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What
You Can Do
You can actively participate in the legislative process
in a variety of ways. Select the method that allows
the fullest expression of your personal interest and
commitment, but follow some basic steps.
Know
how the process works
In order to see the way your individual participation
can be most effective, a basic understanding of the
whole legislative picture is essential. If there is
something you do not understand about the process, ask
someone who can provide an answer. Call your legislator's
office. They'll be happy to answer your questions.
Make
yourself the expert
Before you address an issue, do some homework. Know
the whole issue: who it affects, what others feel about
it, how it will influence future trends, and any other
information you are able to gather. Thorough research
allows you to present your viewpoint with confidence
and credibility, and combined with your personal experience,
is the most effective information you can provide.
Get
to know your representative
To make a difference in the legislative process, you
must develop a relationship with your representatives.
Keep in mind that you can work effectively with someone,
regardless of the personal views either of you may hold.
While you are unlikely to agree on every issue, you
can still build a positive and lasting relationship
in the long run.
Personal
visit ... Call their office, introduce
yourself, tell them what you would like to discuss and
make an appointment for a visit.
Write
a letter ... Express your views and
request their attention to a matter of concern through
the mail. Make your letters brief, to the point, clear
and formal. Include your mailing address and phone number
so they know where to respond.
Call
the toll-free hotline ... During the
session, you can call the toll-free legislative hotline
(1-800-562-6000) to leave a message on any issue.
"There is but
one element of government, and that is THE PEOPLE. From
this springs all government."
John Adams
If you plan a visit, be
prepared for your discussion. Know what you want to
say, be factual and make your comments as brief and
specific as you can. If there is something you do not
know, be willing to admit it and offer to follow up
with more information later (also an avenue for further
discussion).
The best way to get to
know your legislators on a personal basis is to spend
time with them when the Legislature is not meeting.
Arrange a meeting during the months between sessions
when they are home.
Your
legislators are also your neighbors
You share many of the same interests and concerns, so
make a strong effort to build on the common ground you
both hold. Take the time to find out who they are as
people.
Get
to know legislative staff
Legislators rely heavily on their professional staff
members for information gathering and analysis. You
can play an equally supportive role by making sure staff
are aware of the perspective your personal knowledge
and experience can provide.
Legislative staff members
face an incredible amount and variety of issues which
they are supposed to understand. They always appreciate
new sources of clear and accurate information and they
are usually willing to return the favor.
Network
with other citizens
Much of the information you need to be effective in
the legislative process can be obtained from other concerned
and active citizens. Most interest areas are represented
by informal citizen groups, if not formal membership
organizations.
Find out whether there
are groups that share your concerns and establish a
network. A group of concerned citizens can be much more
effective working together, rather than as separate
individuals trying to accomplish the same goal.
Key
Points to Remember
Regardless of how frequently you contact your representatives,
you will be far more effective following these points:
1 Be well prepared for your discussions.
2 Provide a written statement with all verbal
presentations.
3 Make letters formal, specific and concise.
4 Don't berate or argue with your legislator
if they disagree with you. Simply thank them for their
time and express a desire for further discussion.
Whatever position you represent,
however, remember your participation makes a difference.
Our legislative process is one way each of us may contribute
to the quality of life we experience in our state. Your
willingness to be a responsible, involved participant
is crucial to the decision-making process.
The
Legislative Process
Every year, the Legislature meets to engage in the process
of public decision making. The objective is to reach
a consensus on a wide range of issues affecting every
citizen and the future prosperity of Washington state.
It is a process that involves cooperation to make critical
decisions in everyone's best interest.
We have chosen representatives
to carry out the difficult task of determining what
kind of laws and policies will best serve these interests.
However, to effectively perform their job, legislators
rely heavily on input from a wide variety of different
sources.
They receive a great deal
of technical information from their staff, state agency
personnel and professional lobbyists. Yet, much of what
they actually decide depends on the views, interests
and preferences of the citizens who elect them.
This is precisely how the
legislative process was designed to work best. It is
based on a close, open and positive relationship between
elected officials and the citizens whom they represent.
"It is not the
fact of liberty, but the way in which liberty is exercised
that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives."
Dorothy Thompson
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