Your Voice Matters
A simple guide for Houstonians to contact elected officials and make real change in your community.
Why Your Call Makes a Difference
- Every single call is logged and counted. Your message gets recorded and reported to your elected official.
- Phone calls signal serious concern. Calls show more engagement than emails or social media posts.
- Volume creates urgency. When many people call about the same issue, officials pay attention.
- Personal stories carry weight. Sharing how an issue affects you helps officials understand real impacts.
Your Impact By The Numbers
Track Your Civic Engagement
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Houston City Council
Who they are: 16 elected leaders who make laws and decide the city budget for Houston. Five represent the whole city (at-large), and eleven represent specific neighborhoods (districts).
What they control:
- City budget and spending
- Local laws and rules
- City services like parks, libraries, and public safety
- Development and zoning decisions
How to Contact Them
Send a Letter
Write to your Council Member
900 Bagby, City Hall Annex
First Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Speaking at City Council
- Register by Monday at 3pm to speak at Tuesday's 2pm public comment
- Call (832) 393-1100 or email speakers@houstontx.gov to reserve your time
- Include your name, address, and brief topic (10 words or less)
- Arrive early to sign in at City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101
When Calls Matter Most
Contact your Council Member when:
- There's a specific vote coming up on an issue you care about
- You want to support or oppose a development in your neighborhood
- City services need improvement (potholes, parks, public safety)
- You have ideas for new city programs or policies
Harris County Commissioners Court
Who they are: The County Judge plus 4 Commissioners who oversee county operations and services.
What they control:
- County budget and tax rates
- Public health services
- Sheriff's department and jail operations
- Flood control and infrastructure
- Parks and libraries outside city limits
- Emergency management and disaster response
How to Contact Them
Visit in Person
Harris County Administration Building
1001 Preston, Suite 610
Houston, TX 77002
Hours: 8am - 4:30pm
Harris County Contact Tips
- Register online at least 24 hours before a Commissioners Court meeting
- Contact your specific precinct commissioner for issues in your area
- The County Judge represents the entire county - contact for county-wide issues
- Budget Management Department handles agendas: (713) 274-1111
Texas State Representatives & Senators
Who they are: State lawmakers who represent your district in Austin. They make state laws and decide the state budget.
What they control:
- State laws and regulations
- State budget including education funding
- Healthcare policy
- Criminal justice laws
- Transportation infrastructure
- Environmental regulations
How to Contact Them
Write a Letter
Mail to their Capitol office
House Members:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
Senate Members:
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068
Best Times to Contact State Legislators
During Legislative Session (January - May):
- Contact them about bills being considered
- Attend committee hearings in Austin
- Call their Capitol office
Between Sessions:
- Visit their district office in Houston
- Attend town halls and community events
- Share concerns about upcoming legislation
Sample Call Script for State Legislature
"Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY] in District [NUMBER]. I'm calling about [BILL NUMBER or ISSUE]. I want [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to [VOTE YES/VOTE NO/TAKE ACTION] because [BRIEF REASON - one sentence about how it affects you]. Thank you for passing along my message."
U.S. Congress: Your Federal Representatives
Who they are: Texas has 2 U.S. Senators (who represent the entire state) and 38 U.S. Representatives (who each represent a congressional district).
What they control:
- Federal laws and regulations
- National budget and spending
- Immigration policy
- Healthcare programs (Medicare, Medicaid)
- Social Security
- Foreign policy and defense
- Federal disaster relief
How to Contact Them
Call Their Office
DC offices answer during business hours
Save their numbers in your phone for quick access!
Making Your Federal Call Count
- Always mention you're a constituent - include your zip code
- Be specific about bills - use bill numbers (like H.R. 1234 or S. 567)
- Keep it short - aim for 2-3 minutes maximum
- One issue per call - don't try to cover multiple topics
- Be polite - staff members are regular people doing their jobs
- Ask for a response if you want to know their position
- Call the DC office for national issues and district office for local concerns
When Your Calls Make the Biggest Impact
High-Impact Moments:
- Before a vote: When a bill is coming up for a vote soon
- During committee review: When your representative sits on the committee reviewing a bill
- Co-sponsorship decisions: When asking them to support or oppose legislation
- Cabinet confirmations: When the Senate is considering nominees
- Urgent issues: During national emergencies or disasters
Remember: Congressional offices received 81 million messages in 2022. While there's no magic number, consistent calls from multiple constituents on the same issue create real pressure for action.
