Using Your Voice on Capitol Hill:

Grassroots Advocacy Strategies to Get Your Point Across and Make a Difference

BY BRADFORD FITCH

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Just prior to his retirement after 37 years as “the face of small business” in Washington, D.C., Dan Danner, President of the National Federation of Independent Business, was asked how lobbying had changed most during his time in our nation’s capital. One of the biggest changes, he said, was the growth of grassroots advocacy. “Putting a real face on complicated issues,” Danner said. “Real people on Main Street saying, ‘I’m Betty’s Flowers, this is why this is important to me.’ That’s even more important now from a lobbying standpoint. To understand back home, be back home, and do things back in the districts, and let [lawmakers] know what people on Main Street back home are thinking,” he said.

Much of these new grassroots efforts have come in the form of mass email campaigns from associations, nonprofits, and companies. As it has become easier to contact Congress the volume of email to Capitol Hill has exploded, and a growing gap has emerged between the opinions of elected officials and of citizens as to the nature and value of these interactions. For the most part, Congress values these exchanges with constituents, while citizens question whether their engagement really makes a difference. According to a July 2016 Rasmussen survey, only 11% of the voters surveyed thought the average member of Congress listens to the constituents he or she represents. Yet, as research from the Congressional Management Foundation shows, when congressional staff were asked what advocacy factors influence an “undecided” lawmaker, 94% said an “in-person visit from a constituent” would have some or a lot of influence and 92% said an “individualized email message” from a constituent would. Despite the haranguing of mainstream media to the contrary, and popular culture insisting that citizen voices are muted in Washington, research shows that constituents remain significant factors to legislators’ decision-making.

The cynical view would hold that enhanced power by constituents who participate with like- minded others in organized groups (e.g., “special interests”) would skew lawmakers’ decision-making process and lead to worse policy outcomes. But in fact, congressional staff reported that they appreciate a well-prepared constituent, as it makes it easier to understand the implications of public policy on those they represent. Better policy decisions are made through better citizen advocacy. Yet this is not the first research to document the potential for strong bonds between the government and the governed. In 1978 political scientist Richard Fenno wrote a seminal work on Congress, “Home Style: House Members in Their Districts.” For over 110 days, he traveled with 18 members of Congress in their districts, listening to the constituents who talked to legislators, and interviewing the legislators about their views. Fenno observed the importance of the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents, and the value legislators place on building those relationships. He also noted that relationship building was not a cavalier undertaking.

“The more accessible they are, House members believe, the more will their constituents be encouraged to feel that they can communicate with the congressman when and if they wish…However, this kind of assurance is not obtained by one-shot

11 %

When congressional staff were asked what advocacy factors influence an “undecided” lawmaker:

94%

92% of the voters surveyed thought the average member of Congress listens to the constituents he or she represents said an “in-person visit from a constituent” would have some or a lot of influence said an “individualized email message” from a constituent have some or a lot of influence offers. It is created over a long time and underwritten by trust. Access and the assurance of access, communication and the assurance of communication – these are the irreducible underpinnings of representation.”

While Fenno’s research is decades old, it offers timeless insight for America, which is confirmed by this report. If citizens, the organizers of grassroots campaigns, and Congress can re-learn these “irreducible underpinnings” in the age of the internet, then perhaps part of the essential element of trust between citizens and Congress could be restored.

To Congress, it is often the best way for legislators to understand the impact of their decisions on citizens. This kind of “retail-level democracy” is how Fenno described how trust is built with elected officials. Regrettably, many citizens are ill-prepared for these important interactions. If you choose to connect with a legislator, here are some suggestions that congressional staff report they experience somewhat or very frequently in meetings with constituents.

Unhappy to Meet With Staffer. Sometimes the Senator or Representative is not available, the Scheduler will often set up a meeting with a staffer. Sometimes the meeting will be with a staffer, even if it was on the legislator’s schedule, due to a lastminute schedule change. Meeting with a staffer does not mean the legislator does not care about the meeting or the issue. It simply means the he or she is not available, and the office wants to accommodate the group. Congressional aides are knowledgeable and have the trust of the legislator, so a meeting with them can be as effective as a meeting with

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Unaware of the Member’s Background. A sizable percentage (78%) of congressional staff in a CMF survey said constituents didn’t know the legislator’s relevant committee assignments and 87% didn’t know the member’s history on the issue discussed. In age of the internet, this is simply a case of bad homework. While not every member of Congress is hosting an award-winning website, the majority of members are linking to their sponsorships and voting records, and are offering more statements on policy issues. Constituents can also Google the legislator’s name and an issue to read newspaper and blog articles on their topic.

Not Sending Thoughtful Follow-Ups.

Once you’ve established a relationship with a congressional staffer, either in an in-person meeting or via virtual, you have something incredibly valuable: the staffer’s e-mail address. Use it wisely and don’t overuse it. If an important development has occurred, or if NARFE wishes to reach out again, feel free to do so. Staffers appreciate being alerted to changes in their issues. Keep the messages short (one to two paragraphs), with clear subject lines. Timing is also important. Congressional staff can track only those activities that are one to two weeks in advance. A well-timed follow up alert could mean the difference between a yea and a nay from the member of Congress.

And remember: if you deliver a poor performance for a member or staff, it is very unlikely they’ll tell you. You’re a voter, and they’re politicians, and they want to make nice to everyone. They will, however, bemoan the interaction – perhaps even endangering the chances they’ll support your cause. Since that is the point of the meeting, it’s best to do it well.

—BRADFORD FITCH IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION, A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE CITIZENS HANDBOOK TO INFLUENCING ELECTED OFFICIALS.

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