Legislative Action Network
Legislative Advocacy 101
What is legislative advocacy?
Legislative advocacy in the cancer community is simply showing your support for public policy initiatives that will help people with cancer or voicing your concern for public policy initiatives that will not.
Are you registered to vote?
One of the most effective ways to ensure that your voice is heard is by exercising your basic right to vote. If you are not a registered voter and would like to register, the following sites will guide you through the simple process:
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division (for Massachusetts residents)
Includes a link for a downloadable, mail-in registration form, as well as information on applying for an absentee ballot if you will be unable or unavailable to vote on election day. - Rock the Vote
Provides information and downloadable voter registration forms for most states.
Finding your federal and state representatives
Not sure who your elected officials are? The following sites help you locate your local and federal representatives simply by typing in your zip code and/or street address:
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division (for Massachusetts residents)
- Congress.org
- Project Vote Smart
How does a bill become a law?
Want to learn more about the process of how laws are made? The following sites illustrate the basics steps, from introduction of a bill to its publication as a statute:
- General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A detailed explanation of the lawmaking process in Massachusetts. - Library of Congress Thomas
A detailed explanation of the federal lawmaking process.
