Government vs. Advocacy Events: What’s the Difference?

Open Source Democracy lists two broad kinds of civic events, and the difference comes down to who convenes the event and why. You’re welcome at both — that’s the whole point — but your role looks different at each.

Government events are the official proceedings of a public body: a city council meeting, a county commission session, a school board meeting, a committee hearing, a state legislative session, a federal agency’s comment period. This is the machinery of decision-making. These events run on a schedule, follow set procedures, and produce decisions that carry the force of law or policy. As a member of the public, your role is usually to observe — and, at many of them, to comment or testify when there’s a slot for it. You don’t need an invitation. These meetings are public by law.

Advocacy events are organized by groups or individuals working to influence what government does, or to bring people together around an issue: a rally, a town hall, a canvass, an organizing or training session, a press conference, a community event. These aren’t the decision-making bodies themselves — they’re people working to shape what those bodies decide, or to pull others into the effort. Your role here is to take part: as a supporter, a volunteer, or simply someone who wants to learn more.

One simple way to hold the difference: government events are where decisions get made; advocacy events are where people work to influence those decisions. You can show up to either, and a healthy civic life usually involves both.

Neutrality#

Listing an advocacy event is not an endorsement of it. Open Source Democracy is nonpartisan and aims to list civic activity across the political spectrum.