Cecily Zamora
Citizens can take several steps to change a state law, although the specific process may vary depending on the location and the level of government involved. One approach is to work with lawmakers or elected representatives, who can introduce new laws or changes on behalf of their constituents. This may involve identifying the relevant state representative or senator and building support for the proposed change. Citizens can also research pending legislation and work with lawmakers to write a new bill that includes their desired changes. Another option is to file an initiative or referendum, which involves filing an intention to have the law changed, gathering signatures through a petition, and submitting the petition with the required number of signatures. In some cases, citizens may need to attend community meetings or contact local council members to raise awareness and build support for the proposed change. It is important to note that changing laws can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it may require persistence and engagement with the political process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Identify the level of government responsible for the law | Local, state, or national government |
| Research the lawmakers and governing structures | Mayor, council members, state representative, senator |
| File an initiative or referendum (if your state allows it) | File intention, gather signatures, file petition with signatures and law |
| Write a petition | Include headline, change desired, who is impacted, current law, and desired change |
| Work with lawmakers to write a new bill | Online guides and templates available |
| Identify a sponsor | Lawmaker who helps write the bill and/or introduces it to the legislature |
| Track the bill's progress | Know when it is introduced, goes to committee, and is voted on |
| Show up at public hearings | Voice support for the bill |
| Contact elected officials | Urge them to vote for the bill |
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What You'll Learn
File an initiative or referendum
To change a law through the democratic process, citizens can file an initiative or referendum if their state allows it. This process is known as a ballot measure, proposition, or ballot question. It allows citizens to place legislation on the ballot for a referendum or popular vote, either enacting new legislation or voting down existing legislation. This is a form of direct democracy, where citizens can get directly involved in the political process.
To file an initiative or referendum, citizens must first file their intention to have the law on the ballot. This is followed by collecting a predetermined number of signatures (typically 1,000+) of registered state voters on a petition. The measure then qualifies to be placed on the ballot for the referendum or actual vote. In some cases, voters may pass initiatives that are subsequently repealed or changed by the legislature. To prevent this, initiatives can be used to amend the state constitution, ensuring that the legislature cannot change it without sending a referendum back to the voters. However, this may result in inflexibility, and some states are seeking a balance.
The process of filing an initiative or referendum can vary across states, and it's important to understand the specific requirements and procedures for your state. Some states may have additional steps or requirements, such as working with legislative staff to draft the exact bill text or following specific timelines for filing bill requests. It is worth noting that, as of 2024, initiatives and referendums are only available at the state level and do not exist for federal legislation.
Before initiating the process, it is essential to conduct thorough research and understand the existing governing structure. Towns and cities often have different governing bodies, such as a mayor, city council, city managers, or commissioners. Examining the websites of these officials can provide insight into their stance on issues and the types of laws they have promoted in the past. This research will help citizens determine the best course of action and identify the right officials to approach.
Additionally, it is worth noting that legislators can only request new bills during the fall of each year. After filing bill requests, they work with legislative staff to draft the bill text, and the bills are introduced in January, followed by public hearings and votes. Citizens can actively participate in this process by showing up at public hearings to voice support for their preferred bill, contacting elected officials, and raising awareness through letters to editors.
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Identify state representative and senator
If you are trying to change a state law, it is important to identify your state representative and senator. These are the people in the capitol building in your state who are responsible for your specific area. They are the ones you need to make contact with and convince to support your idea and bring it to a vote.
To identify your state representative, you can use the Find Your Representative service provided by the US House of Representatives. This service matches the ZIP code information you provide with a list of congressional districts. Alternatively, you can search for your representative by street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
To identify your state senator, you can visit the US Senate website or contact a U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator, who can connect you directly with the Senate office. You can also search for your senator by name, or check if they are a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a former senator.
Once you have identified your state representative and senator, you should research their websites to see where they stand on the issues. Look at what kinds of laws they have promoted in the past, and if yours might fit in. This will help you tailor your message and increase the chances of them supporting your idea.
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Research lawmakers
Researching lawmakers is an important step in understanding how to change a state law. It is a way to create meaningful and lasting change. You can research lawmakers by:
- Checking official websites. Official websites in the US use the domain '.gov'. These websites are a good source of information about your lawmakers and the legislative process. For example, the Arkansas Legislature website provides live and recorded audio of committee and floor hearings.
- Finding the right level of government to approach. Towns and cities have different governing structures, so it is important to understand how your local government works. Most have a mayor and some kind of city council. Some states allow citizens to file local or state referendums, but in others, you will need to get the support of the city council or mayor to bring your idea to a vote.
