 How to be an Effectie Lobbyist
Contact your Arkansas Legislators!
Names and Addresses of your legislators
You can also e-mail your legislators on-line to save stamps at name (first initial, last name)@arkleg.state.ar.us.
How to be an Effective Lobbyist - Influencing Your Elected Officials
(From Families USA's Guide to the U.S. Congress, 1997-98)
The Telephone Call:
A phone call is a good way to let your legislator know how you or your organization feel about a particular issue. Congressional offices pay close attention to these calls as a measure of voters' sentiment. An outpouring of calls can sometimes change the vote of a legislator, but even a small number of calls can make a difference.
When you call, ask if your Senator or Representative could send you a written response. This will help ensure that your call gets counted. You can also ask if the office has received other calls from constituents on the same issue and, if so, what position most of the callers took on the issue.
Where to call: Most Senators and Representatives maintain one or more offices in the state or congressional district they represent. You can find the phone number in the U.S. government section of your telephone directory or by calling information.
If you wish to call the Washington, D.C. office, you can reach your Senator or Representative through the Capitol switchboard. Simply dial (202) 224-3121, and ask for your Representative's or Senator's office.
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 Senators:
The Honorable (insert name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
For Representatives:
The Honorable (insert name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
- For a salutation, use "Dear Representative (last name)" or "Dear Senator (last name)."
- Use your own words. Personal letters are more effective than postcards or petitions.
- 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.
- 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.
- Be timely. Write before decisions are made and action is taken, but don't write too long before—a letter 6 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 identifies you as a constituent.
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!
The Telegram:
Telegrams can be useful when important votes are coming up. They are most effective if you have already sent a letter. Telegrams should be brief, stating your position on the upcoming bill, and should include the bill number.
Western Union Political Opiniongrams cost $9.95 for the first 20 words, and $3.50 for each additional 20 words. They can be sent only to elected officials and are delivered to the White House or Congress the same day they are sent. Mailgrams are delivered in 1-3 business days and cost $18.95 for the first 50 words, $6.90 for the next 50 words. To send a Public Opiniongram or a Mailgram, call Western Union at 1-800-325-6000.
Meeting With Elected Officials:
Most legislators travel to their home districts as often as they can—on weekends, if possible, and whenever Congress is not in session. They go home, in part, to meet with constituents. You can set up a meeting with your Representative or Senator during one of these visits.
To prepare for the meeting:
- Arrange for a small group of people who share your concerns to participate in the meeting.
- Decide ahead of time what the group will say and who will speak on each issue.
- Limit your visit to one, or at most two, topics.
- Decide in advance what you hope to get out of the meeting--an agreement to sponsor a particular bill, for example. If you want press coverage of your meeting, make arrangements beforehand.
During the meeting:
- Present your case. Explain what you want your legislator to do and why.
- Give examples of the impact the proposed legislation will have on your home state or district.
- If you don't know the answer to a question, don't make it up. Offer to find out and send information back to the office later.
- Keep control of the visit. Don't be put off by smokescreens or long-winded answers. Your appointment time is limited.
- Find out if your legislator has heard opposing views. If so, find out what the arguments are and what groups are involved.
- Don't confront, threaten, pressure or beg.
- Leave a brief position paper or fact sheet in the office when you leave.
- Follow up your visit with a thank you note.
- You can also invite your elected officials to participate in your organization's activities. You might ask them to address your group or present them with an award or tour a facility. These events leave a lasting positive impression about the organization and build a relationship with the legislator that can be useful.
The Role of Congressional Staff:
Each Member of Congress has a professional staff in Washington, DC. Some are assigned to the legislator's personal staff; others, to a committee or subcommittee. Staff members schedule appointments, track legislation and make recommendations concerning legislative issues. Because of the busy schedules legislators keep, it is important to develop and maintain a good working relationship with staff members responsible for health or related issues. When you call the Washington office, make sure that you speak with the staff person responsible for the legislation you are calling about.
EXPANDING YOUR INFLUENCE
Contacting Others :
Your influence can be multiplied by getting other people to join you in contacting your Representative and Senators. Talk to coworkers, friends, and neighbors—at club meetings, senior centers, churches or temples, union halls, and other places where concerned people get together. Letters to the Editor of your daily newspaper are another effective way to "spread the word." You can probably think of others: be creative!
Explain the issues and how people in your community will be affected. Let people know what they can do. Give clear instructions, following the pointers outlined in the sections above about letter- writing and making phone calls.
HOW TO GET COPIES OF BILLS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
You can ask your legislator's office to get the information you need. Identify the bill or committee report you want by name and number. In the House, bills are identified as H.R.________. In the Senate, they are identified as S.________.
Committee reports include the number of the Congress in their numbers: House committee reports issued during the 105th Congress will be identified as H.Rept. 105-_____; Senate reports, as S.Rept. 105-_____.
You can also write to the House and Senate Document Rooms to request copies. (Limit: 6 items per order.) Enclose a self-addressed label or envelope with your request.
For Senate bills and reports:
Senate Document Room, B-04 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510. (Limit: 6 items per order, 1 copy of each)
For House bills and reports:
House Document Room, Room H2-B18 Ford Building, Washington, DC 20515. (Limit: 12 items per order, 1 copy of each)
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