FACE TO FACE
MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS
Phone calls and emails are important, but nothing beats a face-to-face meeting with key legislative players. To set up effective meetings with legislators, it is key to prepare for the meeting and follow up afterwards. Legislators are more likely to take meetings with people who live in their district. Be sure and let them know if you are their constituent.
01
Scheduling the meeting:
To set up a meeting, call or email the legislator’s office and ask to speak with the staff member in charge of scheduling. Make sure to reach out well in advance (2 weeks to a month) of when you would like to meet. The staff member will be able to set up a meeting virtually or in person for you to meet the legislator.
02
Preparing for the meeting:
Often legislators will only be able to meet for 15 minutes so it will be key to be ready to make the most of that time.
-
Determine who should attend the meeting by bringing a broad coalition that can help legitimize the issue you are working on.
-
Bring written materials or email materials that are succinct in summarizing the issue.
-
Ensure you know where to go so you can arrive promptly.
-
Consider the framing of your message. Research points you can make to persuade them.
-
Have a pre-meeting with the group that will be joining to ensure alignment and establish shared talking points and a clear “ask”.
03
During the meeting:
Provide brief introductions and establish your connection to the legislative member and their district. Allow time for the issues you want to discuss and follow your planned agenda. Make sure to save time to make your “ask” by requesting specific commitments from the legislator (eg. sponsoring a bill, supporting a bill, opposing a bill, speaking to leadership about an issue). Allow time for questions and tell the legislator you’ll follow up with their staff after the meeting if you don’t know the answer.
04
After the meeting:
Write the legislator a thank you note after the meeting. Briefly summarize the issues and provide any additional information that was asked for during the meeting.
