This is a brief and basic guide for people who want politicians to take account of their views and needs. While it incorporates some information specific to Australia, I hope it will also be of use in other democratic systems. Contents Why to Lobby Who to Lobby Direct Lobbying Indirect Lobbying When to Lobby Some Lobbying Tactics Members of the New South Wales Parliament In this document, I use the term lobby in its public sense, as the process whereby individual voters try to persuade their elected representatives to take a particular stance on an issue. The more complex field of organised professional lobbying is not treated here. Disclaimer: This is a guide to legal and democratic lobbying activities based on my own experience. While I have tried to make it as useful as possible, no responsibility is accepted or guarantee made for any results due to the use of this guide. Why To Lobby To Change Or Not To Change The main reasons why a voter may wish to approach a politician are usually to try to change an existing policy or situation, or to oppose a foreshadowed change. In such cases, the voter usually has a fairly clear idea of the desired result. Another major reason for contact is for assistance in redressing a perceived grievance. The desired result in these cases is usually a very specific outcome, which however may turn out to be unattainable through political action. There is also the motivation of keeping government aware of the voter's views and interests in general, without necessarily invoking any issue in particular. The desired result here may be no more than a feeling of having made contact. Whatever your motive, once you have decided that an issue needs to be pursued through politics, you will have embarked on a venture into the political arena. It is therefore important to know how to do so effectively. Bouquets and Brickbats Much public communication with parliamentary representatives takes the form of praise or blame for the representative's performance. While politicians can be sensitive to people's strongly held views, these alone are not usually sufficient to influence the political process. More influential than individual voters' opinions are party policy, the politician's personal beliefs, and the need to satisfy a sufficient proportion of the public to gain re-election. These factors should be borne in mind when contemplating a political course of action. Sometimes the most appropriate action is trying to change public opinion, rather than communicating directly with politicians. Keeping Politicians In Touch With Reality The cultural environment at the top of the political heap can be very isolated from the rest of society as we know it. Politics plays a relatively minor part in most people's lives, and the professional politician is quite unusual in that he or she devotes a majority of time and effort to working in this area. To this can be added the distancing effect of the roles and rituals of the Parliament, which encourage Members to the belief that they are a special and important part of society with a responsibility for telling all the other people what to do. The atmosphere of a legislature is like a very wealthy exclusive club, and it can be seductive to even the most hardened idealist. Communicating directly with politicians can sometimes help them to overcome the isolation of the political world, which often manifests itself in government policies quite irrelevant to reality. However, it is unwise to assume that simply because you are a member of the public, you will automatically know more about anything than a politician. Some of them are quite intelligent, and nearly all of them will know more about politics than most people. Who To Lobby The most important step is to communicate your viewpoint to the right people. Depending on the scale of the issue, this could be anyone from a local councillor to a national leader. It's vital to address your message to someone at the appropriate level to deal with your concerns. First of all, find out which areas of government deal with the issue with which you are concerned. In some cases it is best to deal with the public servants administering the department, though when broad questions of policy are involved, the legislature should be approached. The specific areas of responsibility will vary depending on your local political system. Usually there will be one or more senior government members in charge of the area of interest, who may be contacted. These leaders will have their equivalents in other parties who may also be useful. Then there are your local representatives, and finally the local representatives of other areas. For an issue such as censorship of the Internet in Australia, the Federal Parliament is the best place to start. The Australian Parliament web site has its own lists of MPs and other useful information. The New South Wales State Parliament is also involved in attempts to censor the Internet. You can access my list of NSW politicians for information about how to contact them. How To Lobby: Direct Lobbying Here are the most commonly used methods of directly communicating your interests to politicians, in approximate descending order of efficacy. Personal Meetings - Face to face contact is usually the most effective way to communicate your viewpoint, and it can also sometimes be the hardest to arrange. Politicians may represent many thousands of people, and your request could be only one of hundreds. Be patient, and don't get angry if you are refused; the people you contact may be quite influential, and rudeness can only make them less sympathetic to your concerns. If you can arrange a meeting, make sure that you know the issue thoroughly, and be ready to answer any questions or objections in a calm, rational manner. Present your case simply, without exaggeration or excessive elaboration of detail. If politicians require more information, they will tell you. Be polite, and make it your goal to give the politician enough understanding of the issue as you see it to make an intelligent decision. Leave them a written summary to which they can refer. Don't expect an instant result, as most politicians have learned from experience to avoid making impulsive decisions. Telephone Conversations - Phone calls have a quality of immediacy and personal directness approaching that of personal meetings, but take much less effort to arrange and usually take less time. For these reasons, they are more common than meetings. The techniques of polite, uncomplicated explanation of the subject can be effective here. Politicians' phones