Introduction
Organizations that undertake public interest advocacy seek to promote the common good to a greater degree than other advocacy and lobbying organizations. Public interest advocacy organizations address issues that typically involve social welfare, peace, civil rights, the environment, and other economic issues like taxation. Public interest advocacy organizations consist only of less than five percent of the total amount of interest groups worldwide. Activities of these organizations consist of advocacy and lobbying such as speaking at congressional hearings, proposing regulatory comments, public rallying, letter writing and media advertising. Public interest advocacy groups are reflective of a deliberative democracy as they promote the education and participation of citizens.
Deliberative Democracy
Deliberative democracy is defined as “decision making by discussion among free and equal citizens.” . The idea of deliberative democracy arose from the belief that if governmental leaders educate their constituents about current issues, these constituents would be better informed and could possibly change their opinion of the issue. In a Deliberative Democracy, policymakers consider deliberative polling rather than traditional polling. Results from deliberative polling are more accurate because they reflect opinions from individuals that are informed. Individuals polled are chosen randomly are provided with an opportunity to evaluate information on a specific topic from experts and given to discuss issues with others before actually voting. This has been proven as an effective democratic method. It allows for informed opinions from citizens on public issues.
Deliberative democracy builds up group decision making. It allows citizens to participate in, deliberate and provide informed opinions concerning significant public issues. Deliberate democracy mechanisms that exist in America today include participation in public forums, drafting letters to politicians, and protesting. However, instead of attempting to manipulate and lie, deliberation should be presented where listeners are willing to engage with positions that are not their own, they should attempt to understand the positions of all sides of the argument. Adjustments and accommodations should be made by listeners. Communication should occur without political twists and strategies involved.
Barak Obama endorses deliberative democracy. Obama believes that the United States Constitution creates deliberative democracy. Providing a forum where citizens can discuss and deliberate would enhance and educate the public. Deliberative Democracy exists when individuals are open to evaluate various solutions for an issue. A solution is not provided by one individual in a deliberative democracy. Free and equal sharing occurs among the participants which results in a solution that is in the best interest of the whole.
Deliberation has many benefits in a democracy. Benefits are reflected in areas of representation, accountability, transparency and effectiveness. Information is exchanged and processed. Citizen participation enhances trust and knowledge and may ultimately result in more involvement in politics overall. When participants meet in deliberation, an environment is created that is non-threatening and non-coercive. They discuss facts relating to a particular issue and are given an opportunity to critically evaluate the issue.
The advantages of Deliberative Democracy are immense. Conflict is reduced when deliberation occurs in the decision making and policy. This occurs because the trust level of participants is increased. The policy choices that result from deliberation have the tendency to be more sensible and more superior. This occurs because valuable information is revealed through deliberation that may have otherwise been unnoticed. Competence of citizens is enhanced in a Deliberative Democracy. Through the use of dialogue, problem solving skills, active listening skills and rational dialogue are used and improved upon. Living within a democratic society would be reflected because the citizens would be participating in acts of self-government. Deliberative Democracy empowers citizens.
The National Council of Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits, formerly known as the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, was created to empower citizens. This is an organization that supports and encourages nonprofit agencies in their advocacy and lobbying tactics. Advocacy, according to the National Council of Nonprofits, consists of advancing the missions of non-profits throughout America. They accomplish this through acting as a central coordinator and mobilizer for nonprofits in America. This produces a larger collective effect across the country. They pinpoint developing trends, convey verified practices and uphold solutions to assist nonprofit organizations and the communities they represent. Lobbying within the National Council of Nonprofits occurs when nonprofits communicate with legislators. Many organizations accomplish the goals of advocacy and lobbying for the public interest.
I believe the success of the National Council of Nonprofits has been significant. However, its success could be much greater in a more deliberative democracy. The National Council of Nonprofits’ main purpose is to encourage and support agencies that advocate and lobby in areas of public interest. Specifically, the National Council of Nonprofits identify and convey information to nonprofit organizations throughout the country, who in turn distribute the information to the public. In a more deliberative democracy, these actions could allow for faster dissemination of information and a more informed public.
