Policy Committee

SPSSI’s Policy Committee and policy-related task forces are instruments designed to bring all available social science wisdom, data, principles, and methods to bear on social issues. It is the social science orientation that distinguishes SPSSI from lobby and advocacy groups. Although SPSSI’s committees may be involved with legislative bodies, institutions, agencies and other organizations, often working very closely with these groups and individuals, it is necessary to retain clearly their SPSSI identity. This means that press releases, proclamations, TV broadcasts, petitions, and coalitions with other groups should first be approved by Council or its authorized committee.

SPSSI has established the following criteria for addressing policy issues and setting a policy agenda.

• The topic or issue is related to the core values of SPSSI, e.g., it encompasses issues of social justice.
• SPSSI has something to say on the topic that is informed by the research done by SPSSI members or other (social) scientists. It is helpful if the issue has received coverage in a relatively recent volume of JSI, ASAP, SIPR, or other SPSSI publications, but this is not required.
• SPSSI's voice will add something to the policy issue (e.g., psychological science can inform the issue and/or SPSSI can counteract the non-scientific voices. SPSSI can act sometimes as a primary voice, and sometimes through supporting the work and positions of other organizations.

The Policy Committee should bring the recommendations about specific policy issues and priority areas to Council for discussion and approval at the mid-Winter Council meeting. Once the Council has approved these recommendations, the Executive Director, and other SPSSI staff have authority to take action on the policy issue after consultation with the Executive Committee, providing timely notification to Council of actions taken. It is recommended that each Council meeting devote time to discuss policy issues and priorities. As recommended at Council (February 2006), at least one member of SPSSI's Executive Committee should be an ex officio member of this committee and a member of Council should chair or co-chair this committee. A member of the UN Committee should also serve on the Policy Committee.

A full time SPSSI Policy Director position was created in 2008. Working with the Policy Committee, the SPSSI Policy Director is responsible for the development and implementation of an organization-wide policy and advocacy agenda with a strong focus on the dissemination of pertinent social justice data to policy-makers and various other supporters of SPSSI’s goals both in Washington, DC, and all around the world. The Policy Director monitors public policy developments relevant to SPSSI interests, works to build coalitions with other organizations working for social justice, collaborates with the SPSSI Executive Director, Policy Committee and James Marshall Scholar to identify policy priorities and develop a proactive member-driven advocacy program, coordinates preparation of articles on policy issues for the SPSSI website and newsletters, and serves as the organization’s most visible advocate on Capitol Hill and in other relevant policy settings.