Public Policies Overview
How does AARP make sure our policies represent such a diverse membership? Developing public policies that serve all kinds of people in all kinds of situations is a big challenge. That's why we work so hard to be thorough. We gather members' ideas from town meetings, phone calls, e-mails, letters, surveys and polls, which we then discuss and debate.
What happens to all of this information? The National Policy Council, a special advisory body of 25 volunteers, is tasked with balancing these perspectives. The Council studies public policy options and hears from renowned experts and elected leaders, as well as everyday people. Then it makes policy recommendations to AARP's Board of Directors.
The 20 members of the AARP Board of Directors consider the recommendations of the National Policy Council. The Board relies on various member surveys and feedback, as well as discussions with federal and state legislators, government leaders, business and industry representatives, and policy experts, to help make its policy decisions.
Once the Board approves the policies, they are published in The Policy Book: AARP Public Policies. These policies guide the advocacy efforts of AARP volunteers and staff throughout the year. This book reflects AARP's strong commitment to representing our members at every level of government.
