Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials: Citizen Advocacy in State Legislatures and Congress

Practical guidance how to prepare for and meet with elected officials and staff, how to write effective letters and emails to elected officials, strategies for influencing legislators face-to-face, best practices for communicating with Congress and state legislatures, and how to write persuasive letters to the editor.This book is one part research studies, one part interviews and focus groups, and one part experience. It uses available research on Congress and its decision making. Dozens of elected officials, including members of Congress, and their staff agreed to off-the-record interviews and discussed the factors that contribute to their decision-making process.Strategies for Influencing Legislators Face-to-FaceBest Practices for Communicating with Congress and State LegislaturesPractical Guidance How to Prepare for and Meet with Elected OfficialsHow to Write Effective Letters and Email to Members of CongressHow to Write Persuasive Letters to the Editor that Get PublishedSummary Table of ContentsPart I. How Government Really WorksCh. 1. How Congressional Offices WorkCh. 2. Congressional CultureCh. 3. How Legislators Make DecisionsCh. 4. People Who Can (and Cant) Influence Legislators and How They Do ItPart II. How to Influence a LegislatorCh. 5. Strategies for Influencing LegislatorsCh. 6. Face-to-Face MeetingsCh. 7. CommunicationsAppendicesA. The Advocates PledgeB. US Constitution and AmendmentsC. Declaration of IndependenceD. Information about Congress and Washington, DC IndexComplete Table of Contents online at www.CitizensHandbook.com