know that the legislature votes on bills, and if there are enough votes, that bill becomes law. But where do these laws come from?”

Laws c Bills & Resolutions

o Who writes them? Bills and resolutions can be written by legislators, interest groups, and even

individuals

o Why do they write them? What are they ultimately trying to accomplish? Prior to writing any legislation, the author should establish a clear purpose and

ask themselves a few questions: What are my specific objectives? What is the overall goal that I want this legislation to accomplish?

o What are the common themes of my objectives? Has anybody else tried doing this?

o In North Dakota?o In the region?o In the country?

Who would make good partners in this effort?o Are there any interest groups that have a similar goal?o Individual Legislators?o Political Parties?

o What does the author include in the bill? Writing law is very complex

Common for authors to have legal counsel assist them in crafting legislation

This helps to ensure that the authors intent is consistent with the text of the law

The bill must include the appropriate language so that it accomplishes the author’s objectives

The bill must take the status quo into account Is the bill a new addition to law? Is the bill amending existing law? Is the bill repealing existing law?

o Politics matters in bill writing Bills go through many changes from the time they are first introduced to when

they are signed into law by the Governor This means that if a group’s ideal legislation is introduced, it probably will not

look the same by the time it is passed (if it is passed at all) This means that there are some important considerations that authors of

legislation must take into account. Some of them include: What is the likelihood of the legislation getting passed? Is there room for compromise? What elements of the bill are absolutely essential in order for the bill’s

overall goal to be accomplished? Sometimes, a group must accomplish their goals incrementally

Change is controversial Things which are controversial are more difficult to pass in the

legislature The bigger the change in policy a piece of legislation represents, the

more difficult it may be to pass

This presents more questions for groups and individuals drafting legislation to consider:

o Do we think we can get all of what we want in this legislation passed?

o Is our effort worthwhile if we can get “some” of what we want, but not all of it?

o What parts of our legislation would we feel comfortable “dropping”

Are there elements of the legislation that will create unnecessary controversy? (i.e. the risk to the legislation posed by the added controversy is greater than the benefit added by the controversial element)

Do we deliberately include portions that can be dropped later? (i.e. do we include content that goes ‘above and beyond’ our goal)

Benefits:o If the entire legislation makes it

through, you accomplish more than your goal

o There is more room for compromising, while still accomplishing your objectives

Drawbacks:o Could create unnecessary controversyo This controversy could threaten the

entire legislation and your overall objectives, not just the ‘extra’ parts

o When do bills get written? Bills are usually written between legislative sessions

Deadline for bill submission is early in the legislative sessiono What if multiple people have similar bills?

Sometimes multiple legislators author bills that have similar content May be designed to address the same problem or centered on the same

idea Minor differences between similar bills may exist in the style (use of language)

used More significant differences may be the magnitude of the legislation

Versions may differ in how “extreme” an approach they take Size of appropriations in bills may vary

o Selecting sponsors A “sponsor” is the legislator that introduces a bill or resolution for consideration

by the legislative assembly Multiple legislators can sponsor the same piece of legislation

In these cases, they are known as “co-sponsors” The bill or resolution is branded with the name of the sponsors

While individuals and interest groups can write pieces of legislation, they cannot present it for consideration by the legislature

This is why a sponsor is needed Selecting the right sponsor(s) is very important to the success of a bill

What things does an organization need to consider in selecting the right sponsor(s)?

o Which legislators will support this policy? Obviously, a legislator will not sponsor legislation that

they do not support. This is the most basic thing to consider when narrowing down the list of legislators you can ask to sponsor a bill.

o Partisanship On some issues, Republican and Democratic legislators

may be sharply divided Political parties are often hesitant to allow the other

side to “score” political victories The majority party may block legislation

proposed by the minority, even if they agree with it. Why?

o If the legislation passes, it strengthens the minority party at the expense of the majority party

o If they really do like the idea, members of the majority party can author similar legislation and propose it themselves, allowing them to take credit

How can having the right sponsor(s) mitigate the threat that political division poses to your legislation?

