Provided by Margaret Dooley-Sammuli from Drug Policy Alliance
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Advocacy 101
Golden Rule: Be courteous, respectful, and friendly! First impressions are
everything.
Basics for Communicating With Your Legislator
* Be brief and accurate
* Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out”, rather
than guessing
* Mention if you are a constituent
* Listen carefully
* Be appreciative; thank them for something they have done in the past
even if it doesn’t relate to the issue you are currently talking about
* Ask for something specific, either support or oppose a certain type
of legislation.
Write Your Legislator a Letter
A well-written letter can be a very effective way of communicating with your
legislator. Only a small percentage of citizens take the time to articulate
their position in a personal letter to their legislator. Because of this,
most legislators read their mail personally and give a great deal of weight
to what their constituents have written.
Keep the Communication Basics and the following tips in mind when writing
your letter:
* Write about only one issue per letter
* Be polite and sincere
* Include supporting facts for help with this, look at “talking
points”
* Describe the problem and provide reasoning for your position
* Propose a solution
* Refer to a specific bill and ask for a specific action; eg, support
or oppose bill
* Include your name, address, and phone number on the letter.
* Address your letter in the following manner:
* On the envelope: “The Honorable (First Name and Last Name)…”
* In the letter: “Dear Representative (Last Name),” or “Dear Senator
(Last Name),
* Please keep us informed! Send a copy of your letter to us at
sf@drugpolicy.org or la@drugpolicy.org or give us a call at (415) 921-4987
or (213) 382-6400.
Call Your Legislator
During the session, the legislator’s secretary will most likely take your
call. If you don’t get to speak with the legislator directly, that is fine.
Just leave a message with the secretary, and they will pass it on to the
legislator. When the legislator is not in session, you will be able to speak
directly with them.
When calling, keep the Communication Basics in mind as well as the following
suggestions:
* Talk about one issue per call
* Be brief and to the point
* Refer to specific legislation and ask for a specific action
* Mention if you are a constituent
* Provide your contact information
* Please keep us informed! Let us know if and when you are calling,
and if the legislator that you spoke with has pledged to take any action on
your issue.
Visiting Your Legislator
A face-to-face discussion can be an effective means of communication.
However, it requires a bit more preparation than a letter or phone call.
Always keep the Communication Basics in mind and follow the suggestions
below.
* Call one of our offices at (415) 921-4987 and (213) 382-6400 or
visit the website at www.drugpolicy.org/ca to obtain fact sheets and talking
points to help prepare for the meeting.
* Dress appropriately (wear a suit if possible). First impressions are
everything.
* Treat the person that you are trying to influence with respect and
courtesy.
* Listen carefully, and if the legislator disagrees, speak
respectfully. Try to understand the basis of her/his objection, and politely
provide some information and rationale that supports your viewpoint.
* Always thank them for spending time with you.
Writing a “Letter to the Editor”
Letters to the editor are an important part of being a citizen lobbyist, and
can have a great effect on public opinion and policy. Once you have drafted
a letter, send it in to all local newspapers including dailies and weeklies.
The more newspapers you send it to, the better the chances of having your
letter published. As always, keep the Communication Basics in mind, and
following the directions below.
* Keep your letter short and concise. It’s usually good to stick to
150 words.
* Stay on message. State the issue that you are concerned about;
refer to specific legislation when possible; and state what action should be
taken.
* Write in simple language. Editors are looking for letters that a
large audience will understand.
* Sign your letter. Newspapers will not publish letters that are not
signed
* Provide contact information at the bottom of your letter. This will
only be used for the newspaper to verify that you are indeed who you say you
are. They do not publish personal contact info.
We hope that you find these tips helpful when engaging in citizen lobbying.
Thank you and good luck!
Feel free to contact Drug Policy Alliance for help in contacting your
legislators. You can reach us at sf@drugpolicy.org or la@drugpolicy.org or
give us a call at (415) 921-4987 or (213) 382-6400.