In this section you will find:

1. Information on writing letters to the legislature 

2. A sample letter to the State Department of Special Education.  

3. Links to allow you to contact Governor Engler and your senator and  representatives.  

4. A mailing list for all of the house and senate members that can be copied and pasted into your address book.  

Tips On Writing Effective Letters from Arc Michigan

Tips On Writing Congress: The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. If you decide to write a letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:

1. Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.

2. Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.

3. Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.

Addressing Correspondence

To a Senator:

The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of) Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator:

To a Representative:

The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of) House Office Building United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative:

Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House:
It is proper to address them as:

Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman or Dear Mr. Speaker:

Sample Letter to The State Office of Education: 
(This can be  copied and pasted into your word processor)

Dear Sirs And Madams,

I am objecting to changing rule number __________ of Michigan's Rules For Special Education.

The reason I am  concerned is _________________.

I hope you will provide  _________________ instead.

Sincerely,

Contact Information

Click Here To Contact the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Click Here To Contact Your Governor

Click Here To Find Your Senator and Representatives

Click Here for
A Mailing List For All  Michigan Representatives and Senators  
(This can be  copied and pasted into your address field)

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is a statutorily created bipartisan legislative committee, comprised of 5 house and 5 senate members, which is responsible for the legislative oversight of administrative rules proposed by state agencies. The committee maintains a nonpartisan staff in downtown Lansing that is responsible for processing rules transmitted to the committee by state agencies, scheduling committee hearings at the direction of the committee chair, providing members with the background and legal analysis of the rules, and reviewing proposed legislation to determine whether rulemaking authority is, or should be, necessary to carry out the legislative intent of proposed legislation.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
PO BOX 30036 • LANSING. MICHIGAN 48909-7536
(517) 373-6476 TELEPHONE • (517) 373-5548 FAX

Representative Michael D. Bishop, Chair
Senator Beverly Hammerstrom, Alternate Chair