How to Influence Foreign Policy

Foreign policy is an integral part of the operations of our government. We live in a global society. As such, dealing with foreign governments is a daily occurrence for our nation's leaders. The decisions made by Congress and the president regarding foreign policy can have far reaching effects for billions of people all over the world. If you want to influence the foreign policy being made, there are several things you can do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Influence Foreign Policy

1. Read the news to become informed. You should devour as many local and national newspapers as you can each day. Pay particular attention to the international news sections. This way, you will know what is currently going on with the foreign policy situation.
2. Write to your Congressional representatives. Let them know your opinions and be sure to tell them that you vote.
3. Write letters to local and national newspapers. Tell them about your foreign policy opinions. Make sure you include detail on why you feel the way you do and what you would like to see the government do.
4. Join a local political organization. There are political party and special interest groups in every community. These groups are up to date on what is happening in the political world and often have connections among lobbyists and Congressional staffers. These groups use their connections to make their opinions known to those in charge.
5. Participate in a foreign policy protest or demonstration. Any time you hear about such an event taking place, you should join in. Lawmakers do pay attention to these things, especially if large numbers of people are involved.
6. Vote in every election. Voting for candidates who support your foreign policy views is one of the most powerful things you can do to influence foreign policy.

Tips & Warnings

• When writing to your representatives, make sure you contact lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• You must be registered to vote before you can legally participate in an election. You can pick up a voter registration form at most post offices and libraries. You can also register to vote at the DMV when you go to renew your driver's license.
• When participating in a protest or demonstration, be sure to act in an orderly, non-disruptive manner and obey all local laws regarding your assembly. Otherwise, you risk getting arrested or prompting an ugly confrontation between your group and the police. People have gotten seriously hurt in such situations, so do your best to avoid them.