Pen & Paper Activism
A pen and a piece of paper is all you need to activate your potential to affect change in the policies, direction and future of the United States. You may wonder if your letter will make a difference and the resounding answer is YES! Congressional staff members report that a mere 10-20 letters will draw their attention to an issue.
If one letter makes a difference, imagine the power of a letter writing campaign. You can get a list of active and ongoing letter campaigns at Progressive Secretary or get your friends and family to join your campaign and don't forget about your contacts in the community. Composing a letter only takes a few minutes and requires limited supplies, it is the perfect advocacy tool to take anywhere in your community so get your community involved. Write letters at a group meeting, after class, or at an event related to the issue. National, state, and local organizations that follow the issues you care about can provide helpful information such as sample letters and fact sheets. Snail mail has been shown to be more effective at getting attention but don't forget about the power of email either, elected and public officials have email addresses accessible to the public.
Students Activists
School campuses are the ideal spot to set up a letter writing campaign that will express their views on issues that directly impact their lives. Campuses are packed with people and foot traffic is key to getting people to take a moment to sign a petition letter or compose a quick letter of their own.
You may choose to print multiple copies of a single letter, leaving space for an individual’s signature and address to be filled in at the bottom. Do keep blank sheets of paper, envelopes and writing supplies on hand for individuals who wish to express their own views on a subject, especially in the case of hot button issues.
A quick word of caution: Always check addresses and names given on petitions and letters. Fake names and addresses will negate the effectiveness of your campaign. Also check letters that individuals write themselves before sealing the envelope.
At a campus-wide letter writing table, it is not necessary to know the address of each and every member of Congress. Students can always write to the representative and senators from their school's district and state.
Key Issues
For more targeted letters, write to elected officials who are on key committees and write at relevant times. Congress.gov is your direct link to the who's who of Congress. It lists committee members, the purposes of those committees, email addresses, snail mail address and allows you to search for your Representative or Senator by zip code. The House of Representatives and Senate each have their own websites as well.
Vote Smart offers a daily schedule of both the House of Representatives and the Senate which enables you to compose letters to your congresspersons at the time when it is most likely to capture their attention, i.e. when the issue is coming up in their schedule. Do not be tempted to write to a key representative to whom you have no connections. Many congressional offices disregard mail that is not from a student or constituent in the district or state.
Follow Up
Most congressional offices respond to hand-written letters with a form letter that provides information about their positions on the issue. If your elected official is not supportive, find answers to his/her concerns and cite these in a polite response letter. On the other hand, should your representative take your recommended action, write a thank you note. It shows that your attention span extends beyond the initial letter.
Contact Information
Online Directory of Congresspersons
The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121
President (full name)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW Washington, DC 20500White House Comment Line: 202/456-1111
Remember State Legislators, local council persons, school board officials. Contacting local officials is the surest way to influence local concerns and the effects are felt close to home.
Sample Letter
The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510Dear Senator ________:
I strongly oppose the current administration's plans to weaken our environmental safeguards. At this critical point, it is more important than ever that we protect the natural resources we have been given by putting a stop to the proposed weakening of existing environmental laws. It is time to think and act progressively and responsibly. Our wetlands, forests, rivers and National Parks can not withstand the pollution that will be allowed should S. "________" be passed.
Ourselves, our children and generations to come have a right to live in a country that cherishes and values its natural resources and magnificent, natural beauty. I thank you for your concern and support in this matter.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jane Doe
123 Oak St.
Any Town, State 12345
Tips for Effective Letter Writing
1. Address your Congressperson properly: Honorable or Representative/Senator or when writing to the Chairperson of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman
Dear Madam Chairwoman
Dear Mr. Speaker
Dear Madam Speaker
2. Be brief, respectful and courteous. Many effective letters are only 4 to 5 sentences long. If you can, begin your letter by thanking your representative for a recent vote or speech that you appreciated. You can find out how your elected official voted on issues at Vote Smart
3. State any professional credentials or personal experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of your letter.
4. Be specific. Identify the particular legislative proposal you are writing about and briefly explain why you want your representative to support or oppose it.
Legislation Identifiers:
House Bills: "H.R._____"
House Resolutions: "H.RES._____"
House Joint Resolutions: "H.J.RES._____"
Senate Bills: "S._____"
Senate Resolutions: "S.RES._____"
Senate Joint Resolutions: "S.J.RES._____"
To find the number of a bill, use the Thomas Legislative Information System.
5. Compose your own letter, type or print it, always proofread and personally sign it. Use specific examples or evidence to support your position. State what it is you want done or recommend a course of action.
6. Include your return address after your signature as well as on the envelope. Most congressional offices respond to constituent mail with a written form letter. Your address shows your member of Congress that you are a constituent residing or registered to vote in the district they represent.
The Pen is Mightier than the Sword