Advocacy Tips: The Letter

Your letters to Washington can make a difference. Legislators rely on letters to find out what the people back home are thinking. And, for you, letter-writing can be the first step in building an ongoing relationship with your legislators. Here are some guidelines to follow when writing.

• Spell your legislator's name correctly. If you know your legislator at all, use his or her first name--your letter will receive more attention.
• Write legibly or type your letters.

• Address your legislator properly:

  • For a salutation, use "Dear Representative (last name)" or "Dear Senator (last name)."
• Use your own words. Personal letters are much more effective than postcards or petitions.
• In e-mail, remember not to use "net jargon." Use full sentences and paragraphs--remember, it's just like a letter!
• Clearly state the topic you are writing about and your position on it in the opening sentences. For example: "I'm writing to oppose steep cuts in Medicaid and Medicare."
• Refer to bills by name or number if you can, but don't delay a letter if you don't have the exact bill number.
• Stay on one topic. If you want to write about other issues, send another letter later on.
• Give reasons for your position. As appropriate, use personal experience or a concrete example to make your case.
• Raise questions. A well-formulated question can get a personal response.
• Keep it short. One page is best! Use two pages only if necessary for clarity and completeness.
• Be polite, positive, and constructive. Don't plead, and never threaten or insult. You want to win a friend, if not now, then on other issues in the future.
• Be timely. Write before decisions are made and action is taken. But don't write too long beforehand--a letter six months before a vote will probably be forgotten.
• Use your name and address on both the envelope and the letter. This helps staff in replying, and it identifies you as a constituent. (For e-mail, include your full name and address at the end of the e-mail.)
• Write to thank your legislators when they take an action you agree with. It's surprising how few letters of thanks are received on Capitol Hill. If a staff member is particularly helpful, thank him or her, too--or mention your gratitude in your letter to your legislator.
• Keep writing!

 
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