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City Council Resolution Campaign Overview |
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Tips for City Council Resolutions
San Jose, CA supporters at City Council Meeting just after the
adoption of their resolution.
Department of Peace supporters from all across the country have worked with their local City Council or other governing body to get resolutions in support of legislation to create a U.S. Department of Peace. You can see the list here.
One thing that could help you is to know if your Mayor and city are part of Mayors for Peace. Check the Mayors for Peace website to find out. You may also want to review the 2008 U.S. Conference of Mayors resolution discussing Youth Violence as a Public Health Issue.
You can also read more detailed explanations of everything on this page and access other support materials here.
Why a Resolution?
There are many reasons for enrolling your local governing body in adopting a resolution the establishment of a U.S. Department of Peace:
- It helps show broad public support for the Department of Peace
- It educates the public about the Department of Peace
- I generates free publicity that comes with open and televised City Council meetings, plus follow-up electronic and print media coverage.
- It gives you something to send to your Members of Congress to assist you in continuing to positively influence them.
How Long Will it Take?
That depends. Some cities have had resolutions adopted after one meeting and others have taken as long as 18 months. Forming a relationship with at least one member of your City Council can be beneficial, but it is not necessary. Atlanta adopted the resolution based solely on receiving packets of information and having a presentation at a regular City Council meeting.
Steps to Take:
- Get on the City Council agenda. Visit your city’s website to learn more about this process or contact the City Clerk.
- Prepare your packet for your city officials. Learn about the composition of your City Council to determine which letter you will use.
- Send your letter and packet.
- Follow through.
Your letter will receive a response. Be sure to follow up and make necessary preparations for the presentation. If they decline your offer, try again!
- Prepare remarks.
You will most likely have a very limited amount of time to speak. Be sure to prepare remarks and speakers in advance and be sure you meet the time allotted. Practice practice practice!
- Fill the City Council Chambers with supporters.
Not everyone will need to speak, but it's a great support to see people there with buttons and banners
- Be respectful and mindful of protocol and answer all questions.
- Once adopted
- Send the resolution to your Member of Congress.
- Write a Story from the Field and send it to The Peace Alliance to share your success with the rest of the campaign! Be sure to include pictures.
- Have a congratulations party!!
- Send thank you letters to the members of your local governing body to continue to reinforce that we are Being the Change.
Note that when you ask for the endorsement, you want to enroll them in supporting the establishment of a U.S. Department of Peace and the general functions it will provide, NOT to endorse any specific legislation. In the past, endorsements were worded in support of specific legislation, but we recognize that legislation can and will change. So the focus of our work now is to garner support of the importance of a cabinet-level function focused on reducing and preventing violence through the application of nonviolent principles and practices.
Information on this page was adopted from materials created by Dennis Mazurek, Congressional District Team Leader, MI-14. Thanks Dennis!
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