are usually answered by one or more levels of staff, and you may or may not get to speak to the actual representative. Don't worry if this is happens, as the staff you encounter may well be in charge of your issue, and in any case they may have some influence on policy. Never be rude or insulting, as political workers develop thick skins and will only get annoyed at you. Individually Written Mail (including fax, email, etc) - This is the most common method of putting your views to politicians, and is in the medium range of effectiveness. While it does not have the immediacy of real-time contact, written communication has the advantage that busy politicians are more likely to read your letter than to see you in person. Mail also provides an opportunity for considered reflection which may be absent in real-time interaction. Letters should be one or two pages in length, beginning with a brief statement of the issue and of the writer's position. A concise summary of the issue should be next, followed by the reasons why the representative should adopt the policies you recommend. Lengthy and detailed documentation should be avoided if possible, although references to evidence and sources of further information should always be provided. Many political workers will reach for the 'too hard' basket if they encounter a thick sheaf of documents in the first letter, but if they are interested they will actively pursue information. Individually Addressed Mass Mail - If you have gone to the trouble of writing a good letter, you may use technology to address it to a number of representatives. Apart from individual addressing, these letters should be hand signed (if applicable). One page is a good length for these, with further information available on request. These letters may be slightly less effective than individually written letters if your addressees realise that everyone has received the same letter. Photocopied identical letters should be avoided. Mass Mail-Ins - These are usually campaigns initiated by political lobby groups, where many people are asked to write to one or more politicians about an issue. The letters may range from those actually composed by the writer, through to form letters and signed postcards. Letters of this type are much less effective than spontaneous individual letters, as experienced politicians can usually tell when an orchestrated campaign is in progress. Electronic Deluges - Sometimes a lobby group will initiate a flood of phone calls or faxes to a politician's office, in an attempt to demonstrate the depth of feeling on an issue, or something. This is often a misguided reaction to frustration, and is likely to rebound. Representatives who find their lines of communication deliberately choked by the proponents of an issue will only become more hostile toward those responsible. Petitions - These are often the first resort of the inexperienced campaigner. Petitions are rarely noticed by politicians, and their reading is a mere formality. If you want to build up a mailing list, circulate a petition and copy the addresses - otherwise, don't bother. How To Lobby: Indirect Lobbying Here are the most commonly used methods of communicating indirectly with politicians, in approximate descending order of efficacy. Media Campaigns - Where the aid of the mass media is enlisted through persuasion of journalists and editors, planting of stories, advertising and other means. The mass media can have a powerful influence on politicians if it is skilfully manipulated. Such methods are usually the province of political parties and professional interest groups, although on some rare occasions they can be used by individuals. Targeted Political Campaigns - Concerted efforts to influence elections in key areas are a powerful tool for political persuasion. Usually a few strategic electorates are targeted where a relatively small number of votes has potential to change the outcome. These become the centre of a strong campaign to support candidates sympathetic to an issue and oppose unsympathetic candidates. If used effectively such tactics can be very influential and may even change governments - but usually they are outside the capabilities of individuals and tend to be mounted by large organisations. Media Hits - These are media releases, special media events and other methods used to generate reports on specific issues of interest, usually with the intent to present your view of an issue in a favourable light. Politicians normally monitor the media in areas of relevance to their interests, and the effect of media hits may be enhanced by targeting of media in the representative's electorate or other areas frequented by the representative. A favourite technique of organised lobby groups, media opportunities are nevertheless within the reach of the resourceful individual. There are many publications about dealing with the media, so this will not be covered here in detail (although I might present my own rather idiosyncratic methods at a later date - watch this space). Seeking Professional Help - There are political workers who lobby for money or for the sake of their personal beliefs. One of these may be able to help you. Professional campaigners vary greatly in quality and price, and you should only consider this type of help if you can find a reliable and affordable one. Professional politics is a field in itself, and its detailed exposition is beyond the scope of this guide. (and I've got to make a living somehow ;-) Through Community Organisations - You may be able to find, or establish, a voluntary organisation which supports your cause. Look for groups with similar interests which are likely to be sympathetic. Interest groups have their own priorities, and usually have limited resources, so don't expect them to drop everything and come running to your aid. Such groups can, however, be powerful allies and may have access to some of the more effective lobbying methods. Through Party Organisations - Joining a political party in order to influence its policy is not recommended, although it can sometimes work and is included here for completeness. Usually any such action entails a long struggle within an entrenched political system which may give you a greater understanding of politics, but will alienate the members of other parties from your cause and may not achieve your intended result. Mass Demonstrations - Usually organised by unimaginative lobby groups. Mass demonstrations can get some media coverage, although the amount is disproportionately small compared to the effort of attending them. They are so