*Use
the proper address and salutation:
Honorable John J.
Jones
United States
Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Senator:
Honorable John J.
Jones, M.C.
U. S. House of
Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Mr. Jones:
Members of Congress
appreciate thoughtful letters from their constituents on legislation. Such letters keep them advised and in
many instances are the only contact a Congressman has with his people
while the
Congress is in session. In writing
to your Congressman it is well to remember a few simple rules. It will make for an intelligent
appraisal of your letter and will enable him to give you a direct
answer.
*
Make your letters brief without omitting necessary details
*
Write on one side of the paper only
*
State the subject of your letter in the first paragraph
*
Tell him/her of your personal interest
in the subject
*
Always sign your full name and give your street address
*
Type your letters when possible to do so
*
If you are an officer of an
organization, give him/her your title
*
Refer to the bill you are interested in by number and
subject
*
If he/she is not a member of the Post
Office and Civil Service Committee, ask him/her to urge
his/her
friends on the Committee to give the bill favorable consideration
*
Be
courteous in your approach
There are also a
number of things you should NOT
do
when writing your
Congressman and it will be well to keep them in mind:
*
DO
NOT become
abusive
nor adopt a demanding attitude
* DO
NOT make
a promise or threat of
political support or reprisal
* DO NOT make wild
statements that cannot be documented
* DO NOT berate him/her for
having voted contrary to your desires on some other
matter
* Above
all, DO NOT send him/her a
chain letter, or
a form letter, or a round-robin signed by
other
employees, and DONÕT
USE A POSTCARD!
After
he has taken an action of
which you approve, donÕt forget to thank him/her and let him
know you
appreciate his action.