LWVC Legislative Interview Kit 2020 - 2021
Quick Links
- The Complete Legislative Interview Kit for 2020 - 2021
- Legislative Interview Response Form
- Legislative Interview Response Form Preview - use this to view all of the response questions before filling it out
- Watch the recording from one of our Legislative Interview Town Halls held in early January:
- January 6 - Southern California
- January 7 - Central Coast and Valley
- January 8 - Northern California
- Download the PowerPoint slides from our Legislative Interview Town Halls
- Further background reading: California Unemployment Insurance Claims During the COVID-19 Pandemic, by the California Policy Lab. This report didn't make it into our final interview kit but we want to highlight it as a useful resource to help you contemplate Question 3 on our recovery from COVID-19.
Local League legislative interviews are an opportunity for you to connect with your district representatives, expand your League’s presence, and heighten our collective impact. They are also an excellent chance to cultivate new leaders and build new relationships. The Complete Legislative Interview Kit for 2020 - 2021 is now available for download.
The complete kit has everything you need to get started on your interviews. The issue areas we are highlighting this year relate to land use and climate change; housing, homelessness, zoning, and affordability; and an equitable recovery from COVID-19. We hope you will enjoy exploring these issues and discovering where your representatives stand. Please note that for those legislators who were up for election, you should not schedule an appointment until you are certain of the outcome of the contest.
Submit your Legislative Interview Reponses using this form. If you interviewed more than one legislator, please use a separate response for each legislator. You can also get a preview of all of the response questions in this form.
Legislative Interview Town Halls. In early January we conducted a series of Town Halls led by members of our Advocacy Team and divided by geographic area. You can watch recordings from the Town Halls using the links below:
- January 6 - Southern California
- January 7 - Central Coast and Valley
- January 8 - Northern California
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions about the Legislative Interview process. You can also view the FAQs in this PDF.
May we ask questions not on the list?
It’s important to ask the first four questions on the list. We are gathering information about what legislators are thinking about those topics. You have the option to ask a fifth question that may be used for a topic of your local League’s choice.
What is the correct tone for the interview?
This is a listening session and an opportunity to build a relationship with the legislator. We recommend a conversational and polite tone. This is not advocacy. Simply by asking the questions provided, we are indicating to the legislator the areas of League concern and interest.
How do we report out to members about the results of the interview?
If you plan to "publish" for wide distribution (such as your Voter or public website) we suggest asking the legislator to review for accuracy of statements, prior to publication. This is both a courtesy and helps to ensure accuracy. If you do not plan to publish, it is not necessary to take the additional step of prior review. Simply send your responses to LWVC where it is treated as "internal" information for League eyes only.
May we record the interview?
We don’t recommend that you record the interview for various reasons:
- Recording may inhibit the openness and frankness we hope to achieve about upcoming legislation and their willingness to speak candidly with League.
- One of the reasons for the interview is to develop a relationship with your legislator that could be tapped for lobbying in the future. Recording could inhibit that relationship development.
- It is too easy for any "recording", especially one available and viewed online, to be edited and misused, or taken out of context by some unknown person online. Knowing this, a legislator may feel vulnerable to misuse and mischief -- not necessarily by the League, but by someone who can access the video online. Further, as the Legislative Interview Toolkit suggests, you will have a designated note taker on the interview team to record information.
Why don’t we send the legislator the questions ahead of time?
It is fine to provide the general nature of the question, but not the specific question. This way, the responses will be more conversational, direct, and spontaneous instead of "filtered" or polished as a PR statement prepared in advance. We can learn if the legislator is educated about, interested in, and whether they see it as a priority or issue of importance. We can observe the legislator's ability to respond on-the-spot, see how much they know about the topic. For the same reason, we do not submit the background information in advance.
Can non-members of the League allowed to participate in the interview?
Yes, particularly if it's someone you hope to engage in League and see as member prospect. Make sure that the purpose of the interview as a learning experience is clearly understood. In particular, make clear that everyone at the interview is there to represent the League and not to raise either a particular personal issue or project, or a priority of another organization.
What happens if the legislator won’t give us an interview?
Please let the LWVC know if this occurs. We may be able to help. Please let us know the reason behind not being able to do the interview. Is scheduling the problem? Or reluctance to speak to LWV?