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HOW
TO WRITE TO government officials
Writing a letter can be an effective way of making your voice heard in your
town, county, state or in Washington, D.C. To give your correspondence the most
impact:
Address only one issue in each letter.
Be brief. Try to keep your letter to one page.
Be courteous, but make your point and don't be too apologetic about it. If
you're angry or feel strongly, you can let that show, but be polite.
State your specific purpose or position in the first paragraph of the letter.
Refer to specific legislation by number and title.
Mention whether you are a constituent, or identify another connection with
the recipient's district.
State why you support or oppose a particular measure. Don't concede the other
side's points, even if you agree with some.
Personalize your letter. If you must use a form letter, type or write it over
yourself.
Before sending an e-mail letter in response to a legislative issue, call the
legislator's office and ask his or her staff if e-mail from constituents is
given any credence by that particular legislator. Use normal rules of etiquette
for sending e-mail.
Your letter may be read by an office staff member, who will report to the
legislator the volume of correspondence and its general content. These people
may deal with many issues, and huge amounts of correspondence. It is important
for your letter to be concise and clear.
Address U.S.
Government members as follows:
To a Federal Senator:
The Honorable (name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator_____________:
To a Federal Representative:
The Honorable (name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Congressman or Congresswoman___________:
To a State Senator or a State Representative:
The Honorable (name)
(state capital address)
Dear Senator_____________:
Dear Assemblyman or Assemblywoman __________:OR
Dear Representative___________: OR
Dear Delegate____________:
(depending on the title used in that
state)
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