National Write to Congress Day 2024: Every January 3, the United States observes National Write to Congress Day, an opportunity for citizens to exercise their democratic rights. It is of the utmost importance to communicate all concerns to representatives at the state and federal levels via letter. Additionally, they can write to their elected officials regarding recent legislation that may have an impact on their companies. The fact that very few individuals even consider or are aware of the number of representatives in their state enhances the significance of this day. As the electorate, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our representatives are held responsible.
National Write to Congress Day History
The Constitution established the Congress, the country’s legislative body, in New York in 1789, and it later moved to Philadelphia. The state legislatures are bicameral, consisting of a Senate that is present in each state and a House of Representatives that is elected based on population. In addition to establishing government departments, passing the Bill of Rights, and appointing the President, the First U.S. Congress laid the groundwork. The capital was relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1800.
The war waged against Great Britain in 1812 inflicted substantial destruction and loss upon the nation. During their 1814 invasion of Washington, D.C., British forces set fire to public Congress buildings, including the Capitol. The United States had merged into a union of forty-eight states by 1912 and was the most influential nation on earth. In contrast to the extremely infrequent gatherings of the nineteenth century, congressional service intensified into a full-time occupation when members of Congress relocated to their first permanent office structures.
As stipulated in Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution, the term of tenure for House Members is two years. Each two-year Congress concludes with the inauguration of a new House, during which the newly elected Representatives select the House’s officers and Speaker, as well as establish the chamber’s norms of procedure. The Constitution additionally establishes a specific time for the convening of the new Congress, which is at noon on January 3, unless the preceding Congress has legislatively designated an alternative day. In observance of the constitutional inauguration of each new Congress, we designate this day as National Write to Congress Day.
Congressman Higgins proclaimed National Write to Congress Day on December 30, 2005, and subsequently established January 3, 2006, as the yearly observance date. The purpose of this day is to inspire members of the public to correspond with their representatives via email, letter, or telephone. Annually, the United States Congress is expected to receive 86.9 million letters.
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FAQs for National Write-to-Congress Day
What should I communicate to Congress in writing?
Provide an analysis of the challenges confronting your community, elucidating their significance and how they impact you, your family, and/or your community. Educate yourself on local and national issues and communicate your views to Congress, specifying how you would like your representative to vote and requesting feedback. You must provide your name and address.
Does National Write Your Congressman operate in a non-partisan manner?
National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) is, in fact, a nonpartisan organization. It is a neutral platform for communicating with your representative; it does not support any particular party.
Should one address a member of Congress as “honorable”?
Indeed, “Congressman/Congresswoman” or “The honorable,” followed by their last name, are acceptable forms of address. Following “representative from” is the name of their state.
Observing National Write-to-Congress Day January 3, 2024: A Guide
Communicate with your Congressman
You have the opportunity to convey your concerns to elected government officials today. On the National Write Your Congressman website, compose a letter addressing a specific issue.
Encourage others to write as well.
Your voice can motivate many. Leverage the available platforms to encourage others to express their concerns.
Acquire information
Uncertain of what to compose regarding? That is completely fine. To begin, acquire knowledge about local and national issues through literature. Ensure you are obtaining information from reputable sources that can be verified. A valuable resource in this regard is Wise Voter.
Five facts regarding the United States Congress
The Congress imposes age limits.
The Constitution provides that members of Congress must be at least 25 years old, while senators must be at least 30 years old.
The majority of members were American-born.
Congress is composed primarily of citizens who were born in the United States.
The first woman to serve in Congress
In 1917, Montanan Jeannette Pickering Rankin assumed office as the first woman to be elected to the United States Congress.
Extensive is the Library of Congress.
Many people widely regard the Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., as the most comprehensive library in the world. It houses over 170 million volumes.
The nation’s first national park.
In 1872, the United States Congress passed legislation designating Yellowstone as the first national park.
NATIONAL WRITE TO CONGRESS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | January 3 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | January 3 | Friday |
| 2026 | January 3 | Saturday |
| 2027 | January 3 | Sunday |
| 2028 | January 3 | Monday |
