Government Relations

The success of many chambers depends heavily on the effectiveness of its government relations and political programs at the state and local levels. 

Chambers of commerce engage in a variety of government relations activities, including:

• Constructing the government relations framework.
• Lobbying techniques and strategies for addressing the issues.
• Development and management of grassroots initiatives and lobbying efforts.
• Relationship building with federal, state and local officials.
• Communications of policy issues to the chamber constituencies and maximization of the effectiveness of the chamber membership.
• Public opinion polls and research methods of public policy effects on the local economy.

Engaging the Public Sector Toolkit

As chamber executives, our jobs require us to work with a wide variety of people to get things done. It is critical that chambers and the professionals who manage them develop a strategy for engaging the public sector. ACCE created this toolkit to help you to be more effective in your role with the chamber and, by extension, your chamber more effective in your community. Engaging the Public Sector Toolkit

ACCE Member Knowledge Exchange

Search through peer-reviewed government relations governance documents, operational policies, legislative agendas, position statements, presentations and more in the ACCE Member Knowledge Exchange. 

Ask the GR Pros 

ACCE called upon seven chamber government relations professionals to share their chamber's policy priorities for the year, new strategies they're using to advance their agenda, tactics for developing relationships with legislators and more. Read more.

Premium Content: Community Leadership & Advocacy 

This course from ACCE's Certificate in Chamber Managment program provides a foundational understanding of basic principles underlying community leadership and advocacy. The introduction to advocacy course provides insights and best practices around beginning an advocacy effort at your organization, creating a government affairs committee, creating a public policy agenda, resolving member conflicts, creating a PAC creation and more. Learn more.