This report explores the degree of influence that citizens have on congressional decision-making. The report is the most comprehensive research ever published on citizen engagement with Congress.
The research answers critical questions for citizen-advocates and lobbyists, including the following:
- How influential are constituent meetings compared to lobbyist meetings?
- What is the most effective way to communicate with a lawmaker (letter, email, phone call)?
- Which methods/strategies are most successful for building long-term relationships with Congress?
The findings are based on nine surveys of congressional staff, comprising nearly 1,200 responses provided to CMF from 2004-2015. The research also includes a new case study with food bank representatives (part of the Feeding America network) and how they utilized advanced citizen-advocacy techniques to build relationships with their legislators.
Click here to read the full report.