GATE - Grassroots Advocacy Training Exchange (GATE) - grassroots lobbying and advocacy

GATE: Grassroots Advocacy Training Exchange

Glossary

The following glossary is designed to clarify the terminology used within this site, and generally in the grassroots advocacy/public policy arena. These are not dictionary definitions, they are simple explanations of common usage within the context of politics and advocacy.

accountability mechanism: a method (form) for making sure participants do their tasks
appointed officials: public officials who are not elected but conduct public service
coalition: combination of individuals or groups to increase their power
committees of jurisdiction: legislative issues in legislatures are assigned to a committee which specializes in handling that issue
conference committee: Congressional committee consisting of House and Senate committees of jurisdiction with responsibility to reach a compromise
confidentiality agreement: a written document, signed by all parties, to protect against disclosure of sensitive information
Congressional committee: a defined group of Congress Members to handle legislation
constituents: individuals living within an elected official's district or state
contact delivery capacity: ability of a person to persuade an elected or appointed official to support an issue or action
data processing review: process to review data collection, handling and dissemination
debate: formal discussion of legislative issues in a legislative body
Executive Branch agencies: institutions which report to the President, Governor or Mayor
feedback forms: documents to register and transmit information to databanks
financial sources: individuals and groups with eligible and acceptible contributions
foot soldiers: people who volunteer to work in the grassroots effort
GATE: acronym for "Grassroots Advocacy Training Exchange", the place for training those interested in grassroots efforts
GATE Forum: area in GATE website for users to share their views and ideas
geographical reach: the area in which an individual or group has potential influence
grassroots: local areas where individuals live (and vote) and groups operate
group task force: unit formed to carry out an assignment for the grassroots entity
Idea Exchange: area in the GATE website devoted to information exchanges
Key Contact Constituency Group: the most powerful grassroots message/action tool
KCCG: acronym for the Key Contact Constituency Group
legislators: officials elected,at all levels,to pass legislation for laws
legislative bodies: groups of elected officials, typically called the Senate and the House, where legislation is debated and voted upon
legislative contacts: individuals within legislatures who are contacted by constituents for discussions of legislation and public policy-making
legislative district: geographic area which contains the legislator's constituents
legislative recess: time period when legislators return home to their District
mark-up: process by which legislators and their staff change proposed legislation to increase Member support and the chance for passage
materials package: brief printed materials which are given to legislators and staff
mass media: print and electronic coverage and analysis of legislative activity for distribution to any interested party
media outlets: organizations which generate and/or transmit legislative analysis
mission statement: statement of purpose for the grassroots organization issuing it
monitoring mechanisms: observation procedures to guarantee the maintenance of quality
network: the organization established to conduct grassroots activities
network construction process: process by which a grassroots network is designed and built
organization diagram: graphic picture of the individuals in the grassroots organization and the names, titles, ect. of those to whom they report
participant team: individuals in the grassroots organization with specific tasks
private-sector interest group: company, association, etc.,with a defined set of group interests
professional association: doctors, teachers, etc., with a defined set of group interests
profile information: information listing and describing the background and contacts of members of the grassroots organization
program graphics: distinctive designs, logos, etc., which distinguish the grassroots organization to raise its identity
public affairs coordinators: volunteer or professional staff to handle external communication
public-interest group: non-profit groups with a defined set of interests
quarterly update newsletter: brief document to share information and build team support
re-align: rearrange the organization and, often, its support
recruitment procedure: specific, systematic methods to increase grassroots membership
right to representation: right of citizen/constituents to have an elected representative
rollout: process by which information is systematically distributed
staff: non-elected, appointed individuals who serve voters without pay and elected representatives for compensation
sub-committee: separate, specialized committee in a full legislative committee
talking points: brief list of ideas used as an outline for comments in a meeting
trade association: group of individuals or companies with a defined set of interests
training module: set of principles, methods and materials to accompany a seminar for training individuals to conduct grassroots activities
unlikes: combining groups with differences when sharing a grassroots goal
vendor: a person, group or company which provides something to another
veto: action taken by a public sector, elected chief executive to block legislation or action by an elected legislative body

Kevin Gottlieb & Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 3240
Annapolis, MD 21403-0240
(301) 858-5101 tel
gottliebk@mindspring.com