Take Action – Tools for Citizen Advocates

ACLU members in Wisconsin have an important voice with local, state and federal lawmakers. Contacting lawmakers and expressing your support or opposition to proposed laws makes a difference. Below are some tips and tools to make being an outspoken citizen easier.

Get ACLU of Wisconsin Action Alerts
Be a part of the ACLU of Wisconsin’s online community by getting our action alerts and news via email, Facebook or Twitter. Sign up for our action alerts today. Find us on Facebook or Twitter @ACLUofWisconsin statewide or @ACLUMadison in the Capitol city area. More information about ACLU of Wisconsin social media can be found on our resources page.

Who Are My Legislators?
Wisconsin residents can use the Who Are My Legislators? website to look up the legislators who govern your address. You can find your state Senator and Assembly Representative as well as your federal Senators and Congressional Representative along with their contact links. Looking for information on your city government? Find your municipality’s websites here for contact information on local laws.

When it is time to take action on a bill and voice your opinions to your legislators, you can also call the state legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472 to speak to an operator.

Using Your Voice: Tips on Getting Your Point Across
From meeting with legislators, speaking at public hearings or writing letters to the editor of your local paper, these basic tips will help you make a convincing and respected argument. Download our tip sheet on Using Your Voice (PDF).

How a Bill Becomes a Law in Wisconsin
Confused by the rules and debates and committees a bill faces as it works through the state legislature? You can get a full civics lesson by reading this booklet from the state legislative website (PDF). Need a quicker roadmap for a bill’s passage? This graph gives the step-by-step path for bills (PDF). Nostalgic for Schoolhouse Rock? Check out this graphic art version of how a bill becomes law in Wisconsin.

The state legislature also has a nice page with frequently asked questions about how to find information on bills, hearings and the legislative process.

For more information or news on civil liberties issues in Wisconsin, visit the ACLU of Wisconsin’s Issues page.