- Identifying your state representative and senator. These are the people responsible for your specific area and who you need to contact if you are trying to change a state law. You can find contact information for your representative and senator on the US Senate website.
- Researching your lawmakers' positions. Look at your lawmakers' websites to see where they stand on the issues. Check what kinds of laws they have promoted in the past and whether your idea might fit in.
- Building relationships with your lawmakers. This can be a powerful way to create change. You can do this by attending community meetings and bringing up your issue with local lawmakers. You can also contact your lawmakers directly by phone or email.
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Start a petition
To start a petition to change a state law, you must first understand the process of changing laws through the democratic process. It is important to know that it is easier to change local or state laws than federal laws. However, there are ways to get your voice heard at any level of government.
The first step is to identify the level of government responsible for the law. If it is a national law, you may need to enlist a senator or congressman. If it is a state law, you should contact a local assembly member, state representative, or state senator. For a county or town ordinance, you should seek out local councilmen, aldermen, supervisors, mayors, or county executives.
Once you have identified the appropriate level of government and the responsible individuals, you can begin creating your petition. Choose a catchy and clear headline that focuses on the desired change and includes the relevant location to engage locals. In the body of the petition, explain who is impacted by the current law, what the law is now, and how you propose it should be changed. Emphasize why this change is important and why it should be made now. If you have a personal reason for wanting this change, share your story to help others understand the real impact of the law and to encourage them to support your cause.
To make your petition stand out, include a simple and striking image that follows the guidelines of not having text and being at least 1600 x 900 pixels. This will help to attract supporters and make your petition more shareable. Finally, collect as many signatures as possible from registered state voters to show that your proposed change has widespread support. The more signatures you gather, the more likely it is that the government will listen and take action on your petition.
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Write a new bill
To write a new bill, you need to start by doing some research and finding the right level of government to approach. You might be able to write a draft of the law yourself, but you will most likely need the support of your state or national legislator. It is much easier to change local or state law than federal law, but there are possibilities for taking action at any level.
Legislators can only request new bills during the Fall, so if you have a big new idea, you might have to wait a while before it can be proposed. After legislators file bill requests, they work with legislative staff to draft the exact bill text. Bills are then introduced in January, at which point public hearings and votes begin. If your idea is related to a bill that is already in the legislative process, your legislator might introduce it as an amendment to that bill. However, there are rules about bill amendments, so this may not be possible. If a legislator introduces your bill, you should follow its progress through the Legislature. You can also attend public hearings to voice support for your bill, contact your elected officials and urge them to vote for the bill, and write a letter to the editor to raise awareness of your bill.
When a bill is enacted into law, it is given a public law number in the form 000–0. The first number is the number of the Congress that passed the law, and the second number indicates the sequential order of enactment. For example, Public Law 111–161 was the 161st law enacted during the 111th Congress. Each new statute is printed as a separate document called a slip law. At the end of each session of Congress, the slip laws are compiled, in sequential order, into the Statutes at Large.
There are many considerations when deciding whether a bill should be a "freestanding" statement of law or should amend an existing statute. These include whether there is an existing statute pertaining to the agencies, persons, or subject matter involved, and whether the new policy is temporary or permanent. It may be better to avoid cluttering an existing statute with temporary provisions, despite the related content. It is also worth considering whether it would be helpful for the definitions, enforcement provisions, rules of construction, or other general provisions of any such statute to apply in the case of the new policy. Material that is being added to an existing statute is shown in quotation marks.
Every bill must have an enactment clause, which tells your fellow Congresspeople when your bill will take effect if passed. It may specify a future date or a certain number of days following the passage of the bill. Enactment dates within 30 days of passage are used for emergency legislation only, while enactment dates over 90 days after passage are used for most legislation.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to identify the level of government responsible for the law. If it is a state law, citizens should identify their state representative and senator.
Citizens should research the lawmakers to understand their stance on the issue and determine the best person to work with to get the law changed. It is also important to look into pending legislation and reach out to the lawmakers to discuss the issue.
Citizens can propose changes by filing an initiative or referendum, if allowed by the state. This involves filing the intention to have the law on the ballot, collecting signatures, and filing the petition with the signatures and the proposed law. The attorney general will then review it, and it will be placed on the state ballot.
Citizens can also build support by starting a petition, attending community meetings, and contacting elected officials to voice their support for the proposed changes. It is important to note that changing a law takes time and effort, and it may require engaging with lawmakers and the legislative process.
