Knowing Who to Ask

Once you've figured out what you want, it's time to think about who to ask. All of your communications should be directed to the member of Congress who represents where you live or work - that's how representative democracy works! Believe it or not, constituents are the most important and relevant people that members of Congress deal with on a day-to-day basis. One of the most common questions you'll hear in an elected official's office in reference to letters, phone calls, or meeting requests is "Are they from the district?" If the answer is yes, your questions, comments, or concerns must be dealt with in some way.

That's why it is vitally important that you communicate with your own elected officials -- those who represent you directly or who represent your employees. They are the individuals over whom you have the most influence. Congressman Carney, for example, represents the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. His attention is focused on addressing the needs of individuals who live within that area. If you aren't sure which Congressional District you live in, double-check using the zip-code look-up capability at www.house.gov. To find your Senators, go to www.senate.gov. Or you can find them all at www.congress.org. And remember, these jurisdictions can change after redistricting, so be sure to double-check.