Lobbying

Building a Relationship With Your Legislators 

Here's a guide on how to build relationships with legislators to strengthen advocacy!       

Step 1: Legislation that interests you
Step 2: Contact your legislator
Step 3: Speaking with your legislator
Step 4: Meeting with your legislator
Step 5: The conversation
Step 6: Asking for support
Step 7: Repeat
 

Know Your Legislation

Know what you're interested in.  
Get and stay informed about North Carolina's General Assembly.
Find out who your legislators are.
 

Do's and Don'ts of Lobbying

DO

• Be truthful to gain respect. 
• Be direct, brief, to the point, and courteous.
• Address representatives properly.  
• Display knowledge of both sides of the issue.
• Admit if you do not know an answer, but will follow up with additional accurate information. 
• Be willing to compromise. 
• Show interest in the legislator's staff.
• Follow up the visit with a thank you note, email, or phone call. 

DON'T

• Be dishonest. 
• Be disrespectful, argumentative, rude, threatening, or intimidating. 
• Wait until the last minute before a bill is heard before writing.
• Be vague or overload legislators with too much information (one visit-one issue). 
• Assume they know the issue you are talking about. 
• Give up if your concern has not been fully addressed.