Legislative advocacy is the process of influencing laws or policies by engaging with lawmakers and government officials through actions like lobbying, public testimony, letter-writing, coalition-building, and mobilizing community support. Its goal is to create, change, or block legislation by targeting legislators, government agencies, or their staff using strategic, persistent outreach. Advocacy efforts span many causes—such as environmental protection, public health, education funding, disability rights, civil rights, gun policy, and student aid—and are carried out by individuals, coalitions, or organizations like the Sierra Club, NAACP, or Everytown for Gun Safety. Effective communication is key and involves crafting a clear, compelling message; tailoring it to the audience; using diverse methods such as in-person meetings, emails, phone calls, social media, and public forums; and sharing real-life stories to humanize the issue. Advocates should identify the right officials at the local, state, or federal level, use tools like Congress.gov to find contact information, and follow a structured message format: introduce yourself, state the issue, and make a clear ask. Building coalitions, attending town halls, and following up consistently help build long-term influence. Ultimately, legislative advocacy empowers everyday people to shape public policy and hold elected officials accountable—because in a democracy, your voice matters.
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Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials
Letters and faxes are an extremely effective way of communicating with your elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter represents not only the position of the writer but also many other constituents who did not take the time to write.
These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:
Keep it brief: Letters should never be longer than one page, and should be limited to one issue. Legislative aides read many letters on many issues in a day, so your letter should be as concise as possible.
State Who You Are and What You Want Up Front: In the first paragraph, tell your legislators that you are a constituent and identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letters pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to identify it by its bill number (e.g. H.R. ____ or S. _____).
Hit your three most important points: Choose the three strongest points that will be most effective in persuading legislators to support your position and flesh them out.
Personalize your letter: Tell your elected official why this legislation matters in his community or state. If you have one, include a personal story that shows how this issue affects you and your family. A constituent's personal stories can be the very persuasive as your legislator shapes his or her position.
Personalize your relationship: Have you ever voted for this elected official? Have you ever contributed time or money to his or her campaign? Are you familiar with her through any business or personal relationship? If so, tell your elected official or his staff person. The closer your legislator feels to you, the more powerful your argument is likely to be.
You are the Expert: Remember that your legislator's job is to represent you. You should be courteous and to the point, but don't be afraid to take a firm position. Remember that often your elected official may know no more about a given issue than you do.
Taken from the American Civil Liberties Union website.