Power Analysis
Provide insights into effective networking and relationship-building with influential individuals.
In the context of community organizing, a Power Analysis is a tool that helps us begin to understand where power currently sits within a community. By investigating the individuals and organizations who have power, we can get a sense of the current power balance and begin to devise strategies for how to shift it. A power analysis involves comprehensive research on both the lawmaker and their district. It provides insights into effective networking and relationship-building with influential individuals. A power analysis is used to identify details about the key decision-makers and others who have power over a specific issue as well as people and organizations who can influence those people. It helps to reveal power relationships and identify possible channels of influence as well as risks of conflict. It can also help identify the targets, allies, opponents and constituents for advocacy.
What is Power?
Why is it important?
Power analysis is essential for several reasons:
It offers a holistic perspective: Researching both the lawmaker and the district ensures a comprehensive understanding of the context.
Understanding motivations: It helps identify the motivations, interests, and alliances of the lawmaker.
Co-sponsorships: By using resources like congress.gov, you can identify which representatives co-sponsor bills, helping you understand political alliances.
District details: Analyzing the district, including its type (urban or suburban), industries, healthcare systems, businesses, and demographics, provides valuable context for your advocacy efforts.
Campaign contributions: Knowing who contributes to campaigns helps identify potential allies.
Volunteer role: As constituents, your role is vital, and understanding the district's demographics and interests can help you effectively represent your community.
Why does it matter?
Building Stronger Relationships: A thorough power analysis helps build stronger, more meaningful relationships with lawmakers.
Framing the Issue: It provides valuable information to frame the cancer advocacy issue effectively.
Strategic Opportunities: Identifying connections and interests creates strategic opportunities to influence tough targets.
Message Framing: Understanding the district's needs and interests helps frame the advocacy message effectively.
Lawmaker Profile
Find out who your members are. Use www.house.gov to find your House members or www.senate.gov to find your Senators.
Representative Name: ______
Political Party: ______
Length of Time in Office: ______
Biography
Election
Residence
Born
Send your members a card wishing them a Happy Birthday.
Religion
Family
Education
Career
Political Highlights
Since being elected, what issues does the lawmaker most dedicate time toward? (SOURCE: https://www.congress.gov/ )
Committee Assignments
Learn what committees and teams your Members of Congress are on. Learn what issues they care about by visiting their website.
where our bills are going to be sent
Go to www.opensecrets.org for a list of top donors to Congressional candidates. For example, if you learn that a particular member votes with the Chamber of Commerce 98% of the time; send them information about the fact that over 60% of people with alcohol and drug problems are employed full-time. If there are newspaper articles and news reports about kids who have died after driving drunk after their high school prom use those stories as lead in to your advocacy agenda.
Areas of Interest
What makes them tick? To assess your power, you need to know what matters to the candidate. What story are the candidates telling about themselves to appeal to voters? What issues matter to them? Do they already have positions on any cancer issues? Do you see an opportunity to integrate our issues into their story?
Did your Member help create or change a law that matters to you? Call and thank your member for helping write laws.
Know member’s critical issues in their last election, pet issues, local issues.
Campaign Contributions
What industries/PAC’s have composed a significant portion of the candidates’ donors? Do you see any opportunities? Are any of their top individual donors’ part of your network?
Community Connections
Cancer Connection
How to Contact them: Do you want to have coffee with your members?
After meeting them, write a thank you note to the staff or Member. Thank them for taking the time to meet with you.
Make the most of small talk so you have a common platform from which to move to your agenda. When you meet with them in their office, look at their photos; know in advance if you went to the same school, attend the same church, or share the same hobby. While you do not want to waste valuable meeting time chatting about these issues, small talk before or after a meeting or during a tour of a local facility helps put a legislator or staff person at ease and begins to build common bonds that develop relationships.
Some ways:
Free white house tour
Request a meeting
There are several correct forms of address for a member of Congress including "The Honorable" and "Representative".
