A Guide to Contacting Your Representative and Senators

Contacting your representative and senators may seem like a daunting, perhaps even useless task, BUT IT’S NEITHER! Your congresspersons are there to REPRESENT YOU, the constituent. Their representation of our wishes and will is WHY we call this country a democracy. Though they may not always do what you ask them to, they truly DO take into account what they’re constituents feel when they call or write them, and the more pressure they get from constituents and the media, the more likely they are to do what they’re asked to do! Hold them accountable!

This fact is the whole point of this campaign: Have you signed petitions? Emailed an already-made letter to your congressperson? Attended a protest? These actions are, of course, never in vain: they have helped to create the atmosphere of outrage at the current situation that we see today. Yet the media chooses what to cover, and how to cover it, so protests are often not the best use of our time, though they are certainly needed. Emails and petitions also let the congressperson know that people are marginally disgruntled, but it is fairly easy to get someone to sign their name to something, especially online.

The reason we are calling for you to make your call is that phone calls, like handwritten letters faxed to the office, are much more direct and impassioned, and are therefore taken more seriously by the congressperson and their staff. But your work doesn’t end here: the key is to FOLLOW UP with the congressperson, via phone, letters, and emails to the aide or staff person who handles the issue(s) you’re contacting the congressperson about. It is important to encourage others to take these actions as well.

This part of MAKEYOURCALL.ORG was made as a guide on how to do all of these things, some of the best ways to say things, and to provide already-made sample letters that you can base your handwritten letter off of, including information and requests, that you can fax to your respective congressperson and senators.

You can do one of these actions, such as just write a letter or make a phone call, which would be great, but to get the best response from Congress, we suggest you take the steps given. Whatever you do, PLEASE LET US KNOW! That way, we can keep track of the effectiveness of this campaign, which congresspersons have been contacted, and perhaps put you in touch with others in your area if you all would like to get a meeting with the congressperson together.

Please don’t feel obligated to use the materials and samples provided here, but know that they are a good base to start with. Your own words, feelings, findings and passion are what really count when you take these actions to change history. Know that what you do is incredibly important, and that most of America, and Earth, is behind you.