
POWER TOOLS FOR INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT DECISIONS 143
Effective framing is important in a government negotiation for
several reasons. First, the government officials on the other side of
the table are negotiating within a regulatory or legal framework
that specifies the kinds of transactions and approvals they may
grant. In order for the officials to be authorized to grant what you
seek, you must frame your proposal within the regulatory or legal
sphere within which they are operating. Laws and regulations es-
tablish frameworks. Actions within the stated framework are per-
mitted. Actions outside the stated framework are not. By proper
framing, you put