The Citizen Lobbyist A How-to Manual for Making Your Voice Heard in Government

A handbook for anyone who wants to learn about how to be active in local, state, and federal government, The Citizen Lobbyist shows how to have a voice in creating public policy. More citizen involvement is needed in our government processes to ensure the voices of the people are heard over the money of paid lobbyists, unions, and coalitions, both in Washington, DC, and in state capitals across the country. All too often, public officials seem removed from the people who hired them to be their representatives and fail to work on their behalf. This book gives a step-by-step plan on how to lobby elected officials about the issues you care about, offers information on how to plan a lobbying meeting for individuals and groups, and provides sample lobbying worksheets and resources to assist with finding legislative information and history. It is your go-to reference for being a grassroots activist and citizen lobbyist.

Amanda Knief is a public policy and constitutional expert on religious freedom and civil liberties. She has worked as a legal counsel and legislative drafter for the Iowa legislature and as a lobbyist for the Secular Coalition for America. She is currently the managing director and in-house counsel for American Atheists. She lives in Cranford, New Jersey. Rev. Barry W. Lynn is the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has written several articles for the Huffington Post.