VISITING YOUR LEGISLATORS
Important Points to Remember
s you visit your state or federal legislators,
you will want to be mindful of various
< How will the bill affect the legislator's reelec-
Acharacteristics of the legislative process. tionprospects?
These qualities influence how policy is made,
< What are constituents (citizen voters) saying
including the effect of your interaction with
about the issue?
congressional staff. Remember the following points
< What are the views of the news media, com-
about the legislative process, knowing that
munity and business leaders, and local interest
policymaking is not a straightforward process:
groups?
< What will be the impact on the economy and
1. The legislative process is deliberately
jobs?
complex, ensuring that proposed new laws and
< Are any significant local campaign supporters
policies
receive
the
fullest
possible
taking a public position on the issue?
consideration. Most bills introduced never
< What is the advice from the legislator's staff
receive any action at all, and few of those
members and advisers?
considered become law. Also, a legislative pro-
< Is this issue consistent with the legislator's pre-
posal may be introduced year after year before
vious votes on related matters, and with his
it gains consideration. Hang in there; evaluate
or her political and economic philosophies?
how you might approach your goal when you
< Do these political factors need to be
try again.
addressed explicitly during your congressional
visit, or implicitly as you shape and practice
2. Every legislative body has informal cus-
the message you are attempting to deliver?
toms and practices. These customs and
practices can be as important as the body's
5. The legislative process is customarily
formal rules. For example, key policy decisions
very open. Every interested citizen usually has
are made by the leadership in some legislatures,
the opportunity to offer input and express
by a policy committee in others, and by the
opinions at various stages of the process. Public
majority party members in yet others. Who is
comments are welcome. Although the process
making the decisions?
is complex, with many hidden and open factors
influencing it, the government is of and by the
3. All of the government including the legis-
people. Do not be shy about expressing your-
lature is political. Candidates for most
self; just approach your meetings in full aware-
legislative seats are nominated through partisan
ness of the context in which you are working.
political processes and chosen in partisan elec-
tions. The political party that wins a majority of
When you participate actively in the political
seats in each legislative body also wins the right
process, you are joining a lively discussion on
to pick the leaders of that body, and often the
public policy. Legislators lobby (attempt to
staff. Consider how party politics might shape
influence) each other and are influenced, in
your approach to your goal.
turn, by the executive branch of government,
other public and private interests, and self-styled
4. Legislative proposals may be weighed
activists.
subjectively. They are often considered not
only on their merits but also on these basic
political questions:
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