LETTER TO LEGISLATOR
reference
DiNitto, D. M., & Johnson, D. H. (2016). Social welfare: Politics and public policy (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Chapter 7, “Helping Needy Families: An End to Welfare as We Knew It” (pp. 237–280)
to prepare:
Identify an existing policy or a proposed policy at the local, state, or national level.
Identify an existing law or a proposed bill that is linked to this policy.
Record relevant information about the policy in as complete a form as possible. For a bill, this includes the bill number and title. For an existing law or act, this includes the complete name of the law.
For example, you may have heard of a “504 plan,” but referring to a “504” is shorthand. The full title of the act is: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Be prepared to write a summary of the policy that is separate from the letter.
Consider the audience of your letter—someone who is familiar with the policy. Demonstrate that you know what the act contains in relation to what you are advocating for or against. However, you do not need to summarize the policy in the letter the way you do for your Instructor.
Tip: Write the summary before you write the letter. This will help ensure that you know the key points to raise in your letter.
Write a 1-2-page advocacy letter that will be sent via mail or e-mail to a public official supporting or opposing a policy under consideration at the local, state, or national level.
Your letter should be single-spaced. Although your academic papers are normally double-spaced, your letter should follow the form of a standard business letter.
Address your letter to the appropriate government representative.
Identify an existing law or a proposed bill associated with the policy issue and be sure to note the bill number and title or the official name of the law in the letter.
Be specific but brief so the letter recipient is very clear, as soon as possible, about what she or he is reading.
State your position on the policy, law, and/or bill.
Again, be specific but succinct.
Provide a brief rationale for your position.
Use your knowledge of the policy to stake out one to three concrete examples of why you are advocating for your position.
Conclude by informing the representative of steps you’d like to see taken to address this issue.
