Communication Tips
Tips On Telephoning Your Legislator
Using First Advocate,
you will be given the phone number of federal and state legislators. You can also reach federal legislators
through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Staff members usually handle calls to the legislator's office. Therefore it is important to ask to speak with
the staff member who handles your issue of interest. Be sure to identify yourself and request to leave a brief
message with the legislator that states the purpose of your call, e.g. "Please tell Senator/Representative
(Name) that I support/oppose (S.___/H.R.___)."
Also, it is important to state the reasons why you support or oppose the bill. You may ask for your
legislator's position on the bill if it is not known and you may also request a written response to your telephone
call/message.
Tips On Writing Your Legislator
The letter is still one of the more widely used methods of communicating with a legislator's office. Writing a
letter gives you, as a constituent, the opportunity to express and defend your position on an issue. Your letter
will be most effective if you follow a few simple guidelines:
1.) Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to
a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
2.) Be courteous. Even if the legislator has taken positions you disagree with, be respectful.
3.) Get to the point quickly, and address only one issue in each letter. As a rule of thumb, it is best to limit
your letter to one page.
4.) Be sure to include information and your own personal reasons for supporting or opposing a piece of
legislation. Legislators are not only influenced by who supports legislation, but also why.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a U.S. Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
(Rm.#) (name of) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a U.S. Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
(Rm.#) (name of) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
*NOTE: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper
to address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:
or Dear Mr. Speaker:
Tips On Emailing An Elected Official
In general, the same guidelines for writing a letter apply to email messages.
With an email message to a legislator, however, it is very important to include
information about yourself in the email, preferably in the opening paragraph. In
addition to your street address, this is the only way a legislator has of
knowing that you are a constituent. In some instances, emails without street
addresses may not receive a response.
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