How to Influence Your State Legislator

Historically, members of United Methodist Women have been on the front lines in the battles against poverty and injustice. Today, in an era of political change, and as power shifts increasingly from the Federal government to the states, our advocacy work and visibility outside Washington, D.C., are critical to achieving justice.

Devolution of Federal Power. In recent years, major efforts have been made to shrink the size and activities of the national government. Passing to the states the federal government’s functions in areas such as welfare, health care and job training is known as devolution.

State Authority. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Federal government have all favored increasing state authority. With the government’s diminished role in social programs, states have greater opportunities to offer solutions for the nation’s problems. As they address issues such as health care coverage, tax relief and education, state legislators often consider new ways to respond to voter needs. This means that, more than ever, our voices need to be heard at the state level. As advocates for justice, we must ensure that state governments are held accountable and that equal opportunities and equal protections exist for all people.

Contact Your Congressional Representative on Legislative Issues

Contacting a State Legislator. Informing state legislators of your opinions on issues and legislation ensures that your voice is heard! Your first contact with a state legislator to express your concern or request an appointment should be a letter, either handwritten or e-mail.

A handwritten letter is generally the best way to make an initial contact, unless you have a personal introduction to the legislator. If possible, do not type your letter, and definitely do not send form letters, as they do not reflect your personal interest and intensity of concern.

E-mail is fast and reliable, but senators, representatives, and their staffs sometimes are too busy to respond to cluttered e-mail boxes. Find out if a legislator will receive e-mail before sending it.

However you make your first contact, state clearly your objective, your topic of discussion and your intentions of meeting with the legislator. An effective letter will demonstrate your knowledge and interest in a specific area. You may describe a relevant personal experience to illustrate a point. Keep your letter short and to the point.

Meeting with a State Legislator. Legislators are usually receptive to visitors at the state capitol buildings. Scheduled appointments are helpful, but are not always necessary. If you visit without an appointment, speak with a staff person who will address your subject matter, and leave materials and contact information for the legislator. Call the local office for an appointment, and go to the meeting with a planned strategy.

Before you go, do research, read news articles on your subject of concern, and be aware of your legislator’s views on it. Develop a list of questions to guide your conversation. Before your meeting, determine what next steps are required. Engage the legislator in such a way that a commitment to follow up is made before the end of the meeting. Leave your contact information and support materials with the legislator, and afterwards send a thank-you letter that also summarizes your conversation.

Advocating at the State Capitol. Learn the rules for visiting hearings and for testifying. Become a spokesperson for the cause you support. Research the legislation in question and know the impact it will have on the public. Develop a brief theme that sums up the reason for your position. When you speak or write, be clear and concise.

Action Alerts

United Methodist Women’s Public Policy Office in Washington, D.C., helps inform policymakers on the positions of United Methodist Women on issues affecting women, children and youth. It also provides United Methodist Women members with advocacy information such as Action Alerts.

Produced monthly,provide background information on an issue, describe current legislation around it, and alert readers to actions that can be taken on national and local levels.

Mission Coordinators for Social Action

Every conference organization of United Methodist Women has a Mission Coordinator for Social Action. These women can help you identify key legislative issues in your state; develop ways to link local concerns to state and federal issues; offer ways to best organize letter-writing campaigns; and advise you about the United Methodist Church’s position on a particular issue or legislation. You can find out who your Mission Coordinator for Social Action is by contacting the Washington Office: csadc@unitedmethodistwomen.org

Ecumenical and Interfaith Organizations

Valuable resources for members of United Methodist Women include national and international ecumenical and interfaith organizations. The National Council of Churches (NCC) represents more than 30 Protestant and Orthodox churches in the United States in its work for peace and justice. In an increasingly diverse and global society, the NCC promotes harmonious relations among Christians, Muslims and Jews, as well as other faith groups such as Buddhists and followers of Native American religions. For more information about the NCC Ecumenical Network, call the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA at 212-870-2227.

Other faith-based organizations include the Jubilee USA Network and Church Women United. The Jubilee USA Network grew out of the global movement to cancel the international debts of the world’s poorest countries. There are local jubilee coalitions throughout the United States. For more information about the Jubilee Network and to find a contact in your local area, call 202-783-3566.

Contact Addresses by State