Schedule a Meeting with a Legislator
How to Schedule an Appointment
Submit a Meeting Request & Follow-Up
- Submit a meeting request via email. It is important to follow-up on that request with a phone call a week later.
- Call the Washington D.C. office or home office of your Senators and or Representative; identify yourself, where you are from, the school, university or other organization you represent.
- Tell the receptionist that you are following up on a schedule request and ask him or her to direct your call to the appropriate staff person.
- When you are connected, again identify yourself and your affiliation.
- If the scheduler is not available, leave a clear, concise message. An example of a conversation would be:
“Hi, my name is ____. I’m calling from <<university/school>>. I am following up on a scheduling request I emailed earlier requesting to meet with Senator/Congressperson <<X>> while they are at the home office. I would like to talk with him/her about education policy issues that affect students in <<town or state>> and social studies educators. Is there a time the Senator/Representative would be available to sit down with me for a few minutes?”
Please note: This call could very likely result in a conversation with the staffer assigned to education issues in the office of the Representative or Senator.
Determine Meeting Logistics
- Tell the scheduler or staffer if anyone will be attending the meeting with you.
- Establish a time and place to meet. Keep in mind, most meetings are scheduled in 15-minute increments.
- Don't forget to thank the scheduler.
- If speaking with a staffer, confirm her/his fist and last name, thank her/him and express that you are looking forward to meeting.