• Mission & Governance
• Services Overview
• How to Get Involved
• Standing Committees
• NCSL Foundation

• Issue Areas: A-Z
• State-Federal Relations
• NCSL Standing Committees
• News from D.C. and the States

• About State Legislatures
• Elections, Campaigns & Redistricting
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory
• Web Sites

• Online Guide to NCSL Services
• Staff Sections and Networks
• Meetings & Professional Development
• Staff Directories

• Meetings Calendar
• Online Registration
• Meetings Home Page
• Legislative Summit

• Bookstore
• State Legislatures Magazine
• NCSL's StateConnect Directory

Project Overview Managing Web Sites Managing E-Mail

Project Summary The explosion of e-mail communications and the increasing volume of government information available online are changing the way government officials and the public communicate. With more than half of American households now on the Internet, state policy makers have the opportunity to develop web sites that will offer constituents access to a variety of relevant information about the legislative process and about lawmakers themselves. E-mail also provides a fast, efficient way to communicate with constituents. But the downside of e-mail is that it also has the potential to deluge state officials with communications, to the point of shutting down systems. So, how can state legislators make the best use of their web sites and e-mail, without being overwhelmed by e-communications? This project provides tools and resources to assist legislators with these challenges.

Project Overview

NCSL's Making E-Communications Work project was created to provide state lawmakers with specific tools, techniques and expert advice about how to use technology to reach out to and involve citizens in the democratic process.

To assist legislators in understanding and tapping the potential of the Internet, the Making E-Communications Work project explores the ways that legislators use web pages and identify best practices for developing effective legislator web sites and managing large volumes of e-mail.  The project sponsored sessions at NCSL meetings during 2001 and 2002, bringing in legislators and private sector experts who shared their experiences, ideas, and advice.  Many of these sessions were recorded and are available for viewing or listening on this Web site.

The project also developed a publication and video, available online soon, that provide advice for state legislators on how to develop effective web sites and communicate with the public electronically.

A steering committee of legislators and private sector representatives helped to guide and oversee the project.  The project was funded by the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures and AOL/Time Warner, EDS, the IBM Institute of Electronic Government, Lexis Law Publishing, and Microsoft Corp.
 

NCSL Contacts:

Pam Greenberg, pam.greenberg@ncsl.org, 303-364-7700
Jo Anne Bourquard, jo.anne.bourquard@ncsl.org, 303-364-7700