Inherent Frictions and Deliberate Frustrations: Examining the Legal Variables of State FOI Law Administration

FOI laws are of a category of laws acutely predisposed to internal resistance and erosion. The study seeks to better understand these limitations by examining legal elements of the laws through an exploratory field study, or audit, of nine state FOI laws. Among the study’s findings are two uniquely strong predictors of better FOI results: The existence of an independent FOI advocacy organization in the state and a legislature subject to the law. The findings suggest cultivating a culture of transparency may be as or more important than any of the generally considered legal variables, such as deadlines or penalties.

Photo identification laws and perceptions of electoral fraud

Photo identification (ID) laws are often passed on the premise that they will prevent voter fraud and/or reduce perceptions of electoral fraud. The impact of ID laws on perceptions of electoral fraud remains unsettled and is complicated by widespread confusion about current voting requirements. In the 2017 Virginia election, we fielded an experiment, with an advocacy organization, evaluating the effects of the organization’s outreach campaign. We randomized which registered voters were mailed one of three informational postcards. After the election, we surveyed subjects about electoral integrity and their knowledge about election laws. We find that providing registrants with information on the state’s photo ID requirements is associated with a reduction in perceptions of fraud and increased knowledge about voting requirements.

The Negro/National Newspaper Publishers Association and Its Dual Roles as a Trade and Advocacy Organization, 1940–2020

The National Newspaper Publishers Association, founded in 1940 as the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), served two roles from the outset. As a trade organization, it sought to professionalize the Black press by holding regular conventions, improving business practices, and implementing journalism awards. As an advocacy organization, the NNPA met with sitting presidents and high-ranking government officials to push for civil rights legislation. This study, the first to document and discuss the NNPA’s dual roles, draws on organizational records, news stories, and other primary sources by and about the NNPA since its inception to illustrate the scope of its work for the Black press and equality. The historical narrative also situates the organization in the context of the Civil Rights Movement and the long struggle for equal rights in the United States. Current advocacy and trade issues are discussed in the light of this narrative and the COVID-19 pandemic, and some suggestions for improvement are offered relative to the NNPA’s eightieth anniversary in 2020.

Presence of Any Medical Debt Associated With Two Additional Years of Homelessness in a Seattle Sample

Although medical debt has been associated with housing instability, almost no research has connected homelessness to medical debt. We interviewed 60 individuals experiencing homelessness in Seattle, selected from those participating in self-governed encampments organized by a homeless advocacy organization. Most respondents reported having at least one kind of debt, with two-thirds reporting current medical debt. Almost half reported trouble paying medical bills for themselves or family members. Almost one-third believed medical debt was in part responsible for their current housing situation. More than half with medical debt incurred this debt while they were covered under insurance. People who had trouble paying medical bills experienced a more recent episode of homelessness 2 years longer than those who did not have such trouble, even after controlling for race, education, age, gender, and health status. People of color who had trouble paying medical bills reported almost 1 year more homelessness than whites.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ADVOCATE AND CASE MANAGER

From her perspective as director of ApparentPlan, a nonprofit care agency to assist low income consumer of LTC, and as co-founder and director of the MN Long-Term Care Think Tank, an advocacy organization. Ms. Keibler will reflect on these findings and next steps.

The Principles of Advocacy Organization and Its Activities

The article gives a scientific study of the principles of advocacy. Formulated the concept and classification of principles of advocacy. On the basis of the sphere of dissemination of the principles of advocacy classified into fundamental principles (independence, professional competence, confidentiality, avoiding conflict of interest), organizational principles (territoriality, dependence of the judicial system, specialization, corporate governance, availability) and principles (efficiency, multidisciplinary approach, differentiated remuneration).