Be An Advocate

In Summary

Do be friendly. Don’t contact legislators only when you want their help. Invite them to be guests at your school, your home, at meetings. Make an effort to keep in touch with them throughout the year – every year.

Do be reasonable. Recognize that there are legitimate differences of opinion. Never indulge in threats or recriminations. These are confessions of weakness.

Do be thoughtful. Compliment the right things legislators do. They will tell you that they get dozens of letters asking them to do something, but very few thank you’s for what they have done.

Do be cooperative. If a legislator makes a reasonable request, try to comply with it. Don’t back away for fear that it is a “deal.”

Do be realistic. Remember that controversial legislation and regulations usually result in compromise. It has always been so in a democracy. Don’t expect everything to go your way, and don’t be too critical when it doesn’t.

Do be a good opponent. Fight issues – not people. And be ready with alternatives or solutions as well as criticism. This is constructive opposition.

Do be informed. Never meet with legislators to advocate a position without first studying the facts and the arguments pro and con. The mere fact that you want a legislator to adopt one position or another will not be enough to convince him or her. Do your homework.

Do keep your promises. This is a cardinal rule of politics and government. If you tell a public official that you will do something, stick to the agreement.

Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream. Never leave an official stranded out on a limb by changing policy after he or she has publicly stated a position you have urged him or her to take.

Don’t blame public officials for failing to do what you wanted.

Don’t underestimate public officials. With very rare exceptions, public officials will be honest, intelligent, and do the right thing. Your job is to inform them what you think is right.

Don’t look down on government and politics. Public officials have their faults, but so has everyone. A disdainful attitude is an expensive luxury in legislative relations.

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