Sacramento 101
Meeting Your
Legislators
PREPARE FOR THE MEETING
To find out when your federal Senator or Representative will
be in their local office, you can: call their local office, check
their website, or get on their mailing list. On session weeks,
the best time to visit your local office is typically Monday,
Tuesday, or Wednesday. The best time to visit in your DC
office would be on Thursdays. Whether you arrange to meet
with your elected officials in Washington or their local district
offices, here are some rules to follow. These rules apply to
meeting with California elected officials as well:
Plan to discuss no more than two issues.
Meetings are scheduled to last from 15 to 45 minutes.
If you have any supporting handouts, charts or
graphics, bring them with you. Consider taking extra
copies in case staff members request them.
Find out where your legislator stands and has voted on your
issue. Many pro-life groups, such as Americans United for
Life, Concerned Women for America, Family Research
Council, and National Right to Life have excellent
scorecards.
AT THE MEETING
Arrive about 10 minutes before the appointment time. At
least, be on time. Dress neatly and conservatively. Be
courteous and respectful. Relax.
Do not be upset if you end up meeting with the legislator’s
staff. They are often more knowledgeable of individual
issues than the legislators themselves, and they WILL inform
the legislator of your views and requests.