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"Social media is the ultimate equalizer. It gives a voice and a platform to anyone willing to engage." That statement by Internet entrepreneur Amy Jo Martin has profound implications in a democracy. Prior to the introduction of the Internet, the process of engaging elected officials was viewed as cumbersome and intimidating, perhaps only available to wealthy campaign donors. New research by the Congressional Management Foundation suggests that social media, "the ultimate equalizer," perhaps has the potential to influence that dynamic even more.

In April 2014, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) released the Gold Mouse Awards (and accompanying best practices report) for the 113th Congress. For the first time, 17 Members were recognized for their efforts in using social media to further transparency, accountability, and constituent service. This video discusses what CMF focused on in our analysis of social media practices, the characteristics exhibited by the winners of the Gold Mouse Awards for Social Media, and the strategic questions congressional offices should ask before engaging in social media efforts.

In this month's Roll Call commentary, Brad Fitch and Kathy Goldschmidt identify some of the outstanding practices that received CMF's first-ever Gold Mouse Awards for Social Media. They also discuss why Members of Congress need to adjust their one-sided approach to social media, and instead use these tools to be more accountable and transparent to citizens.

Attention congressional staffers! Is your office using social media in innovative ways? We want to know about it! As a part of the Gold Mouse Awards for the 113^th Congress, CMF will recognize Senators and Representatives who are using social media in interesting and forward-thinking ways. We encourage you to nominate your office for this new award.

The 10^th and final installment of our review of Gold Mouse criteria discusses the importance of communicating with constituents through multiple online channels. Users are increasingly expecting their online experiences to be interactive, and are expecting to access information on the platforms they are most comfortable with. Member websites should serve as a bridge to these different platforms and allow users to connect to the Member’s office in a variety of ways.

When it comes to technology and tactics, political campaigns are often the laboratories for advocacy campaigns. What was tested in November’s election is often translated into grassroots strategies after the Congress is sworn in. So what are those lessons and how can you apply them to YOUR advocacy campaign? That was the subject of the most recent 2012 Advocacy Leaders Network (ALN) workshop entitled “Learning the Lessons of Campaign 2012 and Transforming Them to an Advocacy World.”