What are we missing? There are always important issues that are unique to a state, congressional district, or community. Take time to think through what makes your state unique and how you can bring those intricacies into your analysis.
District Data
Demographics
Population
Size of District
Major Cities in District
Towns in District
District Health Systems and Cancer Centers
are there support networks?
Top Employers and District Businesses
these are their sponsors and constituents
ACS Events
RFL, Making Strides, etc. (invite lawmaker to events)
Invite the legislator to events!!! ACS Events and otherwise!!
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGISLATORS/STAFF TO BE SEEN AT COMMUNITY EVENTS.
Remember relationships are two way streets – legislators need to get reelected and need to get good media and photo ops to enhance their reelection efforts. Be mindful of this and invite them to well-attended events, especially during the electoral season. It will not go unappreciated.
MORE Key Individuals, Organizations, and Other Information
Individuals
Who are they?
How long have they been in their current role?
What were they doing before?
Where were they educated and to what level?
Who do they know both personally and professionally?
If an elected official, how many votes did they win and what was the turnout at the last election?
What portfolios do they / have they held?
What are their interests and what causes do they support?
Organizations
Look at their websites, annual reports, social media accounts, press releases, etc.
What strengths do they have in terms of people, resources, funding and reputation?
What weaknesses do they have –where are they vulnerable?
What key metrics do they report against and who are they accountable to?
Potential Allies
1) Representatives, etc. that support your cause
2) ACT! Lead Roster (District Ambassador)
Potential Opponents
Think about who on your list has goals that conflict with your own, and who benefits from the status quo that you want to change. Before you take action against your opponents, you need to have a very clear understanding of the sources and extent of their power, what resources they can draw upon and who else they can organize against you. Compare their relative strength against your own and determine how many more people you need to tilt the scales in your favor.
→ conflict model to challenge them or a consensus-building model to win them over
Sending them briefs:
While it is critical to send brief, accurate and timely information on your advocacy issues to legislators and particularly their staff when the legislature is in session, it is critical that you continue to do so regularly so that you build a reputation as an industry expert and as a go-to person on recovery related issues.
Some legislators may not have recovery-related issues on their agenda. How do you make "your" issue "their" issue? Figure out who or what is important to them and find out how recovery might be tailored to the legislator’s pet issue or to key influential people in their life.
Update and protect your Power Analysis
You will constantly receive new information about the movements of power in the community through listening conversations, media reports, election results etc. Keep adding to and amending your Power Analysis to make sure it is current and only share it with those you can trust to maintain confidentiality. Remember that a comprehensive Power Analysis is itself a crucial source of the community’s power!
Scenarios:
Tobacco Tax Increase Request: Your lawmaker is the gatekeeper for all legislation at the Capitol and opposes any tax increase. However, you've discovered that the lawmaker is deeply involved with a local school and coaches basketball. How can you approach them for a tobacco tax increase? (Sample answer: Emphasize the economic impact of the tax for the area, considering their role in the school.)
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Funding: You need a lawmaker to introduce a bill to increase your state's breast and cervical cancer prevention funding. Your Democratic lawmaker was just selected as the Rotary Club Woman of the Year. How can you secure their support? (Sample answer: Highlight the humanitarian aspect of increased funding, connecting it to their recent recognition.)
Cancer Research Funding Increase: Your moderate Republican lawmaker’s daughter is a medical student studying oncology research. Your lawmaker is on the Appropriations Committee and has research facilities in their district. How can you approach them to increase cancer research funding? (Sample answer: Emphasize the alignment between their district's research facilities and the need for increased funding.)
Cancer Caucus Chair: Your Republican lawmaker’s brother, who was a huge supporter of your issues, lost his battle with cancer five years ago. Your lawmaker has been supportive but not a Champion. How can you encourage them to chair the Cancer Caucus? (Sample answer: Appeal to the personal connection and your lawmaker's potential to honor their brother's legacy through advocacy.)
These scenarios illustrate the practical application of a power analysis in tailoring your approach to different lawmakers based on their unique backgrounds and interests.