common that politicians often don't bother to look. Almost all of the techniques covered here will produce better results for an equivalent effort. Forming Your Own Political Party - Sometimes this is contemplated by those who are frustrated with the political process. It is almost always a bad idea. Getting elected is usually very difficult, although it may appear easy to the amateur observer. There are many political parties, and one more will usually make no difference to the big picture. The other tactics in this document are probably a better investment of your time. When To Lobby The effectiveness of a lobbying effort depends on its timing, as well as other factors. Usually sooner is better, although late efforts can sometimes be successful. If you fail on the first try, it may be time to consider a longer-term campaign targeted months or years ahead. Before an Election - The knowledge of an impending election concentrates the political mind wonderfully. The months immediately preceding an election are usually the best time to approach your representatives, as they will then be most receptive to anything which might get them some votes. Don't neglect the rival candidates - they want to be elected too, and just might succeed. If you want to lobby all the candidates, it is best not to favour one over the others. If your issue is perceived as a vote-loser, it might be better to wait until after the election. Before the Issue Goes Public - If you know that an issue is about to emerge into the limelight, it is best to brief politicians before it happens. They appreciate being told in advance so they're not taken by surprise when it breaks. This also gives you an opportunity to present your side of the matter first. At Publicity Peaks - For any public issue which continues over time, there will be peaks in public awareness and concern, usually when new developments give rise to media coverage. At these times, the interest of politicians in the issue is greater. A quick reaction before or during these periods may get their attention. If you are good at publicity, you may be able to create such conditions yourself. Before the Issue Gets to Parliament - If an issue is likely to involve changes to the law, it is desirable to lobby the Government and other parties before they make a policy decision. It is much easier to influence a policy which has not yet been formed, than one which is already set in place. During Passage of Legislation - When it is too late to get in first, there is still an opportunity for input before the legislature has finished dealing with the matter. Your chances for success at this point may be small, but at least you can get some idea of the political landscape with which you must deal in future negotiations. Generally - Lobbying may also be done when no particular issue is in the air, just to keep representatives aware of your views and of your interest in their performance. Table of Contents Home Page Drug Law Reform Other Cool Links Some Lobbying Tactics Once you have your representative's attention, you will want to say something. Here are some of the approaches you could take in presenting your case. Sweet Reason - The straight out appeal to reason and commonsense is probably the best place to start. Many politicians actually believe that they are trying to build a better world, and it doesn't hurt to give them a chance to do it. This tactic is also the best basis for a long-term campaign, as truth nearly always wins out in the end. Bear in mind, however, that factors other than logic and ethics have a major role in the political process, and a politician may not be able to put even firmly held beliefs into practice. It should also be realised that what seems perfectly straightforward and reasonable to you may seem wrong and crazy to another honest person with different beliefs. Appeal To Ideology - When a representative is known to adhere to a particular political philosophy, it might be useful to frame your issue in terms of the tenets of that philosophy. This will usually only work if your point of view is compatible with the politician's principles. Don't try to bend their rules too far to fit your case, as this may offend. Remember that they know their own beliefs better than you do. Truth Or Consequences - Never lie about an issue. Your credibility is your most valuable asset in trying to influence opinion. You don't have to tell a politician everything, but you should answer any direct question about the issue truthfully. If you are caught out in a lie, you won't be trusted again. Appeal To Self-Interest - For the more cynical approach, you could point out the electoral advantages (if any) of supporting your issue. It is useful to have some idea of public opinion on the issue, and of any popularity problems faced by the politician's party which could be ameliorated by supporting your cause. This will only work if you can convince the representative that there is public support for your case which will show up at the ballot box. Caution is advised when using this approach, as some politicians may be offended by any implication that they care for their careers more than they care for the justice of an issue. This approach should therefore only be used as a supplement to one of the others. Help The Good Guys - If you have a sympathetic representative, you might consider volunteering to help in the next election campaign. Politicians appreciate support, and you would be contributing to the success of someone who supports your issue. You can also learn more about politics in this way. Before embarking on such a course of action, you should be sure that you are prepared to invest some time and effort, and that the representative's general policies are sufficiently compatible with your own beliefs. Also, take into account the effect of your actions on the way you may be perceived by other political players. Threats - Don't Bother - If all else fails, the frustrated lobbyist may be tempted to promise retribution in the form of lost votes or a campaign against the recalcitrant politician. Those who are not extremely fortunate or powerful will be unable to follow through with such threats, and are not likely to be taken seriously. If a politician opposes you, and you can campaign effectively against that opponent, then do so. If not, save your efforts for achievable goals. Top of Page This material is copyright 1995 by Aldis Ozols; all rights reserved. Reproduction for non-profit purposes is permitted and web links are specifically encouraged. Aldis Ozols email addres is aldis@zeta.org.au