In a polarized political environment, having cosponsors from both the Republican and Democratic parties sends a strong message to the public. Legislation labeled as “bipartisan” may be received more favorably by the public. If both parties can “share” credit for legislation they agree on, they don’t need to be as afraid of the other side scoring points.

If securing sponsors from both sides of the aisle isn’t possible, or is impracticable for the given circumstances, it may be most desirable to have a sponsor from the majority party

o This is particularly true if the same political party controls both chambers of the legislature (even more so if the Governor is a part of the same party)

o While legislators do not vote with their party 100% of the time, as a general rule, legislators of the same party vote together.

o If a member of the majority party is sponsoring a piece of legislation, they will generally have an easier time securing votes

o Committee membership A legislator who is a member of the committee that the

legislation will likely be considered by could make for a strong sponsor

They may be respected on the subject matter They are likely to be well-informed and

knowledgeable of the history applicable to the issue

They will be in a strong position to defend the legislation during committee discussions

o Life Experience A legislator with personal or professional experience

related to the legislation’s subject matter may be better prepared to make a strong case for it

A legislator personally affected by the problem the legislation was designed to combat may be a more passionate advocate

o Personal Reputation A legislator that is not well respected by the public may

not make for a good sponsor, even if they are a strong advocate for the legislation

You do not want the spirit of the legislation to be tarnished by a legislator with a poor reputation

If a legislator is going to vote against your bill, you do not want it to be because of the person sponsoring the bill

o Trust Whenever possible, you should select a sponsor that

you trust to accomplish the goals of your legislation Prior to asking a legislator to sponsor your bill, you

should be confident that their goals for the legislation are aligned with the goals of your organization

Committee Set-upo What’s the point of committees?

It’s tough to work through a brand new piece of legislation in a body composed of dozens of members

Bills often go through many changeso Everything from typos to simple changes in language—things

that do not affect the overall intent of the bill, but need to be changed nonetheless

Committees allow for more negotiationo There is more time for intense deliberationo Members have more time to express their concerns and

elaborate on themo Proponents can make concessions to garner more support and

secure votes Tough to be experts on every issue

o Legislature is filled with many incredibly bright and experienced individuals

o No matter how hard they may try, it’s difficult to be an expert on every issue the legislature considers

o Individuals serving on legislative committees listen to testimony from people ranging from everyday citizens to national experts

Through testimony and lengthy discussion, committee members are able to become particularly knowledgeable in the committee’s subject matter

o Other members of the general assembly can utilize the expertise of committee members to assist them in making their decision, notably through the various committees’ “pass” or “do not pass” recommendations

o What committees are there? Wide variety…

House SenateStanding Committees Standing CommitteesAgriculture AgricultureAppropriations AppropriationsAppropriations- Education and Environmental Division

Education

Appropriations- Government Operations Division

Finance and Taxation

Appropriations- Human Resources Division

Government and Veterans Affairs

Education Human ServicesEnergy and Natural Resources Industry, Business, and LaborFinance and Taxation JudiciaryGovernment and Veterans Affairs Natural ResourcesHuman Services Political SubdivisionsIndustry, Business and Labor TransportationJudiciaryPolitical Subdivisions

House Procedural Committees Senate Procedural CommitteesArrangements for House Committee Rooms

Arrangement for Senate Committee Rooms

Committees CommitteesCorrection and Revision of the Journal

Correction and Revision of the Journal

Delayed Bills Delayed BillsEmployment EmploymentInaugural Planning Inaugural PlanningRules Rules

Interim CommitteesAdministrative Rules CommitteeAdvisory Commission on Intergovernmental RelationsAgriculture CommitteeBudget SectionCommission on Alternatives to IncarcerationEconomic Impact CommitteeEducation Funding CommitteeEmployee Benefits Programs CommitteeEnergy Development and Transmission CommitteeGovernment Finance CommitteeGovernment Services CommitteeHealth Care Reform Review CommitteeHealth Services CommitteeHigher Education Funding CommitteeHuman Services CommitteeInformation Technology CommitteeJudiciary CommitteeLegacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory BoardLegislative Audit and Fiscal Review CommitteeLegislative ManagementLegislative Procedure and Arrangements CommitteeTaxation CommitteeTribal and State Relations CommitteeWater Topics Overview CommitteeWorkers’ Compensation Review Committee

