have a place at the table

To be in a position within some group or activity in which one's opinions are heard and one has influence in how decisions are made. Our group is not demanding to dictate public policy. All we want is to have a place at the table regarding how the state is run. Simply protesting won't accomplish anything. You've got to have a place at the table if you want to effect any change. The best thing about working for a smaller company is that it finally feels like I have a place at the table and can actually influence how it operates.