The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication: A Guide to Internal Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, and Leadership

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Connecting Communication to the Public Policy Process

John Larsen, Anna Marie Willey

Government relations is a critical component of a healthy democratic process. It is part of the pluralistic nature of our society that expects—and even demands—various levels of participation in the public policy process. Conducted ethically, underscored by credible background research, and triangulating among corporate objectives, government intentions, and the public interests, government relations is a fundamental pillar of good governance for an organization that needs to understand and navigate the complex legislative and public policy process. At root, the practice of government relations is predicated on surrounding ...