North Dakota Statutory CommitteesAdvisory Committee on Sustainable AgricultureAirplane Replacement Advisory CommitteeCapitol Grounds Planning CommissionChild Support Guidelines Drafting Advisory CommitteeCommission on Legal Counsel for IndigentsCommission on Uniform State LawsCommittee on Protection and AdvocacyComprehensive Health Association of North Dakota BoardCourt Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee

Crop Protection Product Harmonization and Registration BoardDevils Lake Outlet Management Advisory CommitteeEducation Commission of the StatesEmergency CommissionHealth Information Technology Advisory CommitteeHigher Education Grant Review CommitteeLegacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory BoardMidwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact CommissionMidwestern Higher Education CommissionMultistate Highway Transportation Agreement Cooperating CommitteeNational Conference of Insurance LegislatorsNorth Dakota Early Childhood Education CouncilNorth Dakota Lottery Advisory CommissionSchool of Medicine and Health Sciences Advisory CouncilSpecial Road CommitteeState Board of Agricultural Research and EducationState Council for Interstate Adult Offender SupervisionState Council for Interstate Juvenile SupervisionState Council on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenState Employees Compensation CommissionState Hospital Governing BodyState Information Technology Advisory CommitteeStatewide Longitudinal Data System CommitteeStreamlined Sales Tax Governing BoardStreamlined Sales Tax State and Local Advisory CouncilVeterinary Medical Education Program Admissions CommitteeYellowstone-Missouri Rivers Confluence Commission

Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013/committees Which are most relevant to nursing

o Are there different committees for the House & Senate? Why? Yes!

There are separate standing committees and procedural committees for both the House and the Senate

The committees are separate because the work they are conducting pertains to legislation under consideration by one of the specific houses

Interim Committees Interim Committees meet in between the general legislative sessions They are composed of members of both the House and the Senate Their purpose is largely educational

o They… Discuss ideas for legislation to present in the next

legislative session

Are given updates from individuals involved in programs supported by (or otherwise of interest to) the legislature

Hear testimony from experts on topics of interest to the committee

Provide an opportunity for everyday individuals to give comments to members of the committee

“Between sessions, interim committees hold hearings, take testimony, and review information provided by the Legislative Council, state agencies, and interested parties as they consider alternative approaches to issues raised by studies. “ http://www.legis.nd.gov/legislative-management

o What do the various committees do? Is there overlap? The committees hold hearings, consider proposed legislation, and make

recommendations on legislation to their chamber Each committee handles a limited range of subject matter (which can generally

be gleaned from the committee’s name) Bills and resolutions are referred to a particular committee by the leader of the

chamber The Speaker of the House assigns legislation to the House’s committees The President of the Senate (Lieutenant Governor) assigns legislation to

the Senate’s committeeso Who serves on the committees? How is this decided?

Legislators are “appointed” to serve on the various committees Legislators serving on the Appropriations Committee do not serve on

any other standing committee (as this committee meets every day of the week during the general session)

All other legislators (besides the Speaker of the House and majority/minority leaders) serve on two standing committees

Majority of the legislature’s work is completed within the various standing committees

Appointments to standing committees are made by the Committee on Committees (separate committees exist for the House and Senate, each dealing with appointments to the committees of their respective chambers)http://www.legis.nd.gov/research-center/library/legislative-branch-function-and-process

o What is their role in screening bills and coming out with a DO pass or DO NOT pass recommendation?

