The key to working with your members of Congress is to remember that they owe their position to votes from your district and state. They are in office to represent your views, which means that members of Congress do pay attention to their constituents, and you can have an impact. Congressional offices count the letters they receive and meetings they have in favor and against various issues, and your action can have a direct effect on the outcome.

Most foreign policy issues are not front and center for members of Congress. Because we work on issues that don't always get a lot of public attention, the voices of a few constituents can make a BIG difference in how your representative or senators vote. Because they don't hear from many people on these backburner issues, the voices they do hear from carry more weight.

If you belong to a nongovernmental, religious, grassroots or community organization, you can build a personal connection between your organization and your congressional offices on a set of issues that can significantly advance your cause.

Below are some tips for phone calls and meetings.

Contact Information for Congress, the Administration, and Federal Agencies

Researching your Members of Congress

LAWG's Congressional Scorecards

Tracking Legislation

Making the Best of a Phone Call

Effective Letter Writing

Sample Constituent Letter

Getting Prepared for a Meeting

Holding an Effective Meeting and Following Up

Do's and Don'ts of Working with Congress

Congressional Research Service Reports on How Congress Works
http://www.house.gov/rules/crs_reports.htm

LAWG's 2006 Congressional Scorecard

10 Tips: Making the Most of Legislative Town Hall Meetings, from Knowlegis