Letter to the Senator

Here are some tips for writing a letter to your Senator:


 Typed, one-page letters are best. Many PACs (Political Action Committees) recommend a     
three-paragraph letter structured like this:

1. 
   
2. 1. Say why you are writing and who you are. For example, if you are writing about veteran's causes, state your affiliation or proximity to Fort Hood. If you are writing about homeschooling, identify yourself as a homeschooler.
3. 
   
4. 2. Provide more detail. Be factual not emotional. Provide specific rather than general information about how the topic affects you and others. If a certain bill is involved, cite the correct title or number whenever possible.
5. 
   
6. 3. Close by requesting the action you want taken: a vote for or against a bill, or change in general policy.

The best letters are courteous, to the point, and include specific supporting examples. Be careful to not denigrate or demean the representative. Remember, we want our letters to be "civil." 

The sample letter below is provided to show the correct format for addressing your State House Representative.  It is impossible to provide one letter that would meet the needs of all students; so, you will need to personalize your letter to address your concerns or issues regarding legislation.  Please use the left-hand column as a guide for the format, but make the letter unique to your needs!

Here is a sample letter format with the explanations on the side. You would need to look up the representative for Texas in our district. I'll leave that up to you smart googlers. :) It's always a good idea to know who your representatives are. 

Return Address Date Representative’s Address Salutation Introduce yourself:  your name, address, and school to identify that you are a constituent Why are you writing your Representative?  Ask for a response Thank your Representative for his/her time Closing with your name

Your Name Address City, S.C.  Zip Code [Insert Date] The Honorable [Insert Representative’s Name] Post Office Box 11867 Columbia, S.C.  29211-1867 Dear Representative [Insert Last Name]: My name is [Insert Your Name] and I reside at [Insert Your Address] in [Insert Your City], South Carolina.  I am in the fourth grade at [Insert Your School].  I am writing you to ask that you help make school buses safer to ride.  I ride the bus to and from school every day.  [Be specific with your suggestion, idea or request.  If you are writing about a specific Bill, include the Bill Number - for example, H. 5400 or. S. 2815] I appreciate your help and ask that you please send me a response letting me know if you are able to pass a Bill that would make our school buses safer to ride. Thank you for your time and considering my request. Sincerely, [Insert Your Name]