Question

One way to help get a response back from an elected official is to

1. Be demanding in your approach.
2. Be sure to not ask for anything, as they are very busy people
3. Be sure to ask for a specific response or action from them.
4. Be sure to get to the point and not waste time with personal stories.

Answer 1

1. Be demanding in your approach

Answer 2

You're probably supposed to answer (3), because if you ask for one of the standard things they do for constituents -- see what's holding up a Social Security check to which you're entitled, get you a military decoration you earned -- then they will very likely get back to you and get it done. This is the kind of thing they like to do.

If you ask for a specific vote in Congress, on pending legislation, that, too, will have the most definite effect, since they have staffers who tabulate how many people are worked up enough to write in when important votes come down.

But if you ask for some vague pie in the sky thing -- world peace, the end of poverty, for Congress to pass a law making all children above average -- then indeed your chances of receiving anything other than the Congressman's latest newsletter are about zip. And quite reasonably so, as you're wasting his time.