How to Contact Government Officials

One of your rights as a citizen in a democracy is to contact government officials in order to ask for help or share your views. You are able to contact everyone from the President of the United States to a local member of your school board. It is important to determine which government official is in the best position to help you. For example, the President can do very little about the potholes in your neighborhood. Contact government officials by choosing the right representative for your issue or concern, locating the proper contact information and getting in touch by mail, telephone, email or in person.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Contacting Government Officials by Mail

  1. Image titled Write Your Congressional Representative Step 12
    1
    Determine which government officials to contact.[1]
    • Contact federal officials such as your United States Senator or member of Congress if you have an opinion on a national issue, such as Social Security, Medicare or defense.
    • Get in touch with state and local officials for questions or problems specific to your region, or to share concerns about the local legislation. Most states have an assembly or a legislature as well as a state senate. You can also appeal directly to the governor, mayor, and city or town council.
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    Work with federal, state and local agencies as well as elected officials. For example, if you are a farmer with an interest in promoting your organic farm, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture rather than the president or your senator.[2]
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    Locate the appropriate contact information. This can be found online, by searching sites such as USA.gov and Congress.org, in your local printed directories and in government buildings such as post offices and libraries.[3]
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    Find the address you will use to send a letter. Your U.S. Senator and member of Congress will have a local office as well as an office address in Washington, D.C.
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    Write a letter outlining the help you need or your opinion on a particular issue.
    • Be sure to sign your name and include your contact information. The government official you are contacting might need to get in touch with you for more information or to offer you assistance.
    • Keep your letter brief, on point and professional. Rambling letters that go on for pages and pages are less likely to be taken seriously than succinct, well-written correspondence.
    • Address the elected official using their professional title and last name.
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    Mail the letter to the correct address with the right amount of postage.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Contacting Government Officials by Telephone

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    Locate the correct phone number online or in your local directory. Offices in Washington, D.C. will often have a toll-free number for you to use.
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    Dial the number and ask to speak to the government official you are contacting. Depending on who you are calling, you may be referred to a staff member or an assistant.
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    Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling.[4]
    • Ask for what you need directly. If you are calling because you need help with your trash pickup, getting services for someone with a disability or any other issue that requires action, make your request clear and be specific.
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    Follow any instructions you are given to get your issue resolved or follow up with different offices or officials.
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    Be courteous and thank the official you speak to for his or her time. This is especially important if you are calling to share your opinion on a volatile political issue or pending piece of legislation. You want to leave a good impression.[5]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Contacting Government Officials in Person

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    Get the address of the government official's office that you plan to visit.
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    Call the office first to see if you need an appointment.[6]
    • Ask if there is any information you need to bring with you. For example, if you are planning to attend a school board meeting or schedule a meeting with your local assembly person, you might want to bring supporting materials or evidence that will help you make a point or ask for help.
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    Show up on time if you have an appointment. If you do not have an appointment, politely ask if the government official has a moment to meet with you.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Contacting Government Officials Electronically

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    Send an email. Almost every member of Congress, Senator, and local official has an email address. You can even email the President. You can find email addresses online or by calling the official's office.[7]
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    Leave a comment on a website.
    • Search for your government official's website.
    • Click on the "Contact Us" tab, or something similar. You will be invited to leave a comment or send a request for help.
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    Use social networking to contact government officials.[8]
    • Follow officials on Twitter, if they have an account. You can send a tweet or a direct message.
    • Visit Facebook pages to share opinions and offer support.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How can I contact a U.S. government official if I live outside the country?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You could contact them by mail or by phone, you just may incur extra charges for international post/long distance phone calls.
  • Question
    Will the government contact me by phone or a letter about something?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If a governmental agency wants to contact you, they will do it by mail.
  • Question
    Who do I contact if I've been scammed?
    LibArtsPremed18
    LibArtsPremed18
    Top Answerer
    If you've been scammed, in the United States, the best resources to contact would be either your state's attorney general's office or the Federal Trade Commission. If what happened to you may be considered fraud, you can contact your local police department. Lastly, if you've been scammed by a bank or other financial institution, you can contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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Warnings

  • Make sure you contact campaign offices for election issues. Government officials are not permitted to handle campaign issues out of their government offices. The governing and campaigning are required to be kept separate.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
  2. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/contact-by-topic
  3. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
  4. ↑ https://www.citizenscount.org/contact-your-elected-officials
  5. ↑ https://www.citizenscount.org/contact-your-elected-officials
  6. ↑ https://medium.com/@ivyong_ph/how-to-prepare-for-your-first-meeting-with-a-government-influencer-a27c25dde248
  7. ↑ https://www.citizenscount.org/contact-your-elected-officials
  8. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/heres-why-you-should-call-not-email-your-legislators.html
  9. http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

About This Article

Tami Claytor
Co-authored by:
Tami Claytor
Etiquette Coach
This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor. Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification. This article has been viewed 41,913 times.
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Co-authors: 13
Updated: March 3, 2023
Views: 41,913
Categories: Human Rights | Government
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