As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of your greatest responsibilities is to help elect the legislators who represent all Virginians. But your role in the democratic process of government does not end at the polls. By sharing your opinions and ideas with your elected officials, you help them decide what to do about the issues and pending legislation that affect us all.
There are a number of online resources available on the Virginia General Assembly website to assist you in taking an active role in the legislative process:
Know who your legislators are and how to contact them. If you don't know who represents you, you can find out by using Who's My Legislator. In addition, a biographical page on each delegate and senator is available from the General Assembly's homepage.
Make sure you understand the legislative process. Even the most basic understanding of the process will help you effectively express your ideas.
Contact your representative about a particular issue before the Legislature takes action on it. Most matters coming before the Legislature are well publicized before session. Using the Legislative Information System, you can track legislation and review committee agendas prior to a meeting. You can even testify before committees on issues important to you.
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