Resources: Citizens Guide for Contacting Elected Officials and Grassroots Lobbying

Your Senators and Representatives need to hear from you!

• Keep your letter short and to the point. Make it personal. Use your own words.
• Be respectful. State your views courteously.
• When writing about specific legislation, include the bill number.
• Write legibly and sign your letter. Be sure to include your address in all correspondence.
• Ask for a response. Please send a copy of any response you receive to Arkansas Right to Life. This helps us know what elected officials are telling the public.
• Use the Action Alert in the Arkansas Right to Life Life Issues newsletter or National Right to Life NRL News for specific suggestions for pro-life action.
• Write a letter of appreciation if the legislator does something of which you approve. Everyone likes to get complimentary letters. They're effective, too!
• Be persistent. Do not be put off by a negative answer. Follow through. Write again and get others to write.
  

• When calling a public official, you may either leave a message with his or her secretary, if the official is not available, or request your call be returned.
• Ask your legislator to state his or her position on the issue. As a constituent, you're entitled to know.
• If the legislator asks you a question that you don't know the answer to, don't guess. Tell him you'll provide that information later - and do so.
  

• Make an appointment and be on time.
• Familiarize yourself with the lawmakers voting record.
• The initial visit should be one of introduction and explanation of your interest in the issue.
• Be prepared to answer specific questions on legislation of interest and provide supporting material.
• Listen carefully to the legislator's views; don't interrupt if you disagree. You can accomplish more by listening and mentally noting areas of accord and disagreement.
• After this initial contact you have a base from which to contact the legislator again on specific bills.

• Contact the local office for an itinerary of speaking engagements in the district by members of Congress and plan to attend.
• Check your local newspaper for seminars, meetings and other public gatherings where lawmakers will be in attendance. Attend these functions and talk to the legislator about a particular issue.
• This informal contact is extremely important and can be very helpful in establishing a good relationship with the lawmaker.