Pick out a topic that interests you to effectively write a letter to your elected official. Select a topic that is on the national or state level that concerns you.
To get ideas about these topics, I recommend looking at newspapers, magazines, online news sites, your Congressman’s website, or watch the national news on TV. If you find that there is a current bill about your topic, please include the name and number in your letter (i.e. House Bill 292).
Sample topics of national concern include:
- The environment
- Health insurance
- National security
- Foreign relationships (i.e. trade agreement with China, investigations with Ukraine, etc.)
- The military/war
- Federal income taxes/tax reform
- Immigration
- Social Security
- Sexual equality and harassment
- Religious equality and harassment
- Opioid/drug addiction
- Legtializaon of drugs – overall banning, overall legalizing
- National minimum wage
- Welfare areas (i.e. housing, food stamps, etc.) – can be national or TX
Sample topics of state concern include:
- Education
- Specific gun laws – Open Carry, Banning AK-47s, etc.
- Abortion – specific laws, such as banning in the 3rd trimester, heartbeat bills, etc.
- Welfare areas (i.e. housing, food stamps, etc.) – can be national or TX
- Marriage/divorce
- Mental health
- Election laws
- State economy
- Prison/criminal reform
- Licensing for professionals
- Coronavirus handling
Sample topics of county concern include:
- County records (i.e. County Clerk, County Treasurer, etc.)
- Emergency management services (i.e. after hurricane)
- Collecting property taxes
- Vehicle registration
- Registering voters
- Maintaining main county roads
- County law enforcement
Sample topics of municipal concern include:
- Local law enforcement
- Local ordinances/laws
- Residential roads
- Water and sewer
- Community development
If you want to write about an issue not listed, please contact me so that I can work with you on the details.
Once you have picked out your topic, you will need to determine who/where you will need to send your letter.
- If you are writing on a topic that is a concern for the national government, you can choose to write to a U.S. Senator or a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. You are also welcome to write to President Trump. Please choose the elected official that represents you:
- If you are writing on a topic that is a concern for your state government, you can choose to write to a Texas Senator, Representative, or the governor (These people are located in Austin):
- Use the following website and it will give you both your Senator and Representative: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home . DO NOT choose a State Board of Education official or any other as several may be listed with your Senator and Representative.
- If you are from another state, you are welcome to write to someone who represents you at the national or state-level. If you are an international student, please write to an elected official who represents your current address or someone in your country.
- Look on your county and city’s websites if you are writing to one of them
- NO DISRESPECT!!! You will receive a zero for this assignment if you show any signs of disrespect.
Additional Details
You will need to turn in a Word document with the following.
Assignment is due Monday, November 9th.
The assignment will count as your Exam 3 extra credit.
Your form must be extensively filled out.
No late submissions will be accepted!
Your name: _______________________________
Who you will be writing to: _________________________
Area that they represent (i.e. Beaumont, Houston, etc.): ______________________
Your address: _____________________________________________________________
The issue/topic that I will address in my letter is:
______________________________________________________________________________
My position/argument on this issue is:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You must use at least one news article, statistical research, or personal story in your letter to support your position. Facts/Stories that I can use to back up my position/argument (please EXTENSIVELY explain):
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Assignment Guidelines
| Type of Assignment | Essay/Term Paper |
| Level | University |
| Format | APA |
| Pages/Words | 5 pg |
| Spacing | Double-spaced |
| Sources Topic/Subject | 4 POLS 2301-Intro to American Government I |
Solution
This preview solution paper by our experienced writers analyzes:
- Bureaucracy
- Weberian Model
- Acquisitive Model