How to Research a Policy Issue
Now more than ever, it seems difficult to stay updated on the top policy issues affecting our everyday lives. With constant changes in the news surrounding legislative priorities, it can feel overwhelming to find a start in your researching journey. In this week’s blog, we break down some of the ways that you can stay informed and educated on the policies that matter to you.
Read about current events involving the issue
Major media outlets often cover stories on policy issues that are a top concern for legislators. As stories around the issue develop, it is helpful to see how the policy is being framed in real-time. If the issue has a long-standing history of being a legislative priority, you can also see how the framing has changed over time as more information has been collected.
MassTrac’s search engine collects news articles from across multiple media outlets to provide stories that are related to the policy issues that matter. Your policy issue search can generate articles from local and national sources to provide you with up to date coverage to help your research. InstaTrac also sends out a daily newsletter, MassInsider, which aggregates hot topic news stories from Massachusetts and the other 49, press releases, and social media posts.
Read journal articles
Some policy issues have a vault of academic research at your disposal. Research sites such as JSTOR are a hub for articles that provide decades worth of testing and data collection. Utilizing research articles provides you with nonpartisan, scientifically-backed information that will strengthen your stance on the policy issue.
Research legislative history
It is important to research the history of an issue to better understand the policy fight in your legislature. Has the issue seen success in the past? Which legislators have made the policy a priority in their tenure? Does the issue have a history of passing or failing in certain chambers? Armed with this information, you can strengthen your argument and present it to lawmakers effectively.
MassTrac makes it easy to follow different bills and updated versions of legislation from all the way back to 1995. By clicking on a bill, you can view how far it went through the State House and find testimony if it is available. Additionally, the MassTrac service offers a bill text comparison tool which allows you to see additions or omissions from original bill text.
Research different stances/messaging on the issue
When researching a policy issue, it may be important to see how different political parties or organizations frame the issue so you can target your messaging for specific audiences. For example, if you are planning to testify before a committee that is made up of a certain partisan background, it may be helpful to research the language those legislators have used on the issue to frame your argument. It is also useful to research local organizations’ stances on the issue, and which legislators they have endorsed in the past that support their causes.
MassTrac provides users with easy access to press releases and written testimony from local organizations. With this information, you can research local stakeholders’ opinions on the issue to frame your messaging.
Learning about top legislative priorities can seem burdensome, but InstaTrac does the hard work for you. Our services make it easy to learn about complex legislation by providing accurate bill summaries and live testimony by local experts to support your research. To learn more, email us at info@instatrac.com and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, Youtube, Medium, and Substack.