Peace Action and American Civil Liberties Union
Two organizations that work in the field of public interest advocacy and lobbying include Peace Action and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both organizations share goals similar to the National Council of Nonprofits. They aim to educate and activate citizens. The Peace Action has existed for over fifty years and is the largest peace network in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union is the largest public interest organization in America today.
The Peace Action commits itself to organizing a citizen movement. Their vision is world peace. They seek an environment where there is no violence or war. They conduct write-in campaigns and internet actions as well as lobbying and direct action by citizens. They associate themselves closely with congressional members and created strategies to implement legislation that moves toward world peace. . Their focus is on United States foreign policy that promotes democracy, human rights, elimination of weapons of mass destruction and worldwide cooperation. Similar to the National Council of Nonprofits, Peace Action supports and assists in educating citizens. Yet, unlike the National Council of Nonprofits, Peace Action, advocates and lobbies for its own objective and does not coordinate activities among other organizations. Another similar organization is the American Civil Liberties Union.
The American Civil Liberties Union works to defend rights encompassed in the United States Constitution. They lobby the United States Congress to enact bills that relate to civil liberties. They communicate to citizens throughout the country regarding pressing issues. And, the American Civil Liberties Union represents defendant in courts of law. They also extensively educate citizens on current public issues. Similar to the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Civil Liberties Union provides education on advocating and lobbying to the public. Yet, unlike the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Civil Liberties Union focuses on one area of interest, civil liberties .
Conclusion
Although Deliberative Democracy does not exist in its pure form in America, its implementation is promising. Implementation of a deliberative democracy would conform to the insights sought by the framers of the United States Constitution. Deliberative Democracy would allow for greater participation in government for citizens.
The National Council of Nonprofits supports and encourages nonprofit organizations that lobby and advocate for issues in the public interest. The National Council of Nonprofits assists these organizations by acting as a central coordinator and mobilizer. By doing so, the National Council for Nonprofits keep organizations up to date on trends, practices and solutions current in the public. Two public interest advocacy organizations that are supported by the National Council for Nonprofits include Peace Action and the American Civil Liberties Union. These two organizations participate in public interest advocacy and lobbying similar to the National Council for Nonprofits, yet their focus is much more specific.
Peace Action is committed to world peace. The American Civil Liberties Union is committed to defending civil rights. Both organizations participate in lobbying and advocacy, and both are also extensively involved in educating citizens on current public issues. The Peace Action’s focus is on United States foreign policy that upholds democracy, human rights, abolition of weapons of mass destruction and worldwide collaboration. The American Civil Liberties Union defends rights incorporated in the United States Constitution.
Organizations that undertake public interest advocacy support the common good to a greater degree than other advocacy and lobbying organizations. Public interest advocacy organizations focus on issues that involve social welfare, peace, civil rights, the environment, and other issues. Activities of these organizations consist of advocacy and lobbying such as speaking at hearings before the United States Congress, proposing and providing comments regarding regulatory issues, public rallying through mobilization of citizens, letter writing to members of Congress, and media advertising. Public interest advocacy groups are reflective of a deliberative democracy as they promote the education and participation of citizens. Although there are a limited number of these types of organizations in America, the influence that they could contribute is significant. These organizations could provide a significant contribution to deliberative democracy.
References
(2015). Retrieved from American Civil Liberties Union: https://www.aclu.org/
(2015). Retrieved from Peace Action: http://www.peace-action.org/
Fishkin, J. (2013). Reviving deliberative democracy. Democracy Gridlocked? Brussels, Belgium: Royal Academy of Belguim. Retrieved from http://cdd.stanford.edu/research/papers/2014/fishkin-reviving-deliberative-democracy.pdf
Helpman, E., & Persson, T. (1998). Lobbying and legislative bargaining. NBER Working Paper Series. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w6589.pdf
Herbick, M., & Isham, J. (2010). The promise of deliberative democracy. Solutions for a Sustainable and Desirable Future, 1(5), 25-27. Retrieved from http://thesolutionsjournal.com/node/775
Lukensmeyer, C., & Hasselbad Torres, L. (2006). Public deliberation: A manager's guide to citizen engagement for the Business of Government. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/ostp/opengov_inbox/ibmpubdelib.pdf
The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/everyday-advocacy
