Advocacy Archives
10 Rules for Dealing with Police
10 Rules for Dealing with Police - "10 Rules for Dealing with Police, the new film from Flex Your Rights, premiered at Cato earlier this week. If you’re interested in knowing more about how to defend your rights during encounters with law enforcement, this is a must-see. You can watch the whole thing [here], which includes discussion and commentary after the film.
. . .
(from the Washington Examiner).
- 1. Always remain calm, collected and respectful. “A police encounter is the worst time and place to vent your frustration with the police,” Murphy warned.
2. You have the right to remain silent. Exercise it. Not talking is the smartest way to exercise your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
3. You have the right to refuse any searches of your person or property without a court-ordered search warrant. Murphy told the audience to memorize these lines: “I don’t consent to searches.”
4. Don’t be fooled. The police are allowed to lie to you, make threats they know to be false, or promise things they have no intention of delivering.
5. Ask if you’re being detained or are free to go. The police need probable cause to detain you against your will.
6. Don’t do anything to help the police find probable cause so they can detain you.
7. Don’t run. That automatically gives them probable cause.
8. Never touch a cop. That’s a no-brainer.
9. Be a good witness so if you have to make a complaint about police misconduct, you will have a good recall of what took place. But don’t tell the officer.
10. Don’t let anybody from the government inside your house without a court-ordered, signed search warrant."
Also see our Pocket Constitution, and The Fifth Amendment.
March 27, 2010 07:57 PM Link Comments (0)
Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony
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Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony |
You know your issue better than anyone else. This 1-day course in Washington, DC, gives you the information and confidence necessary to testify before Congress, effectively presenting your case to Congress.
Our experienced faculty explores all aspects of testimony preparation including research, persuasion and the proper structure of both written and oral testimony. Participants learn delivery and listening techniques, ways to deal with anxiety and best practice techniques for addressing both Q&A sessions and challenging situations. You learn how to prepare congressional testimony and how to testify before Congress.
This course provides ample time to discuss concerns with faculty members while helping participants feel at-ease as they prepare testimony or actually deliver testimony on the Hill.
- Wednesday, July 30, 2008
- 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- More information here
July 11, 2008 06:37 AM Link Comments (0)
Strategies and Tactics That Will Help You Impact Congressional Action
Strategies and Tactics That Will Help You Impact Congressional Action:
How Knowing the Congressional Environment and Congressional Procedure Will Help your Lobbying Efforts
As a government affairs professional, you not only have to be an expert in your field, you also need to know how Congress works and how you can work with members of Congress and their staff to advance your efforts. This program will cover these topics:
- How to identify clear goals
- Who are your sponsors, friends, and opponents
- How to prepare for your first Congressional meeting
- Follow-up and outreach
- Working each step of the process
- Defining success
Open Q&A with the faculty included: David Grimaldi.
- Thursday, July 24, 2008
- 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/11 am PT
- More information here
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Strategies and Tactics That Will Help You Impact Congressional Action: How Knowing the Congressional Environment and Congressional Procedure Will Help your Lobbying Efforts
Capitol Learning Audio Course Includes seminar materials. Audio Course on CD: $47 plus shipping and handling  |
July 5, 2008 09:37 AM Link Comments (0)
"Lobbyists Foresee Business As Usual"
Some of Washington's top lobbyists say that they expect to find ways around congressional efforts to impose new restrictions on lobbyists' dealings with lawmakers in the wake of the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal, and that any limits will barely put a dent in the billions of dollars spent to influence legislation.
Though Congress may ultimately vote to eliminate a few of the more visible trappings of special pleading, such as gifts, free meals and luxurious trips, lobbyists say they have already found scores of new ways to buy the attention of lawmakers through fundraising, charitable activities and industry-sponsored seminars. An estimated $10 billion is spent annually to influence legislation and regulations, and that spending is not likely to be diminished by the proposed lobbying changes, these lobbyists contend.
"Lobbyists Foresee Business As Usual: Post-Abramoff Rules Expected to Be Merely a Nuisance," by Jeffrey Birnbaum, The Washington Post, March 19, 2006
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
United States Constitution, Amendment I
Resources
Training
- Advocacy and Education Campaigns in Washington: Using Grassroots, Coalitions, and the Media to Get Your Message Heard
- Starting and Building a PAC: PAC Workshop
- Earmarks: Everything You Need to Know
- Capitol Hill Workshop: Politics, Policy, and Process
- House Floor Procedures
- Understanding Congress
- Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process
- How to Organize a Capitol Hill Day - Audio CD
- How to Work the Hill Like a Pro - Audio CD
- Making the Most of a Site Visit with a Member of Congress - Audio CD
Publications
- Congressional Deskbook 2005-2007, by Judy Schneider and Michael L. Koempel
- Congressional Directory 2006
- Congressional Operations Poster
- How to monitor and influence policy at the federal level Chart
- Media Relations Handbook for Agencies, Associations, Nonprofits and Congress, by Brad Fitch
March 19, 2006 07:07 AM Link Comments (0)
"Soft-drink makers face a class-action lawsuit for selling sugared sodas in school vending machines."
A coalition of lawyers who have actively and successfully sued tobacco companies says it is close to filing a class-action lawsuit against soft-drink makers for selling sugared sodas in schools. The lawyers, who have been trying to develop a case against the soft-drink makers for more than two years, say a lawsuit could be filed within the next few weeks, probably in Massachusetts, which has one of the nation's most plaintiff-friendly consumer-protection laws.
"Lawyers ready suit against soft drinks: Sales in schools targeted by group," by Caroline Mayer, The Washington Post, December 2, 2005
via Joanne Jacobs
More
- "Vending Machines in Schools," roundup of state action from NCSL
- "WP: Lawyers Ready Suit Over Soda: Linking Obesity to Sale in Schools," DemocraticUnderground.com
- "Hard on Soft Drinks: As parents, health advocates, and lawyers increasingly blame soda for an epidemic of childhood obesity, Boston is at the center of a national legal movement to make soft drinks the next tobacco," by Michael Blanding, The Boston Globe, October 30, 2005
- "Taking on Big Soda," by Jacob Sullum, Hit & Run, November 30, 2005
- "The War on Fat: Is the size of your butt the government’s business?" by Jacob Sullum, Reason, August/September 2004
- "California says 'no' to junk-food sales in schools: A statewide ban against certain vending machine snacks in public schools would be the first of its kind," by Daniel Wood, The Christian Science Monitor, September 6, 2005
- "[AZ] Senate panel backs ban on school junk food in lower grades," KVOA (Tuscon), March 29, 2005
- "VENDING MACHINE DEBATE: The target market speaks," and Open Forum on SFGate, May 21, 2003
- "Fighting the Cola Wars in Schools," by Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post, March 23, 1999
December 3, 2005 09:12 AM Link Comments (0)
