Contacting Legislators
AIA Maryland - Tips for Contacting your Legislator(s) Effectively
AIA Maryland actions focus on communicating your thoughts and ideas to your elected officials and other policy makers. Writing letters and making phone calls are simple and effective ways to
change policy.
Policy makers do pay attention - and change their minds and votes - when even a moderate number of constituents contact them on a single issue within a short period of time. So it is vitally
important to respond to your periodic updates from AIA Maryland during the legislative session. Our experience shows that if a member puts off their phone call or letter for more than two or three days, it's put
off indefinitely. So please act within a day of the update's arrival.
Here are a few tips on how to make your actions have the greatest impact.
Ways to Contact Officials:
Personal visits, letters, faxes, telegrams, postcards, e-mail messages, telephone calls and voice mail calls may all be used to deliver a message to your elected officials. However,
some methods are more effective than others:
- Few things have more impact that a personal, face-to-face visit with your elected official. If the issue is important to you, why not take a day or half-day out of your schedule and
visit all your elected officials to discuss it?
- Letters, handwritten, typewritten, or computer-generated, are probably the best means of communicating with your officials if a personal visit is not possible.
- Faxes are convenient when a vote on an architecture-related measure is approaching. If time is available, however, it is preferable to send letters by regular mail.
- E-mail messages and telegrams are also useful when time is short, but these methods usually lack the impact of a traditional letter. Handwritten postcards are another very easy and
convenient way of communicating but, once again, with less impact than writing a letter.
- Telephone calls can be made when a vote is imminent. If your Senator or Delegate is not available, ask to speak to the staff member responsible for architect issues and request that they record your position.
To save on long-distance charges, you may also call your members of the General Assembly at their local district offices.
- Form letters, pre-printed postcards, and petitions should only be used as a last resort, when no other action is possible.
When You Write...
How to Compose Your Message:
- When writing a letter, use personal or professional stationery.
- Write to your own state legislators, or to committee chairs. Writing to an elected official for whom you are not a constituent has little or no effect.
- Use the proper form of address. Letters to state legislators should be addressed to "The Honorable [Full Name]" with the salutation "Dear Senator or Delegate [Last
Name]."
- "CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE": State the Bill and Bill Number (State bills originating in the House of Delegates start with "H.B."; bills originating in the Senate start
with "S.B.") and clearly indicate how you want the Senator or Delegate to vote on it in the OPENING SENTENCE. Keep the letter brief, preferably two or three short paragraphs.
- It is best to limit each letter to only one issue. However, more than one letter may be included in the same envelope.
- Concisely state the reasons for your position. Relate any personal experience you've had with the issue.
- Indicate your knowledge of the legislator's voting record by expressing pleasure or disappointment with previous votes.
- Always be respectful and polite.
- Make sure your letter is timely. It is best to write at the beginning of the session to request that your legislator co-sponsor a bill or when action on a bill you support or oppose is
pending in committee.
When You Call...
When calling legislators, it is best to try to speak to them in person.
If they are not available, leave your
name, address and a clear message with the person who answers the phone. You might begin by saying, "I'm John Doe calling from Anytown, and I'd like to leave a message for [Senator of Delegate] Smith."
State what issue you are calling about and what you want your legislator to do. You can ask for a written response to your message.
Don't be intimidated.
You don't have to be an expert to tell policy makers the priorities you think they should pursue.
Some Optional Enhancements...
- Describe briefly how the policy or legislation in question affects you personally or affects people where you live.
- When writing, enclose an article that has bearing on the policy or legislation in question.
- If you have any personal association with the policy maker, let them know! Nothing is more effective in getting a policy maker's attention than letting them know you've worked on their campaign.
- Legislators have informed us that phone calls and letters carry equal weight.
- In general, try to avoid sending letters by fax, unless time constraints demand it. Try e-mail instead!
- Write or call a second time.
Follow-up letters can have a much stronger impact on policy makers and their aides than the initial communication. Thank the legislator for taking
a correct stand or ask questions about any unsatisfactory answers they have given you.
In Summation:
- Use your own words on your own stationary.
- Address letters to your own legislators (those in the district where your RESIDENCE is located), or those who chair committees.
- Keep your letter short and clear.
- Identify your views and refer to the bill number and title of bill in the opening sentence.
- State reasons for your position. Tell how the issue affects you or your business -- or your community or the state.
- Use the proper form of address:
The Honorable (Insert Senator’s Name Here)
Maryland State Senate
Address
Annapolis, MD 21401
The Honorable (Insert Delegate’s Name Here)
Maryland General Assembly
Address
Annapolis, MD 21401
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