Many people don't really understand the legislation process or how easily they can be involved. Every year a session is held where the House & Senate both convene (get together) in order to present/hear bills before deciding if those bills should be tossed, amended, &/or smoothed out into a law.
Every citizen has the right by state and U.S. constitutions to speak on public issues and be heard by officials at every level of government. That's right folks, every. This doesn't mean just mosey on down & cuss every last politician out, but rather let legislators know your grown up thoughts and opinions about any public issue.You can't force someone's hand but you can give them an avenue of thought they may not have considered before. If a legislator is set to vote for a public issue and everyone in his district has remained quiet, they vote how they see fit. If they HAVE heard from their district though, they're more likely to vote in a way that keeps their constituents (residents in their district) behind them. After all, they're elected officials & if they don't please their people, come next Election Day, their constituents will collectively agree: "He gon' learn today!" (Shout out to Kevin Hart!)
Here are some of the many ways you can be involved. If you choose not to, don't make a social media update complaining about a new law you couldn't even be bothered to go put your two cents in on beforehand. I know people are busy, but prioritize.
Download a Bill Tracker App
You can search, track, and report on legislation for any state and U. S. Congress. Your state will also have a website for all legislation, or follow this link for my state of Florida.
I also recommend Govtrack or TrackBill.
Contact Your Legislator
A letter (or email if applicable) is one of the quickest ways to let your legislator know where you stand on any given issue. There's no age restriction on expressing your opinion. Even if you aren't old enough to vote, you can still tell your legislator what's up.
Some tips to a well thought out message:
Short, Sweet, Simple. Legislators are busy, contrary to popular belief. A letter that's to the point is more likely to be read, not skimmed. Clarify where you stand, explain your reasoning, and ask for the legislator to support or oppose said bill/law/topic.
Refer to bills by their number, title, and sponsor. All the information can be found easily on those apps or your states website, and it makes it easier to log for reference later.
Use your own words. I interned for a legislator & had to sort their email. If it was a mass email, we trashed it. Don't worry, they took note if it was yay or nay, but there was no reason to read any further since the words were not their own. Personalized ones were saved for the legislator to read & respond to themselves. Petitions & form letters just don't pack the same punch. The same time you waste filling one out, you could send off a quick note from yourself. Do it.
Address your letter to a specific individual -- preferably the ones who represent your actual legislative district, not the entire bunch. Depending on what point you're trying to get across depends on if you want to write to the bill sponsor, committee members, or your own legislators. Otherwise it's considered the same as a mass form letter or petition. If you can't invest enough time to figure out who to address, why should anyone else figure it out for you?
Give resources to provide substance to your opinions. Ranting & rambling isn't going to persuade anyone on its own.
Include your name, contact info, and a little bio Think "alumni of __" or your career field. It's nice to give them an idea of who you are, but not the details of your last bad break up, (and yes, we got some of those.)
Testify at a Hearing
Legislators are divided up into committees to handle bills for certain topics (i.e., water and land, military affairs, education, etc.) These committees get together to have a hearing and collect testimony for said bill. You can testify on any bill that interests you. This is your prime chance to get in on the debate: to speak your mind & suggest changes before the committee takes any action and before the bill is brought to the attention of the House and Senate for debate and a final vote. Much like a "snowball to avalanche" effect, its a lot easier to stop before it really gets rolling.
Legislators are elected to represent the people; your views are the most important. Sure, some are snooty tools, but here they have to listen. They can't crumple you up & toss you out; this way you KNOW they hear you. You can also submit written testimony if you really don't want to stand up.
The schedule for committee hearings is fairly easy information to obtain: newspapers, online, or at the capitol. Some even provide Public Access Rooms with all the information you could care to know. Check with your state's website for more specific information.
Visit the Capitol
What better way to get a feel for government involvement than to check out the history? Usually tours are provided or you're free to roam at will. You can always pop in to your legislator's office but they typically spend very little time there. I use to see the rep I interned for in 3 minute intervals. Their days are fast paced so call ahead if you really want to set up a meeting. Don't forget they have normal offices outside of session, too, in more local locations!
Become a Legislative Page or Intern
During session, legislators often hire pages to gain first-hand experience by helping with office duties & other tasks. If interested, research your state to see how to apply.
Intern programs are a great hands-on opportunity to observe and work with the Legislature during session. Each legislator picks their own, some have stricter guidelines than others. Tasks can vary from drafting award certificates, creating spreadsheets, delivering bills & messages, collecting signatures, creating constituent mail & newsletters, researching, etc. I was just eager and emailed everyone until I got the right fit. I loved my years as an intern, but I have a passion for politics, and you may not.
I know many people are turned off by politics, but being silent is surrendering your choices to someone else to decide. Don't be like that guy. Use your voice to let your legislators know what you'd like from them. And let me know ways to make you want to get involved. I don't mind doing research, I'll do whatever it takes to get more people willing to stand up for what our country needs. One day I hope to do it from an office position that carries more weight but until then I'll keep running this Southern Fried Mouth. Let me know what you think, what you'd like to see, and what actually intrigues you!