Letter to legislator

Letter to legislator – Due Aug 11

For this assignment, you will contact one of your legislators.  You can do this via email or by completing a form on their website.  Max. 500 words.

Here is a link to an APA page that explains how to write a letter/email to a legislator.Links to an external site. https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email

Letters and emails are highly effective ways to communicate with elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter represents not only the position of the writer but also many other constituents who did not take the time to write.  

You may address a healthcare issue that is ongoing in your state, including items to be voted on in the near future.  If you are writing to support or oppose a particular legislative bill, state the topic and include the bill number and the author.  However, writing a letter about a Bill or Rule that has already been voted on is not permitted for this assignment, nor is a thank you letter. Do not address the LGBT community or abortions.

Your State Nursing Association and Advanced Practice groups are good places to find this information.   You must communicate clearly to your legislator that you live in their district.  Do not use FNU letterhead.  If you want to use a letterhead it should include your personal information.

You may also find this link helpful in finding an active issue in your state.Links to an external site. https://legiscan.com/

 

DO's and DON'Ts When Contacting a Legislator.

DO:

· Address the letter or email to a specific legislator. ...

· Include your name and personal contact information, including your title, physical address, and email address.  Use your personal information, not FNU information.

· The subject line should state your brief position on the legislative issue or proposed bill. ...

· Keep it brief and concise

· Thank your Representative for his/her time.

· Ask for a response.

· Close with your name.

DO NOT:

· Don't write a letter that demands or insists the legislator vote for or against a particular bill.

· Don't write a chain letter or form letter.

· Don't threaten the legislator with defeat at the next election.

· Don't become a chronic letter writer.

 

 

Rubric

Letter to Legislator

Letter to Legislator
Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCompose a brief email to a legislator in your district Compose a letter to a legislator concerning a pending Bill, concerning a health care issue. Identify the legislative district that you reside in. Include proper salutation for your legislator.		5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcomeproper identification Identifies Bill by the corresponding number. This is required regardless of whether the Bill has passed or is pending. If a topic has not yet been assigned a number, be sure to clearly state the issue you are writing about.		5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConstituent identification Includes your name, personal physical address, and email address (personal email). Signs the email. If a letterhead is used, it contains the personal information of the student, not an FNU letterhead.		5