Connecticut Water Trails Association
|
|
|---|
|
Connecticut Water Trails Association |
|
Connecticut Water Trails Program
Connecticut Water Bar
Effective Advocacy - Communicating Your Message
How To Write Letters To Congress
So, you're going to write your Congressman? Good idea.
Make it a good letter.
People who think members of Congress pay little or no
attention to constituent mail, are plain wrong. Concise, well thought out
personal letters are one of the most effective ways Americans have of
influencing law-makers. But, members of Congress get hundreds of letters
and emails every day. Whether you choose to use the Postal Service or
email, here are some tips that will help your letter have impact.
Letters are an extremely important tool in advocacy.
Public officials expect to receive mail from constituents. They depend on
input from the public to do their jobs. Often legislators rely on letters
and calls to help decide how they will vote. Letters are one of the best
ways to communicate your message - you have time to be sure you are
understood and it is permanent - they can refer back to it as needed.
Think
Locally
It's usually best to send letters to the
Representative from your local Congressional District or the Senators from
your state. Your vote helps elect them -- or not -- and that fact alone
carries a lot of weight. It also helps personalize your letter. Sending
the same "cookie-cutter" message to every member of Congress may grab
attention but rarely much consideration.
Keep It
Simple
Your letter should address a single topic or issue.
Typed, one-page letters are best. Many PACs (Political Action Committees)
recommend a three-paragraph letter structured like this:
Say why you are writing and who you are. List your
"credentials." (If you want a response, you must include your name and
address, even when using email.)
Provide more detail. Be factual not emotional. Provide
specific rather than general information about how the topic affects you
and others. If a certain bill is involved, cite the correct title or
number whenever possible.
Close by requesting the action you want taken: a vote
for or against a bill, or change in general policy.
The best letters are courteous, to the point, and
include specific supporting examples.
Addressing
Members of Congress
National
Level
To Your
Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear
Senator:
To Your
Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear
Representative:
When writing to the Chairperson of a Committee or the
Speaker of the House, address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman Dear Mr. Speaker
The above addresses should be used in email messages,
as well as those sent through the Postal Service.
Finding
Their Addresses
Senate and
House of Representatives
Email Addresses & Web Sites for Congress
State Level
The
Governor Of Connecticut
Envelope: Her Excellency, The Honorable Governor, State of Connecticut Executive Chambers, The Capitol Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1591
Salutation:
Dear Governor: or Dear Sir/Madam:
To Your
Senator:
Envelope: The Honorable .......................... State Senate Legislative Office Building Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1591
Salutation:
Dear Senator __________: or Dear Sir/Madam:
To Your
Representative:
Envelope:
The Honorable .......................... State House of Representatives Legislative Office Building Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1591
Salutation:
Dear Representative __________: or Dear Sir/Madam:
When writing to the Chairperson of a Committee or the
Speaker of the House, address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman Dear Mr. Speaker
Finding
Their Information
Connecticut
State Senate and House of Representatives
U.S.
Supreme Court
Contact Information - US Supreme Court.
The Justices do not have email addresses, but they do read letters from
citizens.
Many members of Congress maintain one or more offices
in their home states where they can also be contacted. These addresses are
typically listed on the members' web sites.
Identifying
Legislation
Cite these legislation identifiers when
writing to members of Congress: House Bills: "H.R._____"
In Summary
Here are some key things you should always and never
do in writing to your elected representatives.
Always
Be courteous and respectful without "gushing."
Clearly and
simply state the purpose of your letter. If it's about a certain bill,
identify it correctly. If you need help in finding the number of a bill,
use the
Thomas Legislative Information System.
Say who you are. Anonymous letters go nowhere. Even in
email, include your correct name, address, phone number and email address.
If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a
response.
State any professional credentials or personal
experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of
your letter.
Keep your letter short -- one page is best.
Use specific examples or evidence to support your
position. State what it is you want done or recommend a course
of action.
Thank the member for taking the time to read your letter.
Never
Use vulgarity, profanity, or threats. The first two are just plain rude and the third one can get you a visit from the Secret Service. Simply stated, don't let your passion get in the way of making your point.
Fail to include your name and address, even in email
letters.
Demand a response.
A Quick
Review
You don't have to be an expert, just explain your point of view.
Be brief. You don't get extra points for more words or extra statistics. Try to keep it to one page.
Be polite, respectful and reasonable.
Use your own words - do not pull out a thesaurus.
Personal stories and observations are the most persuasive.
Be clear - avoid jargon or overly technical language.
Be specific about your concern and what you want the official to do about it.
It is best to address only one issue in a letter.
If you are a constituent, say so in the first paragraph.
Call the official's office or visit their website beforehand to get the correct address, title and spelling. For example -- who should be addressed "The Honorable" and who shouldn't.
Be sure your letter is legible. It doesn't have to be typed, but it should be easy to read.
Ask for a response.
Include your name, address, phone number and other contact information on the letter. Don't rely on your return address -- envelopes often get separated from letters.
Triple check your work. Have a friendly "editor" look it over before you send it.
If you don't hear soon, call to be sure the official got your letter. Ask again for a response.
Share the response with any coalitions or partners you are working with.
Follow up and find out how the policymaker acted on your issue. Write to thank them, if appropriate.
You can "recycle" the language from your letter in letters to other policymakers, to the same policymaker next year, a letter to the editor or a fact sheet.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
