How to Influence a Senator

Influencing a senator in either Washington, D.C., or your home state is necessary if you or your group needs help with social issues or problems. Senators respond to their constituents' concerns as long as the constituents present the situation in a proper manner. Follow these steps to influence your senator.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Research how the senator votes on issues, the political party she supports, committees she holds as a member or chair, cross-political support and legislative voting pattern. Keep copious notes, so you know her point of view regarding your issue.
2. Call the senator's office and ask for the staff member who oversees your area of interest. Make this person understand you want to get your senator's support. For example, if your problem deals with illiteracy, contact the senator's staff member who deals with educational issues.
3. Talk with the designated staff person about your concerns. Tell him that you are familiar with the senator's views and she needs to help you. Find out how she can be of service to you, and how you can help her to understand and address your issue. Take notes and ask a lot of questions. Be diplomatic but strong. Get the staff member to communicate to you in an honest and upfront fashion. Toward the end of the telephone conversation, tell the staff person you want to meet with the senator in person to discuss the matter. Ask who you need to talk to schedule an appointment with the senator.
4. Follow up with a letter to the staff person you talked to on the phone. Recap your discussion on the phone. Keep the letter to one page. In the letter, state that you would like to meet the senator in person, and say that you will call in about a week to set an appointment with the scheduling person.
5. Call and schedule an appointment to meet with the senator.
6. Collect all your documentation to support your issue to take to the meeting. Outline everything you plan to discuss with the senator. Practice with a friend or family member, going over the issue enough times to articulate it properly.
7. Meet with the senator and discuss the issue in detail. Keep to the time allotted for the meeting. Be passionate yet in control. Show all documentation and get the senator to agree to do something for you to help you with your problem. Thank the senator for his time, leave the a letter that covers your discussion, ask him for any suggestions to help move the issue in a positive direction, and tell him you will contact him to see how he is doing on your problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Be professional and mannerly, and support the staff and senator in the best way possible.
• Get to know everything you can possibly know about the senator.
• The more prepared you are for the telephone call and meeting with the senator, the more able you will be to influence the senator.
• After meeting with the senator, mail a letter recapping what you discussed at the meeting. Let her know that you will be staying in touch until the matter is fully handled.
• When scheduling a meeting with the staff person, set an appointment immediately if you can get that staff person on the phone. If the person is not available, note his full name and title, and tell the person on the phone you will follow up with a letter and will schedule an appointment to see the senator.