The Key Thing Most People Get Wrong About Politicians
While it is true that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, a politician by any other name than their own would likely ignore you.
And by name, what I’m really talking about is title. The overwhelming majority of folks get politicians’ titles wonderfully and sometimes wildly wrong. Here’s why that matters.
Everything we do with a politician signals to them whether or not they can trust us. Policy change turns on trust; the more a politician trusts us, the more likely they are to take our ask seriously.
A title is usually the first thing we say to a politician, whether in person or in writing. Getting it right is the first door we have to walk through to prove we’re trustworthy.
Alas, most folks can’t find the handle to open the door, let alone walk through it. And it’s not our fault. If we’re lucky to have any civic education at all, it is unlikely to include that the Speaker of the House is addressed as Mr. Speaker or Madam Speaker.
So here, my friends, is a little cheat sheet of common titles to get your conversation off on the right foot.
U.S. House Members
These folks go by a few names: Congressman/woman/person or Representative.
If William Shakespeare returned from the grave, ran for the U.S. House from Avon...by the Sea, New Jersey, we would address him as "Congressman Shakespeare" or "Representative Shakespeare."
U.S. Senators
These fascinating creatures are addressed as "Senator INSERT LAST NAME.” So we would address Collie Flower as "Senator Flower."
While Senator are Members of Congress, they are never, ever addressed as Congressman/woman. And that, my friends, is the United States Senate for you.
Extra Credit
If you are meeting with a Congressional staffer, you might hear them talk about their “boss,” which is the politician they work for. If you think you have a good rapport going with the staffer, you can use that lingo too, as in: “Where do you think your boss is on...” or “Would your boss be supportive of...”
Alternatively, you’re always safe going the more formal route: “Where do you think the Senator is on...” or “Would the Congresswoman be supportive of..."
Ohhh, to have a job where your title starts with “The..."
State Legislators
There are a few varietals here, depending on your state. Up here in my own Maine, we have State Representatives, who are addressed as “Representative LAST NAME," and State Senators, who are addressed as “Senator LAST NAME."
If yours are different, look to see how they’re referred to in articles.
We wouldn’t call our dentist “Judge,” and we wouldn’t call our pediatrician “Your Highness.” (Though some Senators might not mind that title...)
If you’re meeting with a politician or reaching out to their office, take a minute to learn their title. It’s the first step to your opinion being taken the way it deserves to be taken: which is seriously.