Last month I accidentally attended a community meeting for the American Civil Liberties Union in Montgomery, Alabama, and while I was unaware going into the conference, the experience was eye opening for me.
Gathered in the hall were a diverse group of Alabamians: white and Black, men and women, young and old. Throughout the ACLU conference, nicknamed “Werk the Lege,” speakers taught community members about the Alabama legislative process, how bills are written and proposed and which bills are currently in session, whether that be proposed, in committee, or on the floor.
Before I attended this meeting, I was unaware of the extent to which lobbying and citizen involvement shape state policies. I had always thought lobbying to be bribery of state officials — an utterly incorrect assumption. Oxford English Dictionary defines lobbying as seeking to influence a politician or public official on an issue.
“Lobbying involves much more than persuading legislators. Its principal elements include researching and analyzing legislation or regulatory proposals; monitoring and reporting on developments; attending congressional or regulatory hearings; working with coalitions interested in the same issues; and then educating not only government officials but also employees and corporate officers as to the implications of various changes,” writes the North Carolina Professional Lobbyist Association.
For students like us, lobbying can look like reaching out to legislators and attending public hearings to advocate for or against current bills. While that may seem daunting, online resources make it easier than ever to target bills you think are important. For example, House Bill 14 would allow citizens of Alabama to put laws on the ballot by petition, giving the legislative approval process to the people.
This bill is currently in the Campaigns and Elections Committee. If a group or individual wanted this bill to pass, they could lobby the 15 committee members or testify at a public hearing. With publicly accessible contact information, many political action groups in Alabama engage in lobbying activities, especially through contacting lawmakers and attending public hearings.
As far back as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers believed effective education included civic engagement. Not only is civic engagement not included in traditional education, many students never work on a campaign, for a public office, or for a particular policy. PBS argues this could stem from a lack of belief in the impact students and young people can make, leading to discouragement in political participation.
Emma Erhart, a sophomore studying political science, also attended the “Werk the Ledge” conference last month, and said that she has never lobbied or attended public hearings for bills.
“I think that many people in our society, students or otherwise, are not as involved with public policy because they aren’t aware,” Erhart said. “People aren’t aware of what laws are in the process of being passed, or of what they can do to influence the process of lawmaking.”
Taking policy-based classes and joining civic engagement clubs can help inform students of current issues. Lawrence University lists different ways students can get involved with lobbying and advocacy, including participation with advocacy organizations, student governments, public hearings and grassroots campaigns.
While it may seem daunting, Alabama has numerous political interest groups, both liberal and conservative, that students can reach out to and find places to volunteer, intern and lobby for issues they believe are important to shape a better Alabama. Alabama Forward is a non-partisan, statewide civic engagement network that lists 36 interest groups currently active and welcome to civically minded citizens. I encourage you to check it out and see if there is a group that speaks to your heart. Then, start making a difference through lobbying and engagement.
Because Alabama is providing and defining our higher education, we have a duty to advocate for policies that shape a better state. Taxpayers and lawmakers have given us the knowledge and education to make life better for Alabamians, and engaging in the legislative process allows us to give back.
