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Members of the House and the Senate read their mail! This is simply good politics. Members respond to their mail, and inform constituents of their current positions on issues.

An effective letter is:

• Personal. Form letters are recognizable and carry less weight.
• Concise.
• Informed. Acknowledge that you understand the issue.

Four key tips in writing the letter:

• Come to the point quickly and clearly in your own words.
• Say exactly what you want the legislator to do.
• Cover only one subject.
• Be courteous. Do not antagonize.

Additional tips:

• Put your address on the letter; envelopes can be thrown away.
• Ask a question. This requires response.
• Write back! React to the member's response. This is a two-way communication.

Your letter can be typed or handwritten, and one single sided page is the most readable. Two single sided pages are the suggested maximum by the U.S. Congressional Handbook.

Sources:

U.S. Congressional Handbook
Guidebook for Religious Advocacy in Washington
Register Citizen Opinion: A Congressional Directory & Action Guide

Writing a letter to the editor.

There are two main reasons to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. The first is to express an opinion. The second is to present news that is not covered by the bulk of the paper. These reasons are linked together, and below are some tips in getting your point across:

• Begin with a dramatic statement. State a fact that captures your issue as important.
• Be fair. There is no reason to criticize if the facts of the issue will prove your case. Unreasonable "finger pointing" is not persuasive.
• Keep the letter short and to the point.
• Stick to one topic per letter.
• Give credit to yourself and credibility to the letter. Sign with your name and town or city district in which you live. If you are writing from the perspective of a church or organization, list that as well.

Finally, send a copy of the letter to the Witness/Washington Office. We are interested in which members are passionate about which issues. If we know you are concerned about an issue, then we will notify you when important legislative action needs to be taken at the local level.