The committees hold public hearings Individuals are invited to provide testimony Committee members discuss the merits of proposed legislation, potential

problems, the overall impact of the legislation’s passage/not passage, etc. Potential amendments to the bill or resolution are discussed and considered

After all of this is concluded, committees vote on a recommended course of action that they present to their chamber (i.e. House committees make a report to the House, Senate committees make a report to the Senate)

Committee reports on proposed legislation are summarized as either: 1) Do pass 2) Do not pass 3) Amend and do pass 4) Amend and do not pass 5) Without recommendation

Once the committee process is completed, the legislation is reported back to the committees’ respective chamber

Committees cannot “kill” bills or resolutionso This isn’t the case in Congress

All legislation considered by committees will have a vote on the floor of the respective chamber

Often, both chambers of the legislature will pass similar, but not identical legislation

Intent may be mostly the same, but wording differentSometimes, legislation passed by the two houses may be virtually opposites of one another

o This is more likely if different parties constitute majorities in the two houses (i.e. Republicans control the House, Democrats control the Senate)

In order for legislation to be sent to the Governor’s office to be signed into law, both chambers of the legislature must pass identical pieces of legislation

When similar, but different, laws have been passed by both chambers, the bills or resolutions will be discussed in a “conference committee”

The conference committee is composed of six memberso Three members appointed by members of the Houseo Three members appointed by members of the Senate

Members of the conference committee are charged with merging common elements of the different pieces of legislation previously passed by each of the two chambers and reaching an agreement for language to be used in sections of the legislation that differ

http://www.legis.nd.gov/research-center/library/legislative-branch-function- and-process

o Who is in charge of the committees? (committee leadership structure)o When do they meet? Do they meet outside of the normal legislative session (interim

committees)? During the legislative session, committees meet at a regularly scheduled time

and place in the state capitol building in Bismarcko Legislative Management

Was originally established in 1945 as the “Legislative Research Committee” Composed of 17 legislators, including:

Majority and Minority Leader of the Senate and the House Speaker of the House Six Senators (4 appointed by majority leader, 2 by minority leader) Six Representatives (4 appointed by majority leader, 2 by minority

leader” Legislative Management meets after each session to determine what studies

will be conducted during the interim session, which interim committees will be in charge of each study, and which interim committees legislators will serve on (each legislator serves on at least one)

Some interim committees are created by statute Examples:

o Higher Education Funding Committeeo Employee Benefits Programs Committeeo Legislative Ethics Committee

Other committees may be created by Legislative Management http://www.legis.nd.gov/legislative-management

o What role can you play in the committee’s processes? Testifying

What does it mean to testify? What’s the purpose of testifying? How do you testify? What do you say? What do you do? What kind of information are legislators looking for?

Testifying—from http://www.legis.nd.gov/general-information

o “How to Testify Before a North Dakota Legislative Committee

o You have the right… You have the right, as do all citizens, to testify before the North Dakota

Legislative Assembly on any bill or resolution. North Dakota has one of the most open legislatures in the nation. Every bill must

have a public hearing before a legislative committee, must be publicly voted upon by the committee, and then must come before the full House or Senate for still another public vote.

Your opportunity to testify on a bill comes at the committee hearing Legislative committees meet in rooms on the ground floor or in the legislative

wing of the State Capitol. You can come into a committee meeting at any time, even if the door is closed or a hearing is in progress.

Lists of the legislative committees, committee members, and the days and places committees meet are available on this website and at legislative information kiosk in the hall between the Senate and House chambers. Committee hearing schedules are available on this website and at the legislative information can be

viewed on the monitors by the information kiosk and in the hall of the ground floor at the Capitol.

Most current versions of bills and amendments are available on this website. You can also get copies of bills from the Bill and Journal Room. However, if the bill has been amended, the printed bill may not include the amendments.

Hearings Before North Dakota Legislative Committees Are Generally Informal and Few Rules Need Be Observed!

o Before the Hearing You Should… Find out when and where your bill will be heard. Be on time for the hearing.

Usually, once a hearing is closed on a particular bill, no further testimony is heard.

Plan your testimony. It is not necessary, but it is helpful, to have written copies of your comments available.

See if other persons will be testifying on your bill. If so, try to coordinate your testimony before the hearing to avoid duplication.

