• Introduction
• Federal
• Massachusetts

It's your job

It is my belief that, if you care at all about the state of the world we live in, it is your duty as a citizen to let your elected officials - at all levels of government - know where you stand on the issues of the day. Voting is not enough.

Furthermore, it's important to do more than just send email. It's entirely too easy to send - or to fabricate - email, and, for better or worse, Congress by-and-large ignores email. You need to call or write a letter. Your comments need not be long or particularly eloquent, but they should be your own, and should be specific.

Making a phone call

A typical phone comment might be something as simple as this:

I'm calling to ask that Senator Backscratch support Senate Bill S.666, a bill that will institute reforms in the licensing and operation of subterranean diabolical internment facilities.

You'll probably be asked your name and (at least) your zip code; the office will want to know if you are a constituent. Note that, because of the congressional committee structure, it's often helpful to contact senators and congresscritters outside your district.

Writing a letter

A letter to a member of Congress can be equally simple:

Dear Representative Graft:

I'm writing to ask you to oppose passage of House Bill H.1040, a bill that would impose a 20% tax on all piggy bank deposits. This unfairly penalizes children and those citizens who refuse to cooperate with the international banking cartel. I am grateful for your prior opposition to similar bills and hope you will continue to champion the cause of mattress stuffers.

Sincerely,
John Q. Public

Federal level

To locate the names, addresses and phone numbers of your Congressional representatives:

• U.S. Senate

• U.S. House of Representatives

  Write or call even if your Senators and Representative are already doing what you desire; a "thank you" note lets them know you appreciate their stance, and subtly puts them on notice that you're watching.

• The White House

  You can direct calls and letters to:
  
  President (cough) Donald J. Trump
  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  Washington, DC 20500
  
  

  COMMENTS	202-456-1111
  SWITCHBOARD	202-456-1414
  FAX	202-456-2461

Lobbying

If you want to get even more involved with Congress, you might consider directly lobbying your representatives. This sounds mysterious, but it's not. Amnesty International offers a brief guide to lobbying that describes the process and the steps you can take to be successful.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts residents can get state level information at the Massachusetts Elections Division web site.

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