Letter to Legislator

Learning Goal: I’m working on a political science writing question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

1. Find your a National Legislator
   Links to an external site. or even State Legislator either a Florida State House of Representative (according to your district), or a Florida State Senator (your choice).
2. Examine that Legislator’s webpage.
3. Research and understand what activities that Legislator has done in relation to the issue by looking at their newsfeed and reports on their websites and/or a simple google search.
4. Evaluate whether the Legislator actively plays one or more roles with regard to your issue: lawmaking, representing diverse interests, personalized service, or even oversight in a committee.
5. Write a persuasive and informed letter (350-500 words) to be possibly emailed to the Legislator that:

• specifies your interest in the issue;
• explains to the Legislator how they are currently handling the issue from your perspective;
• raises questions about what roles your Legislator undertakes regarding the issue; and
• proposes courses of actions to improve the role(s) played by your Legislator.

Write to a Legislator about a policy issue important to you:

1. Identify a social, economic, or political issue of importance to you. Describe why this policy issue is important to you and give a brief background.
2. Find your Legislator (House of Representative or Senator) that addresses this issue and read their webpage, along with any news or reports created by that Legislator on their role(s) regarding that particular issue.
3. Analyze what role(s) your legislator takes for the policy issue—whether they are involved with different committees or councils or even non-profit organizations regarding that issue.
4. Write an informed letter to the Legislator:
5. Find the email address and formally address it to them.
6. Write an introduction in which you disclose your identity and your city/county and identify what policy issue is important to you.
7. Write a paragraph that specifically explains why the policy issue is important, especially address whether this issue has an impact in your local community (city/county/neighborhood).
8. Write a paragraph explaining how you understand the role(s) of the Legislator in dealing with this policy issue by referencing anything they might have done about it.
9. Write a paragraph raising questions and/or concerns about how the Legislator influences policy outcomes within the city/county/state.
10. Write a paragraph suggesting possible prescriptions or rooms for improvement in influencing different or more efficient outcomes (as you are an individual participating in civil society!). You may suggest acquiring more information on the policy issue from this Legislator or even suggest corresponding with a member from the Legislator’s office (staff aide) to directly communicate your ideas about what can be done in the future in the form of prescriptions (advice/solutions).
11. Write a brief concluding paragraph that is honest and thoughtful, while thanking the Legislator for their consideration of your letter. Include your name and email address/other relevant contact information.