Contact the Secretary of State’s office if you are going to testify on behalf of anyone but yourself to see if you must register as a lobbyist.

o At the Hearing You Should… Be present at the start of the hearing. All persons present usually get a chance to

speak, but sometimes because of large turnouts it is not possible to give everyone a chance to speak. If you do not get a chance to testify, your presence may be acknowledged and you might be asked if you favor or oppose the bill. Also, you can always submit written testimony.

Sign the witness sheet at the lectern. Give the bill number, whether you favor or oppose the bill, your name, your lobbyist registration number if you have one, and who you represent if other than yourself.

Wait your turn. The chairman announces the beginning of the hearing on a particular bill. The clerk will read the bill. The first speaker is usually the bill’s sponsor. The chairman then asks for testimony first from proponents and then opponents

Plan on following the custom (although it is not absolutely necessary) of beginning your remarks by addressing the chairman and committee members, giving your name and address, and why you are there. For example: “Mr. or Madam Chairman and members of the committee, my name is John Q. Public from Edwinton. I’m in favor of this bill because, etc.”

Be brief. Do not repeat what others have said. The hearings are informal so be conversational. Avoid being too technical. Avoid using acronyms or technical references unless you first explain what they mean.

Do not be nervous or worried about doing something wrong. There are no “rights and wrongs” about testifying. Legislators are just your friends and neighbors who want to hear what you have to say.

Expect some questions and comments from committee members. These questions are not designed to embarrass you but merely to provide additional information.

Avoid any clapping, cheering, booing, or other demonstrations.o After the Hearing…

Some committees vote right after a hearing. Others wait until the end of the meeting. Some postpone voting until another meeting.

All committee action is public so you can stay to listen to committee debate and its vote even though public comment portion of the hearing is over.

One or two days later you can check with the committee clerk, your legislator, or the legislative information kiosk to find out how the committee voted on your bill.

You have a right to testify on any bill before a legislative committee. Legislators want to hear what you have to say.”

Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov/general-information

Revisit process for passing a bill (more detailed than before); to illustrate this process, we will use a historical example to make it more relatable to participants (booster seat example?)

o Writing the bill Who was involved in writing the example bill?

o Selecting sponsors Who did they choose to sponsor the bill? Why? What steps were involved in this

process?o Introduction in what chamber (House vs. Senate)

How did they make this decision?o Committee hearings

What committee did it go to? Why? Who testified? What information did they provide to the legislators?

o Actual votes in the House & Senate Is this the margin they had been expecting?

o What happens once the bill was passed? Signed by the governor Did they have the governor’s support prior? What role did the office play?

Overall Strategyo A lot happens between the time an organization decides they would like to author a

piece of legislation and the time that legislation is signed into lawo Organizations should develop an overall strategy to increase the likelihood that they are

successful in having their legislation passed When to have a loud and public voice vs. a quiet, behind-the-scenes presence

The public doesn’t hear about the vast majority of legislation that is passed every session

Why?o The media can only share a limited amount of information

Newspapers have a finite amount of space TV news stations have a finite amount of time

o They need to make a determination of what is “newsworthy” What stories will interest people? Which stories will boost ratings?

o Newsworthy items become a part of the news. Other items remain out of the public eye.

Do you want your legislation to be newsworthy?o When would you want it to be newsworthy?

When political pressure is necessary The legislature is not, nor will ever be, a body

perfectly representative of the citizenry. There may be a discrepancy between the

public’s opinion on proposed legislation and the view of the legislature

Sometimes, this means that while a strong majority of the public may be supportive of a piece of legislation, there exists only a minority of legislators in support

In cases such as this, legislators may need pressure from their constituents and other citizens in order to be swayed

The more newsworthy the legislation becomes, the more engaged the public will be and the easier it will be for your organization to mobilize supporters to contact their legislators

