Journalist: John Manigah (ORU)
One of the most vital elements in the legislative process is caucusing. This is where opinions collide and voting stances are taken. Improving your caucusing skills leads to a stronger network of support and a higher likelihood of your legislation being passed. These are three tips for effective caucusing.
- Approach it inquisitively.
- When first engaging in a caucus, it is unwise to state your opinion right off the bat. Instead, you will find more benefit in asking open-ended questions first. “Don’t go to somebody and say, ‘This is my opinion.’ Go up and say, ‘Hey, how do you feel about that?’ said eight-star Speaker of the House Cannon Mitchell.
- Never stayed glued to your seat; Keep meeting new people:
- After each bill is presented, never stay seated; stand up and talk to new delegates after each presentation. Avoid caucusing with the same group each time and network with delegates who hold different viewpoints to broaden your perspective and understanding.
- Build a network strategically
- The key is to build alliances with those who support your ideas, but never avoid conversation with delegates who think differently. Disagreement is the reason caucusing exists. Do not limit your understanding by isolating into clicks and echo chambers. “If they agree with you, say, ‘Oh my gosh, I agree. Let’s go find other people. Once you find somebody who disagrees with you or has an issue, that is when you have that conversation on the merits of the bill,” said Speaker of the House Cannon Mitchell.
Overall, sharpening your caucus skills will only help to make you a more effective legislator in the future. The goal is to gain a broadened perspective after each interaction and listening to gain an understanding of the whole body’s stance on an issue. “So go into a caucus, listen for a few minutes, talk to some people, get an idea, and then bounce over to the group next door,” said the 10-star Chief of Staff to the governor, Bishop.