There’s a permeating frustration with peers that we don’t get involved with the legislative process. Beyond sometimes just feeling too cruddy to take part in advisement (we’re too busy staying healthy), there is another equally primary reason peers aren’t all that eager to lend a hand.

So rather than jumping straight into the reason peers aren’t gungho to participate in the legislative process, let me give a pointer or two on how to encourage peer participation. I’ll make this easy for everyone with a two-step surefire way to get peers on board with important legislation.

1.) Don’t write the entire bill and then hand it over to peers asking, “We wrote this bill for you, what do you think?”

2.) Peer involvement starts at the VERY BEGINNING of bill drafting, not the VERY END.

When you say unto a peer, “We’re giving you an opportunity to take part in the process, why aren’t you excited to help?”, it’s more than a little upsetting to peers.

And when you say unto a peer, “If you don’t let us know what you think about this bill we drafted in your absence, then you have no right to complain later.”

For one, “giving peers the opportunity” and “you have no right to complain” speaks to granting us permission to take part. Since you’re soliciting input on legislation that affects us directly, that dynamic is incorrect. Peers are giving you the opportunity to create a bill that makes sense for us. It isn’t for you to give peers permission. It’s not your permission to give. You don’t define what our rights are. We’ll let you know the rights of ours you can comment upon.

For two, peers aren’t that thrilled being included as an afterthought… again, specifically because these bills are about us, not you.

The argument can be made “The bill won’t affect peers like you, so why are you so resistant?” Why? Same answer. Plus, why would peers advise on legislation that doesn’t affect them directly? The peers you need to hear from are the peers who are affected directly. It’s disingenuous to ask for peer endorsement from the wrong peers. It’s like asking a corn farming community in Kansas to advise on poppy field crops in Afghanistan.

So since you’re seeking peer advisement (and endorsement), let me reiterate the simple two-step advisory pointer to garner peer involvement:

1.) Don’t write the entire bill and then hand it over to peers asking, “We wrote this bill for you, what do you think?”

2.) Peer involvement starts at the VERY BEGINNING of bill drafting, not the VERY END.

We really do know the issues important to peers, and we’re very capable expressing our needs, and we’re exceptionally adept at coming up with the answers to the questions you ask. Simple. Give it a shot. You’ll find peers very willing to guide others to create the solutions designed to make our lives better.