Sample Call Script for Congress
"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY, ZIP CODE]. I'm calling to ask [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to [SPECIFIC ACTION - vote yes/no, co-sponsor, make a statement] on [BILL NUMBER or ISSUE] because [ONE SENTENCE about personal impact or reason]. Can you pass this message along? [If you want a response: I'd like a response - my email is ___]. Thank you."
Texas Governor & Statewide Officials
Who they are: The Governor and other elected officials who serve the entire state of Texas.
Key state officials:
- Governor: Chief executive of Texas, signs or vetoes bills, declares emergencies
- Lieutenant Governor: Leads the Texas Senate, sets legislative priorities
- Attorney General: State's top lawyer, enforces Texas laws
- Comptroller: Manages state finances and budget
How to Contact the Governor
Write a Letter
Mail to the Capitol
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
When to Contact State Officials
- Governor: Urge signing or vetoing bills, declare emergencies, state-level appointments
- Lieutenant Governor: Legislative priorities, Senate procedures
- Attorney General: Legal issues, consumer protection, civil rights enforcement
- Comptroller: State budget concerns, tax issues
Best Practices for Effective Communication
Choose the Right Method
Phone calls are best when:
- A vote or decision is happening soon (urgent)
- You want immediate confirmation your message was received
- The issue is timely and needs quick attention
Emails are best when:
- You want to include links or documents
- You need a written record of your communication
- You're sharing a detailed story or data
In-person meetings or public testimony are best when:
- The issue is complex and needs discussion
- You represent a group or organization
- You want to make a public statement
7 Keys to Effective Communication
- Be a constituent: Only contact officials who represent you
- Be specific: Mention bill numbers, specific requests, clear deadlines
- Be brief: Respect their time - keep calls under 3 minutes
- Be personal: Share how the issue affects you or your community
- Be polite: Staff are more likely to help when you're respectful
- Be persistent: Follow up if you don't hear back
- Be consistent: Multiple constituents calling about the same issue creates momentum
Understanding Impact Thresholds
There's no magic number of calls that guarantees action, but here's what we know:
- Every call is logged and tallied - your message becomes part of official records
- Offices track call volume by issue - they report to officials which topics constituents care about most
- Sudden increases get attention - a surge of calls on one topic signals urgency
- Personal stories stand out - unique perspectives help more than form messages
- Calls signal higher engagement - phone calls carry more weight than emails or social media
- Local officials are more accessible - smaller offices notice even a handful of calls
- Consistent pressure works - sustained contact over time is more effective than one-time bursts
Bottom line: Don't wait for others to call. Your voice matters. Even if you're one of just a few people calling, you're creating a record and making your position known.
Sample Communications
Simple Phone Call Template
"Hi, I'm [YOUR NAME] from [CITY/NEIGHBORHOOD]. I'm calling about [SPECIFIC ISSUE]. I want [OFFICIAL'S NAME] to [SPECIFIC ACTION] because [ONE REASON]. Thank you for taking my message."
Email Template
Subject: [Your Position] on [Issue/Bill]
Dear [Title] [Last Name],
I am your constituent from [City/Neighborhood, ZIP]. I am writing to ask you to [specific action] on [issue or bill number].
[One paragraph explaining why this matters to you personally or to your community]
[One paragraph with any supporting facts or examples]
I urge you to [restate specific action]. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]
Additional Resources
Stay Informed
- Houston City Council Agendas: houstontx.gov/council/agenda
- Harris County Agendas: agenda.harriscountytx.gov
- Texas Legislature Online: capitol.texas.gov
- Congress.gov (Federal Bills): congress.gov
Get Involved
- Sign up for Houston 311: Report non-emergency city issues at 311 or houston311.org
- Attend community meetings: Check your City Council member's website for town halls and community events
- Join advocacy groups: Connect with organizations working on issues you care about
- Monitor legislation: Sign up for bill tracking alerts through legislative websites
Remember: Democracy Requires Participation
- Your vote matters, and so does your voice between elections
- Elected officials work for you - they want to hear from constituents
- Small actions add up - every call, email, and meeting contributes to change
- Stay engaged year-round - not just during election season
- Bring others along - encourage friends and family to speak up too