Political Advocacy: From the Grassroots to K Street

Catalog description

Political advocacy occurs whenever anyone makes a policy pitch to a government official. Sometimes this occurs inexpensively and spontaneously, such as when a constituent chats with an elected official while waiting together in the checkout line at the local grocery store. But more commonly, we think of advocacy in terms of highly paid Washington lobbyists or large-scale grassroots initiatives. In this course, students will learn about the nature of the interest groups that hire lobbyists and direct grassroots initiatives, focusing on their role in the American political system. Techniques for political advocacy appropriate for different actors will be introduced, and students will gain experience by developing an advocacy plan.