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In This Section
Arranging a Meeting with Your Legislator
Building a Strong Coalition
Talking with Legislators on the Phone
Sample Phone Script
Do's & Don'ts When Dealing with Legislators
Writing an Effective Letter to the Editor
Writing Effective Letters and Emails to Your Legislators
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Do's & Don'ts When Dealing with Legislators
Do's & Don'ts When Dealing with Legislators
DO
Visit your elected legislator’s office and bring a constituent(s) who is represented by the specific legislator.
Know your legislative issue or prospective legislation.
Be polite and respectful to everyone in the office, including both staff and legislators.
Be flexible with the meeting location. Sometimes legislators or staff only have a moment to meet in a hallway rather than an office. This is common, and the best recommendation is to adapt.
Be brief and provide your strongest points or arguments at the beginning of the meeting. Be clear, concise, and honest.
Assume your listener knows nothing about court reporting, captioning, or legal videography and simplify complex issues.
Describe the impact the legislation will have on you personally if enacted.
Describe the benefit of supporting or opposing the proposed legislation.
Anticipate questions and the opposing side’s argument.
Leave or send written material.
Dress appropriately, usually in business attire.
Leave your business card.
Always request support or opposition from the legislator or staff person at the end of your meeting.
Follow up with a thank-you email or letter.
DON'T
Be rude or disrespectful to any staff person.
Talk loudly or unprofessionally in the legislator’s office lobby. Remember, there is always someone listening.
Dress unprofessionally.
Confuse the legislative issue by discussing multiple issues. You should focus solely on one legislative issue during your meeting as meetings usually run short (about ten or fifteen minutes).
Lack brevity. The goal is to keep the meeting concise and convey your strongest points or arguments.
Be afraid to say "I don't know. I'll get back to you." It’s better to not know an answer and follow up later after conducting research than to provide false information.
Use words that are terms of art, cliches, or acronyms. Remember, assume that your audience knows nothing about the subject.
Become confrontational or argumentative.
Threaten.
Use inappropriate language.
Provide false information.
Fail to follow up with the staff person or legislator and thank them for their time.