When awareness of the law is important If legislation isn’t newsworthy, most people

won’t know that a given law has changed Think about the law mandating use of seat belts

o What was the purpose of this law? To reduce driver and passenger

deaths and injuries by mandating the use of seatbelts in automobiles while they are being operated

o How is the law enforced? Police officers on traffic patrol

o Is the law enforced well? Similar to most traffic laws, I

would say the answer to this is no

Explain more: if an individual chooses not to wear their seatbelt, there is only a small chance that they will be spotted

by an officer and cited for the violation. This is similar to other traffic violations, such as rolling through a stop-sign in a residential community (odds are, the driver will not be cited for this violation either)

o If the law isn’t enforced well, how can you improve the likelihood of the legislation’s purpose being accomplished?

o By making legislation newsworthy, you can increase awareness regarding the issues the legislation is based on

o Going back to the seatbelt example: when the law was being discussed in the news, the public became:

A) more aware that the law was going to be passed (and the penalties associated with it)

B) familiarized with statistics related to the number of fatalities that could have been prevent, had seatbelts been worn

C) exposed to several tragedies that could have been prevented by seatbelts

Each of the above points increase the likelihood that individuals will change their behavior. The PR opportunity that can come with the passage of legislation can be very important to advancing an organization’s cause.

When strengthening the brand of an organization is important

Having a piece of legislation passed is a major accomplishment that could boost the credibility/level of public knowledge of your organization

o When would you not want it to be newsworthy?

When the bill is making minor changes to existing legislation

Sometimes, problems with a bill will only be revealed after it has been passed and its implementation has begun.

Legislation which changes aspects of existing policy that relate to basic procedural or implementation issues may be able to garner sufficient support relatively easily

o Especially if the sponsor ensures that the focus of the legislation remains on the procedural or implementation issues, and not the question of whether or not the previously-passed legislation should exist

Making this type of legislation newsworthy may threaten the likelihood of the legislation being passed

o Since this legislation is designed just to address minor issues with the original policy, you do not want to rehash the issue of the original policy—especially if it was controversial. Significant media attention is likely to do this, particularly if opposing politicians view it as a way to score easy political points

When the purpose of the bill could be “spun” If the purpose of the legislation could be easily

“spun” by political opposition hoping to score a victory, a quieter approach may be preferred to avoid the threat posed by political gamesmanship

This is especially true if you are confident that you already have the support of legislators that you need to pass the legislation

“Giving in” on portions of your bill You should be prepared to “give” on portions of your bill, especially if it

is controversial If your bill has more room for compromise, it may be easier to garner

support from legislators looking for “give and take” If your bill has too much room for compromise, it may be viewed from

the start as too extreme and not given the consideration you are hoping for

What is your “message”? What kind of public dialogue are you hoping to encourage?

What is your elevator pitch for the legislation? What is the most effective way to describe it to somebody unfamiliar with it in 30 seconds?

The legislation should be written to match the message you are trying to send to the public

Talking points should be established that is consistent with the legislation

Remember: if you do not set the tone for the public dialogue on your legislation, somebody else will. If you don’t frame the message, it may be your opposition who will.

Who is going to be carrying your message? Legislators? Interest groups? Concerned citizens? Lobbyists? What’s the difference?

Who is the best person to make the case for your legislation?o Is the issue political, such that a political party and legislators

belonging to it should carry the message?o Are there interest groups, well-known to the public, who would

make strong partners on the legislation?o Have you identified any citizens, whose personal background or

“story” would make them a strong advocate for your legislation?

o Does your organization know any lobbyists whose professional experience and political networks would enable them to be an effective message-carrier?

The individuals and groups you select to carry your legislation’s message are critical. They will become the face of the legislation, and you want to ensure that the face matches the spirit of your legislation and that they will be received favorably by the public.

