Untitled
Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, TX
Search Our Site :
September 07, 2010   28 Elul 5770
Social Action - Social Justice  

 


 
Federation of Ft Worth & Tarrant County Fundraising  

Religious Action Center  

 

ELECTION DOS & DON’TS

ELECTION 2008 EDITION

 

Guidelines for Religious Non-Profits
Religious organizations and other non-profits are granted a special 501(c)3 tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. With the granting of this status comes restrictions on the types of political activities in which religious entities can engage. As we enter the height of a very contentious election season, we want to be sure that all Reform Movement organizations and congregations are well informed of the rules governing election year activities. Below is a brief listing of permissible and impermissible political  activities for synagogues and clergy. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact RAC Legislative Director Barbara Weinstein at bweinstein@rac.org or  202.387.2800.

 

Do PERMISSIBLE (& ENCOURAGED) ELECTION ACTIVITIES

 

Congregations and clergy, along with other nonprofit charitable organizations, MAY participate in public policy advocacy (lobbying) to a limited degree. This can include supporting or opposing legislation, ballot initiatives and other governmental actions. However, lobbying activities must be no more than an ‘insubstantial’ part of the total activity of the organization.

Non-partisan civic engagement, such as voter registration and education, is not considered lobbying, and is not limited. Specifically:

• Congregations can take positions on public policy issues, including ballot initiatives and legislation, where their values are implicated. Activities such as public education campaigns, petitioning, joining coalitions and meeting with elected officials are acceptable. Such activities are considered lobbying.

• Congregations may organize non-partisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives.

• Congregations may host candidate forums/debates as long as all candidates meeting pre-set, objective and non-partisan criteria are invited. The forum must be for the purpose of public education, and the issues and format may not favor a particular candidate or party.

• Congregations may encourage voting by organizing non-partisan efforts to assist voters who face transportation challenges in getting to the polls; providing a drop-in babysitting service for parents with young children on Election Day; or establishing a phone chain the night before Election Day encouraging congregants to call 5 other members to remind them to vote.

• A synagogue may serve as an Election Day polling location.

• Congregations can encourage synagogue members to volunteer as poll workers on Election Day.

DON’T IMPERMISSIBLE ELECTION ACTIVITIES

• Temples and clergy acting in an official capacity may not endorse candidates; for clergy, that extends to messages from the pulpit and bulletin articles.

• Congregations may not post signs favoring a party or candidate on their property.

• Religious organizations can not organize voter registration drives or get-out-the-vote efforts with the express purpose of electing a specific candidate or party.

• Congregations can not invite a candidate to speak during an election season without providing a comparable opportunity to other candidates. There are limited exceptions to this rule for elected officials currently holding office, but it is generally unadvisable.

• Congregations should not use their materials, space, or resources to aid a candidate’s or a party’s campaign.

• Religious organizations can not raise money for a political candidate or party.

• Religious organizations are not permitted to endorse their own members running for any office either expressly or by implication.

• Religious organizations can not provide membership lists to candidates, even if the candidate him or herself is a synagogue member.

As a general rule, synagogues and clergy, acting in an official capacity, MAY NOT engage in activities on behalf of, or in opposition to, any particular party or candidate for office at any level of government. You must remain non-partisan; even the perceived appearance of partisanship can result in your 501(c)3 status being revoked. Specifically:

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (“the RAC”) is the Washington, DC, office of the Union for Reform Judaism (The Union) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). The RAC has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in the nation’s capital for more than 40 years. The RAC educates and mobilizes the American Jewish community on legislative and social concerns, advocating on issues from economic justice to civil rights to religious liberty to Israel.

The RAC’s work is mandated by the Union, whose 900+ congregations across North America include 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the CCAR, whose membership includes more than 1,800 Reform rabbis. Representatives of these two organizations, as well as the Union’s affiliates, comprise the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (CSA) and govern the RAC’s policy positions.

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Arthur & Sara Jo Kobacker Building
2027 Massachussets Ave NW
at Kivie Kaplan Way
Washington, DC 20036

http://rac.org | 202.387.2800 | rac@urj.org

 


raclogo

CHAI-POWERED LOBBYIST: 18 HELPFUL TIPS

1) Carefully choose three or four compelling points about your issue.  Focus on those key points and leave time for discussion after you present your views.

2) Arrive on time.  Being early is even better.

3) Introduce yourself and your organization.

4) Be polite, even if the person you talk to is rude.

5) Legislative aides are the eyes and ears of Members of Congress; treat them with the same respect as the elected official.  The aide will convey your opinions.

6) Be specific about what you want and why. Refer to bills by name, number, and sponsors.  Good example:  "I urge you to support the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Bill (S. 1234)." Bad example:  "I thing the influence of money in politics is important."

7) Get specific answers whenever possible:  Will the Member of Congress vote for the bill?  What steps will the Member of Congress take to advance the issue?  Members Congress will not always want to make a commitment, so you may need to ask your question in several different ways.

8) If your Member of Congress afrees with you, yous should still briefly discuss teh issue, indicating why it is important to you.  Members need to hear from you even when you agree.

9) Do not hesitate to assert your view, even if it is different than the Member's, but always avoid adversarial rhetorical tactics.

10) Be personal:  Give your reasons for your position, not just reasons someone told you.  Share a personal experience (a toxic waste site in your neighborhood, a friend without health insurance)  to make your argument more powerful.

11) Be passionate:  Make it clear that you care sincerely about the issue.

12) Be concise.

13) Be prepared: Know the Member's view on the issue before your meeting. 

14) List allies (people and groups) who support your position.

15) Anticipate questions and have answers ready.  Prepare for your meeting by "role playing."

16) Don't hesitate to say "I don't know."  Promise to find the answer to any aopen questions, and do it!

17) Always ask the Member of Congress for something:  a commitment to consider the issue, co-sponsor the bill, or take other action.

18) Thank teh Member of Congress or staff person for meeting with you and follow up with a thank-you note (e-mail is fine).

 

 

 


 

Tikun Olam  

Send mail to webmaster with
questions or comments about this web site.		 Union for Reform Judaism  

Member of the
Union for
Reform Judaism