Ten Steps to Composing Persuasive Letters & Faxes

1. Identify Yourself as a Constituent.
   Put your name and complete address on both the envelope and the letter. Legislators will only feel compelled to respond to constituent mail, so it's important to establish immediately that you live in the district.
2. Use Proper Forms of Address.
   Address your lawmaker as "The Honorable." Also, be sure to get their title correct, e.g. Senator, Representative, Assembly member. Use "The Honorable" in the address and the office title in the salutation (Dear Senator Smith). Courtesy is important and will make the legislator or staff more receptive to your message.
3. Be Brief and Simple.
   Keep your letter to no more than two pages. Try to stay on one page. In the first paragraph, state your purpose and what you want. Avoid the temptation to be comprehensive in explaining the legislation and making all possible arguments.
4. State (and Repeat) Your Position.
   Make your position and/or request clear in both your opening and closing paragraphs. Be specific. State what action you want. If you want to advance a piece of legislation, say so. If you want to know the legislator's stand on an issue, ask what it is. If you want support on a particular issue, request it and a response.
5. Personalize Your Message.
   A personal letter is much more effective than a form letter. While form letters, postcards, and petitions are read and counted, they don't carry the weight of a personalized, individual letter. Persuasive constituent mail humanizes issues by placing them in a local, personal context. When sample letters are provided for your use, incorporate your own words and personal perspective into the text.
6. Be Polite and Avoid Ultimatums or Rudeness.
   Everyone responds better to praise than criticism. Threats and ultimatums do little to convince a legislator to adopt your position. And, if a legislator does take the course of action that you suggest, send them a note of thanks. This will only help build your long-term relationship with the legislator and staff.
7. Do Not Enclose Additional Material.
   Additional reports or newspaper articles are rarely read or filed. If you have a particularly useful resource, mention it in your letter and offer to provide a copy upon request. Overwhelming an office with paper runs the risk of your letter being discarded along with the offending pile of paper.
8. Do Not Exaggerate or Lie.
   Stick to your facts and experiences. Stories or facts fabricated to prove your point only run the risk of undermining your credibility. Many legislators and staff become adept at spotting a tall tale.
9. Make Your Message Timely.
   Don't procrastinate. Your letter is not helpful if it arrives after a vote. Be aware of the legislative process (is the bill in committee or coming up for a vote on the floor) and time your letter accordingly. Faxes can allow you to get your letter to a legislator at critical junctures in the process.
10. Send a Copy of Your Letter to APA or Your Local Chapter.
    Knowing that you've contacted a legislator helps your national and chapter staff coordinate legislative strategy and additional lobbying. Also, send APA a copy of any response you receive.

Find addresses for your representatives in Congress in APA's Legislative Action Center.

Contact Government Affairs for consultation and help.