Advocacy How does a normal citizen influence policymakers? (“Advocacy” section—will reference

historical example throughouto Emails, letters

Interest groups have, for a long time, used “letter-writing campaigns” to put pressure on elected officials

How it works: Interest groups have certain goals they are trying to accomplish Interest groups have lists of members/others who have goals which

align with the group When an opportunity for the group to advance its goals presents itself—

say, a piece of legislation related to the goal is under consideration by the Legislative Assembly—the interest group may mobilize its members by organizing a “letter-writing campaign”

They begin by notifying their members/supporters of the issue at hand, and why they should care about it

Next, they ask the supporter to contact their elected official and urge them to take a certain stance on the issue

o Strategy: The group could provide the supporter with a

prewritten letter (a letter template) that only requires a signature

This is less genuine Elected officials (or more likely their staff) will

be less swayed by a flurry of identical, professionally written letters than they would be by personally written ones

Providing supporters with pre-written letters will result in more being submitted, but the value of each will be less than if they were personally written

Personally-Written Letters While more genuine than templates, there are

disadvantages of this approach as well Because it takes more time to draft a letter than

to sign one, the volume of personally-written letters submitted will be smaller than if prewritten letters were provided

An organization’s communications staff is likely able to compose a stronger letter than the average citizen

o They will know exactly what to include in the letter

Applicable facts, history of the issue, etc.

o They will know how to style the letter If an organization chooses not to provide

prewritten letters to its members, they should take steps to mitigate these disadvantages. Options can include providing supporters with:

o A list of key “talking points”, including basic arguments and any particularly compelling data

o The name and contact information for the office of the supporter’s elected official

o An example of a letter used for another issue so that the supporter has

something to go off of when drafting their own

Modern technology has simplified this process someo Emails can now be used for citizens to contact elected officials

in a manner similar to letterso Easier for groups to mobilize their supporters

Rather than contacting them via phone calls or snail-mail, they can send out an email blast in an instant

They can utilize social media to create a buzz around the topic and spread their message beyond their core group of supporters

Interest groups can organize a phone-call campaign to accomplish similar goals

o Rather than organizing supporters to write/send letters to elected officials, groups push them to make phone calls.

o This method is harder for elected officials (and particularly their staff) to ignore

It’s easy to ignore a barrage of emails, but harder to ignore persistent phone ringing

o Volume of supporters reaching out may be larger than with letter-writing

It’s much easier (and takes less time) to pick up a phone than to draft a letter or email

What should you include in a letter? A brief description of the issue you are concerned about An explanation of why this issue represents a problem (tell the elected

official why this issue matters to them, that is, why they should be concerned about it too)

A statement of what you would like the elected official to doo Why are you sending them this letter?

Is it for them to take a certain stance on an upcoming vote?

Is it for them to introduce new legislation?o Lay out what you envision to be the solution to the problem you

previously described, and explain what role you would like to see the elected official play in making that solution a reality

Other comments about drafting letters to elected officials: Be respectful and courteous, even if you disagree with the elected

official or are upset with them for previous actions Use professional language—make sure you use proper grammar,

correct spelling, etc. Make sure to include your name, title (if applicable), and contact

information **Example will be included here**

Note: During this section, the phrase “interest groups” was used in reference to the group organizing the letter-writing campaign. Know that it doesn’t necessarily take a formal interest group, or even an organized group at all, to conduct a letter-writing campaign. A group of concerned citizens can be just as capable at organizing the effort as a formal interest group

o Petitions Petitions are a great way to put the opinions of citizens into a tangible form How it works:

Organizers draft a petition explaining the issue of concern (the problem) and a proposed course of action (the solution) that signers of the petition are expressing support for

Next, organizers should set a goal for how many signatures they would like to collect

The collection of signatures can take place through a variety of methodso Examples may include tabling at high-traffic areas (such as on

college campuses), having a booth at the state fair, or having volunteers walking around at a tailgate

o Circulating online petitions This has been a very popular method for groups to

collect signatures since the boom of the web Even the White House has a platform for citizens to

create petitions and collect signatures If a petition reaches an established number of

signatures, the White House says they will issue a response

Many free websites exist for citizens to circulate online petitions

Examples include iPetitions (http://www.ipetitions.com/) and Change.org (http://www.change.org/petition)

Online petitions may be easier for groups to organize than print petitions

Easier to reach a large population virtually than in-person

An email sent to an organization’s list of supporters or a link shared on Facebook may amount to a given amount of signatures far more quickly than if the petition was circulated in-person

Once the group has reached their signature goal (or the end of their timeline), the present the petition to the applicable elected officials. They can also share the petition with media outlets to obtain free publicity for their cause and boost public awareness

o Letters to the editor

Flip through your local newspaper until you reach the opinion section and you’re sure to find several letters to the editor covering a variety of topics

Usually, they have to do with some kind of political issue. Some are in regard to an article published by that newspaper. Others come in response to another letter to the editor that had been previously published in the newspaper.

