How to Communicate with Congress

"Social media is the ultimate equalizer. It gives a voice and a platform to anyone willing to engage." That statement by Internet entrepreneur Amy Jo Martin has profound implications in a democracy. Prior to the introduction of the Internet, the process of engaging elected officials was viewed as cumbersome and intimidating, perhaps only available to wealthy campaign donors. New research by the Congressional Management Foundation suggests that social media, "the ultimate equalizer," perhaps has the potential to influence that dynamic even more.

Last year, I was giving a speech to an association about how Congress works and was asked, “What’s the biggest obstacle to improving the democratic dialog in America?” I replied, “Bad writing.” By following these five tips, citizen advocates' correspondence can stand out amoung the crowd.