Which is more powerful – the citizen or the lobbyist? This question is often debated and usually centers on some lobbyists who believe the only way to get anything done in government, or more specifically with the legislature, is to hire a lobbyist. In the lobbyist’s eyes they are experts with enough political skills, clout and understanding of the legislative system to be truly effective at influencing the legislative outcome. On the citizen side, your influence can and does have the power to effect change. You, the citizen, hold the keys!

I want to be very clear before we get started – lobbyists have a very important role. To better understand the role of the citizen activist vs. the lobbyist, one must be able to define each person’s roles and responsibilities. The citizen advocate is a person who takes direct action to achieve political or social change. The lobbyist is a paid representative from an organization who tries to get various pieces of legislation passed or defeated. The main difference is that one is paid, and one is not. Both can and do effect change.

So, how does a lobbyist get a piece of legislation passed or defeated? A good lobbyist adheres to these five simple doctrines:

A lobbyist knows how to:

• Get a bill killed
• Amend a bill to make it more acceptable to legislators
• Amend a bill to make it unacceptable to legislators
• Push the hot buttons of elected officials
• Form alliances with other special interest groups to pass or defeat a bill

I think the best way to describe the use of these five doctrines is to use an everyday analogy. When my son turned 16 years old, he was glad to report that he was the proud owner of his driver’s license. I then began getting pressure (like an elected official gets) to let him use my car. “Dad – can I have the car keys?” he asked. My first reaction is to say no. (Get a bill killed)

But what if he said, “Dad – I would like to take the nice neighbor girl to church tonight! Can I have the keys to your car?” Has he made his request more acceptable? (Amend a bill to make it more acceptable to legislators) I think so!

What if he said, “Dad – I would like to go to a concert tonight with the guy who lives down the street – the one who just got out of jail for possession? Can I have the keys to your car?” Has he made his request more unacceptable? (Amend a bill to make it unacceptable to legislators) I think so!

Has he pushed my hot button? (Push the hot buttons of elected officials) A hot button is anything that gets the direct attention of the elected official, or in this case the father. It can be as simple as knowing something about the elected official or their family and knowing how to use it for positive good. I can’t emphasize positive enough. One wants a quality relationship established with elected officials.

Now – what if I say no to my son’s request for the keys? What will he do next? You have probably guessed that he will go ask his mother. In other words, he will form an alliance with his mother to get my keys. (Form alliances with other special interest groups to pass or defeat a bill) The mother has an interest in letting the son use his father’s car and not her car. It is that simple.

Every day, we deal with these five simple doctrines that lobbyists use to influence the legislative process. We use these doctrines in our homes, schools, places of work and play. These lobbyist doctrines are identical to the doctrines that citizens use.

You are the elected officials’ client. You live and vote in a district. You hold the key to keeping our entire society together. You can refuse to participate in the process, but the process will still affect you, your family and your industry in ways you know and in ways you can’t imagine.

As I became educated in political ways, I discovered that politics and advocacy weren’t all that complicated and could actually be fun. Winning and being part of a cause greater than self-interest brings with it a tremendous sense of satisfaction and pride. You are exercising your rights! You are in control! You hold the keys!

Remember, you hold the keys to being citizens appearing in the interest of your cause, be it personal, social, for your industry or for your organization.

Roger Rickard is the Founder and President of Voices in Advocacy, a firm that works with organizations to inspire, educate, engage, and activate your supporters by turning them into effective, influential advocates. He is the host of the Voices in Advocacy podcast.