Letters to the editor (LTEs) are a medium for everyday citizens to have their voice heard

What many people do not realize is that plenty of the LTEs appearing on your newspaper’s opinion pages were not written by the person who’s name appears at the bottom

Political parties, candidates, and interest groups benefit if they can influence the public dialogue

To help steer the conversation, they strive to fill the opinion pages with as much content favorable to their cause as possible

Often, staff members for these groups will draft letters to the editor in various styles and including different content, and then find others to sign the letter and submit it to the newspaper in their name

Why is this beneficial to the group?o They can control the content appearing in the lettero The content is favorableo The message comes through a medium that appears to be

“grassroots”, which may have more sway with the general public

What do you include in a Letter to the Editor? LTEs are short—most newspapers set a limit for submissions in the

neighborhood of 250 words—so you need to be very concise with your message

o Begin by opening the letter with a basic salutation; if you are referencing an article or letter that ran in a previous issue, be sure to cite it here (title of article, page number, and date)

o Get your reader’s attention—if a reader is trying to flip through the entire newspaper in their 5-minute breakfast before they leave for work, they scan (or entirely skip) most articles. Include something at the beginning of your letter that makes the reader pay attention

o Describe what the subject of the letter is (and why it’s important!) and provide any necessary background/content: What topic are you writing this letter in regard to? Why is this topic relevant now as opposed to last month? Has something happened recently that the reader needs to be made aware of? What information do you have to share on the subject?

o Take a stance on the issue: You aren’t just writing to inform the reader; you are writing in the hopes that you can influence the way they think about a certain issue. Well, before you can do

that, you need to tell the reader how you feel about the issue! If you are writing to praise or express support for someone/something, do it now. If you are writing to criticize or express opposition to someone/something, do it now! But remember, whenever you express an opinion, make sure that you justify it.

o Propose a solution: If you aren’t satisfied with the status quo, what should be done to improve it?

If you have professional or general life experience which lends you particular credibility on the issue you are writing about, be sure to mention it! This will enhance your ability to share your message

Be sure to add a title to your letter—if you do not add one, they will create one for you! The more control you can have over your piece, the better.

Emphasize: Letters to the Editor are short!o If you go beyond the newspaper’s word-limit, they may still run

the piece in its entirety. However, it’s also very likely that they will take one of two other routes

1) Not run your piece at all 2) Run your piece, but cut parts of it to make it fit the

word-limit. They won’t spend time identifying the best place in the piece to make cuts, so this process could damage your piece (it may hurt the “flow” of the piece, it might remove important content, etc.)

Neither of these options is idealo Takeaway: stay within the word-limit

Letters to the Editor must have your name on themo Most newspapers will not run anonymous letters to the editor

in order to protect the spirit of public debate (if you are going to be given a platform to make your arguments or attacks from, you need to associate your name with them)

o Include your phone number with your submission—they will need to verify the identity of the person submitting the letter

Where do you send them? The easiest way to submit a letter to the editor is online, though you can

also physically mail in a letter to the editor Mailing address, applicable email address, or page for online submission

can be found on the website of every newspaper or on the opinion page When do you send them?

If a newspaper decides to run a letter, it will usually appear in the paper within a few days of the submission. Send in your letter while the issue you are writing about is still relevant (if in regard to an article run by the newspaper, submit your letter within just a couple of days)

***Examples provided***

Review overall objectiveso Why should nurses be engaged/involved in the policy process?o How can they influence the process/have their voice heard?