Intro to Advocacy | Science Societies
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Intro to Advocacy

Locate the appropriate Members of Congress

Members of Congress want to hear from the people who vote for them—their constituents. Using your home mailing address you can identify which members of Congress represent you.

  • Note to students: even if you are not registered to vote in the district/state where you attend school, consider engaging with those Members of Congress. They care about the research happening within their district or state, and you can be a conduit to advocate for your college/university.
congress

How a bill becomes a law

Learn how a bill becomes a law by viewing the following 7 minute video. This overview will take you through the legislative process, from where legislative ideas originate, to how the floor votes. At each step, you will learn the importance and role of citizen advocates in America's democratic dialog, and how they can influence legislative outcomes. 

Understanding policy jargon

As in the landscape of science, policy has its own jargon that can make advocacy a bit difficult. The articles below provide a better understanding of the policy processes and terms that scientists may find confusing.

  • Intro to the Federal Budget Process: Understanding how, when, and by whom federal spending is allocated will help advocates like you engage with the right members of Congress at the right time.
  • Intro to Congressional Committees: Different congressional committees control different aspects of government agencies and understanding these differences helps in your advocacy efforts.
    • Read this CSA News article for an explanation of the difference between Congress' authorizing and appropriations powers.