This is on online tutorial of the Congressional Management Foundation report Communicating with Congress: How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy.

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This online tutorial is designed to allow Web site visitors to get a quick understanding of this research using the CMF Web site. By clicking on the links in the order suggested, charts will appear in a separate browser, allowing the reader to study the chart with accompanying text. We hope you find this information valuable. For a complete copy of the report in PDF format,  click here (754 KB).

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CMF’s research found that the number of e-mail and postal communications received by Congress was four times greater in 2004 than in 1995, entirely the result of increased e-mail communications. Over the same time staffing levels in both the House and the Senate have remained stagnant. Consequently, a large majority (73%) of congressional staff surveyed by CMF report that their office spends more time on constituent communications than it did just two years ago.

In spite of the increasing workload, congressional staff had many positive things to report about the effects the Internet has had on the dialogue between constituents and their elected representatives. Staff agreed that the Internet has made it easier for constituents to become involved in the public policy process and increased public understanding of what goes on in Washington. Despite these advantages, the research shows that congressional offices still do not make significant use of e-mail to respond to constituent e-mail. Only 17% of House offices and 38% of Senate offices respond to all constituent e-mail with e-mail.

With so many people communicating with Congress, some messages are bound to have more influence on Members of Congress than others. Staff consistently reported that individualized communications have much more influence on their Members than do identical form communications. For example, only 3% of staff reported that a form postal letter would have “a lot of influence” on their Member, while 44% reported that an individualized postal letter would have “a lot of influence.” For the first time, this research analyzed all forms of contact between constituents and Members and Congress, and rated their influence based on staff survey results.

This preference may be due to the fact that many congressional staff question the authenticity of form communications -- 49% of staff surveyed either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "Most identical form communications campaigns are sent without the constituent's knowledge or approval." In addition to their preference for personalized communications, staff had other recommendations for what sorts of information constituent communications should include.

If you would like to know more about this research, CMF is currently offering educational programs to associations, companies, vendors, or any group that communicates with Capitol Hill. Organizations interested in inviting CMF to make a presentation should contact us at 202-546-0100 or through our Web form. 

CwC: How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy

Read the full report: CWC_CapitolHillCoping (754 KB)

• Overview
• Introduction
• Selected Charts
• Summary of Implications for Citizens and Grassroots Organizations
• Summary of Implications for Congress
• Conclusion

Copyright 2005 by the Congressional Management Foundation

About the Communicating with Congress Project

• Project Overview - In 2001, CMF began work on this project to improve communications between citizens and Members of Congress.

• How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy - A report on congressional staffs' views of constituent communications based on focus groups, interviews, and surveys of 350 House and Senate Staff in 200 offices.

• Conference on Constituent Communications: Dispelling Myths and Discussing Solutions - A forum in which more than 200 experts and stakeholders from both sides came together to share perspectives and discuss possible solutions.

• How the Internet Has Changed Citizen Engagement - A report on citizens' views on communicating with Congress based on nationwide telephone and online surveys of citizens.

• Recommendations for Improving the Democratic Dialogue - This report is the culmination of CMF's nine years of research, outreach, and study, with recommendations for all stakeholders on how to improve communication between citizens and Congress.

• Navigating the Rising Tide of Grassroots Advocacy - CMF offers educational presentations for grassroots/advocacy organizations on the topic of how to effectively communicate with Congress.