A political campaign is call-for-change initiative from the relevant authority about a social issue your community cares about. A successful political campaign usually results in an action plan to lead to a change of legislature. To have an effective campaign you should consider​ the scope of the issue, your audience, and how to create community support​. ​ Considering the scope of the issue​ helps you determine who your organization thinks would benefit from changing this legislature. It decides whether this will be done on a local, state, or federal level. This decision helps focus the message of your campaign to a realistic part of your community. This realism then helps you research who to discuss the issue with so your organization knows who has the actual power to make this change with the social issue. Considering your audience​ includes the community members who will both support and oppose the legislature change you want to implement. Understanding support and opposition helps you frame your issue in a way that strengthens solidarity for the issue and prepare your resources to fight against those who oppose. It tells you how much capacity you need to develop when you reach out to create community support around the issue. Considering how to create community support​ involves building sustainable relationships within and outside your organization. You need sustainable relationships within your organization to have the capacity to reach outside your organization. You have to use the same knowledge on what makes an effective organization to do so. When you have the capacity, you then reach out to your community to find out who supports you an educate the opposition. This community support can to come any of the petition, town hall, or protest events you set up.

The very first step to contacting your representative is finding out who your representatives are for whatever level of government controls the bill you would like to influence. You need to make sure you’re calling the right type of representative for the bill you would like to address. If the bill is affecting your local area like your city or county, you would contact your mayor or house of representative. If the bill is affecting your state, you would contact your house of representative of your governor. If it’s a federal bill, you would contact your senators. With the exception of the governor, all these roles are dependant on the district you’re registered to vote in. You can find your house of representative here: https://www​.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative You can find out who represents you locally and federally here: https://callyourrep​.co/

It does!! Here are 4 reasons calling your representatives is effective: Larger volumes of calls can halt the office leading your representative to make a statement on the issue. Staffers often pass the message along to your representative in one form or the other. Talking allows you to share a genuine, personal story about the individual impact of the policies they’re making. Your odds become higher of getting direct contact with your local or state official through the phone. (​​About 5 Calls​)

Give them your name, city, and zip code, and then say, “I don’t need a response.” EX: “My name is _______. I am a constituent of _______, zip code _ _ _ _ _ _. I don’t need a response.” State the issue and your position. EX: “I am opposed to _______.” or “I am in favor of ________.”

Consider these following tips when calling: Tip #1: Only call your district. Your call will only be accounted for if you can confirm the area is represented by the official with an accurate city and zip code or are calling from the right area code. Tip #2: Be kind. The people answering the phone spend a lot of time answering phone calls. Your kindness will help the call get done faster. Tip #3: Keep it brief. Length won’t change change what they mark as your stance. Shorter calls ensure more calls received about the issue so more people are heard. Tip #4: If anxious, thoroughly prepare. Breaking down down the steps for what seems like an overwhelming task can help you get it done. A helpful resource with tips for social anxiety can be found here: ​https://tinyurl.com/hbp5uy2 ​ ​(​Calling Congress Is Easier Than You Think — Here's How To Do It​) (​A Former Staffer Explains How to Call Your Representatives)​

Consider these tips: 1. Let them know who you are. Begin with an introduction to who you are or the organization you're contacting them on behalf. For example, let them know you are a student or where your neighborhood is, or share the mission of your organization. 2. Get to the point. State your concern as soon as you've introduced yourself. If yo are writing about a specific bill, include the bill number in your letter and explain why you support or oppose it. Try to make a few strong points rather than many that aren't well supported. Whenever possible, use bullet points for your arguments to make it visually clear. 3. Keep it brief. 1-2 pages is best, and try to focus on one bill or issue. This helps to keep your position and ask clear so that they don't get lost in too many details. ​ ​4. Relate it to home. Connect the significance of what you're advocating for to your community. Include specific facts about how the bill impacts you and your community. Remember to make your letter as personal as you can since it is more meaningful and representatives may discount letters that are too formulaic. 5. Invite follow-up from the rep. Include your contact information so that your representative can follow up with a letter or email if they choose. You can also offer to act as a resource should the legislator or staff have questions or need additional information.

Check out these great tools to help you get started! Resistbot: Text “resist” to the number 50409 and a virtual robot will help you write a letter that will be faxed to your representative. Standard messaging rates may apply. Access Resistbot here: ​https://resist.bot/ 5 Calls: 5 Calls teaches you about the importance of calling and provides you the representatives to call about popular issues of concern. The website is available as a download for your phone. Access 5 Calls here: ​https://5calls.org/

The chart below can help you orient actions your group takes to protest a federal bill. It shows where a bill can fail -- these are the best times for protesting! Federal level bills can fail to pass during: A house of representative committee final reading and vote on final amendments and the proposed bill as a whole. The house vote where a simple majority is required to pass a bill. A senate committee final reading and vote on final amendments and the proposed bill as a whole. The senate vote where a simple majority is required to pass a bill, but the frequent threat of a filibuster, has meant that super majority is often needed. The president’s ten-day period to sign the bill into a law or veto. (White, 2017)

Know your rights in order to be effective and safe! The American Civil Liberties Union shares ​What Do You Do If Your Rights Are Violated at a Demonstration or a Protest​. Create messaging that is meaningful to your community. What does your community want to say together? Is there a slogan or hashtag that people can rally around? There may already be shared messaging if your protest is part of campaign. Build your capacity. Reach​ out to people in your community who you believe would show support. Follow the methods for civic engagement discussed earlier. Assign roles. You’ll​ want people to lead the action in case there are certain actions you have collectively decided for or against. For example, you’ll want people to energize the crowd with suggested chants. You’ll want marshals to observe any interactions with authority. Show up. Personally​ message people to come to the demonstration. Reminders can make the difference in people showing up. Invite support from others. Follow​-up the event with an sign-up list to keep up with your organization and an invite to join. Keep the momentum of your movement going.