One of the major icons of American democracy — not quite up there with the flag, but up there — is the legislative committee room. Public hearings conducted by legislative committees are symbols of open government, an invitation to participate.
Citizens giving testimony before a committee is a cornerstone of the legislative process, seen by the public as a noble part of democracy. But reality knocks some of the shine off. Giving testimony before a committee has its multiple purposes, but its effectiveness in helping pass a bill is often misunderstood and exaggerated.
Experienced lobbyists commonly try to avoid presenting testimony, because their effective lobbying beforehand can make testimony unnecessary or perfunctory.
The main purpose of a public hearing is not to sway opinions with facts. Public hearings, especially those dealing with high profile issues, are held primarily to let the public vent feelings.
There are many other valid reasons, of course, for providing a public forum for citizens to present testimony — such as getting your story and the politicians‚ faces on the 6 o‚clock news. Just keep in mind: Testifying before a committee usually is not about instant persuasion.
The most effective way to provide information to a legislator is one-on-one, not in a group, and certainly not in a room full of strangers.
If you can’t persuade a legislator in private, you’re not likely to do so in front of TV cameras.
A forum for the chairman
As a lobbyist, you or a client you represent may be compelled to make a formal presentation before a legislative committee because the chairman of the committee may ask you to. ...
Preparing and presenting testimony
Here are some basics that every organized witness would cover. They include remembering your audience, knowing what’s expected of you, targeting the presentation, preparing the testimony and speaking before the committee.
[More in the book.]
