Fundamentals of Building a State Resolution
Depending on the political conditions in your state, choose one of the following tracks for a state resolution campaign:
Optimum Conditions
- Regular schedule of citizen lobbyists at the legislature and two to three Lobby Days
- Major endorsements from labor, religious, library, school, political parties, and other groups like the League of Women Voters
- Group of grassroots representatives from various parts of the state who can organize day to day
- Endorsing groups let you use their email lists to contact people throughout the state for various events
- Well-organized Phone Tree
- Statewide petition with thousands of signatures
- Statewide coalition made up of representatives from each part of the state, who have met at least once in person to begin to build trust.
Basics
- At least one or two Lobby Days, and modest schedule of citizen lobbyists from around the state
- Major endorsements from a handful of civic, religious, and political groups
- A core of grassroots organizers teamed with professional lobbyist allies who can organize day to day
- Endorsing groups will forward your messages to their lists on
a regular basis
Basic Phone Tree - Statewide petition coupled with local petitions from all communities that have passed resolutions, with hundreds of signatures
- A core of grassroots activists from various parts of the state meeting by conference call
Bare Minimum
- At least one Lobby Day and occasional visits to the legislature by citizen lobbyists from around the state
- A few endorsements from a few statewide groups
- A few volunteers, with a connection to a lobbyist at the Legislature, with consistent, but not daily organization
- Endorsing groups will occasionally make an announcement for an important event
- A few volunteers willing to make calls when really necessary
- An alternate of showing support from the state’s populace – either abundant emails and phone calls and visits from around the state to legislators or good attendance at lobby days and committee hearings.
- A few grassroots activists from one or two major cities, checking in through email and phone calls.
Other Resources
Passing Statewide Civil Liberties Resolutions