Grassroots Toolkit: Writing Letters to Congress

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Here are the basics of effective written communication to your members of Congress. For information on methods of sending letters (e.g. email, fax, mail), please see FCNL's guide to Contacting Members of Congress.

Identify yourself as a constituent

Members of Congress are accountable to voters in their home state or district, so giving your address is important, especially in emails. (It is also why it is not generally effective to write members of Congress who do not represent you.) Additionally, many offices need your address to send a response.

Stick to one issue per letter

Staying focused keeps your request clear. Also, congressional staff are assigned different issues to track, so one person may get the Iraq letters, and another may get the letters about U.S. oil dependence.

Keep it short, simple and polite

Congressional staff get piles of mail each day, so make your letter brief and to the point. Keep the tone respectful no matter how frustrated you feel with a congressperson’s votes or activities.

Include relevant personal information

If you have loved ones in the military, mention that in letters about issues that affect them. If you are a teacher concerned about federal budget priorities, describe the financial challenges school faces. These kinds of personal links boost your letter’s power.

Send thank you letters

Many constituents write when they are unhappy, but few write when they are pleased with their member of Congress. Recognizing a vote or speech lets your congressperson know that constituents support such actions.

Personalize sample letters

FCNL and other organizations often provide sample letters. Personalize them and use them to guide your own letter instead of copying them word-for-word.

Sample letter to congressional representative

Dear Representative Lawsmith,

Will you support a smarter, more effective security policy for our country?

I am a constituent concerned that the Administration's reliance on unilateral military force as the primary instrument to address the heinous crime of terrorism and other global threats promises only to escalate the violence. It is already clear that civilians will bear the brunt of this broadening "war on terror." Without a serious change in our approach to building national and global security, more lives will be lost and billions more dollars wasted on a failing policy.

I urge you to cosponsor H Con Res 392, legislation for a "Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism (SMART) Security Platform for the 21st Century."

SMART Security offers a positive, practical, and cost-effective vision for U.S. security policy. It proposes building up international cooperation and reducing the proliferation of weapons. It promotes the rule of law and human rights. It seeks to address the root causes of deadly conflict. It proposes preventing atrocities before the killing has begun.

We need a smarter approach to keeping our country and world safe. Please cosponsor H Con Res 392, the SMART Security Resolution.

Sincerely,
(Your name, address)

Reviewed: 12/15/2005

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