How to Ask

Members of Congress and their staff always want to know how you feel about particular issues. But you have to be sure to deliver your message in the right way. Otherwise, your communication might get lost in the flood of mail, e-mail, phone calls, and faxes that come into a Congressional office on a daily basis. Listed below are a few tips that will help ensure that your voice is heard.

Method of CommunicationThe methods of communication you chose should depend on the type of message. A simple request to vote for a particular bill can be relayed over the phone, while a more complicated message might better be put in writing. Think also about what works best for you in terms of time, energy, personal preference, and money.

Be Sure To Always Identify YourselfIt is a waste of time to communicate with your congressional office without identifying yourself. Unidentified information will generally be ignored and thrown away. Because the main duty of a congressional office is to represent the people who live in the congressional district, they need to know who is trying to communicate with them.

Volume Does Not Always Equal EffectivenessHighly controversial issues can result in a flood of communications to a congressional office. Many offices consider the numbers when making a decision, but only to a point. Sometimes ten thoughtful and well-argued letters can have an equal impact to that of hundreds of calls or postcards.

Be SpecificIf you are interested in a particular piece of legislation, ask your representative to sign on as a cosponsor. If your concern is with a federal agency, ask him or her to send a letter. Whatever it may be, the best way to ensure that the office pays attention to your issue is to ask for something specific.