Record Group 3: Constituent Service Files, 1985 - 1998

The Constituent Service Files (Record Group 3) include materials related to Congressman Fawell's assistance to his constituents in serving as a liaison between members of the 13th District and agencies of the federal government. When Congressman Fawell was elected to the House of Representatives, he began advisory committees on business; elementary, secondary and higher education; health care; and science and technology issues to assist him in examining legislation on those topics. The Advisory Committee Files, 1985-1998, consist of minutes, agendas, and mailings to members of advisory committees. A usual service of a congressional office is to assist constituents with tours of the U.S. Capitol or White House while they are visiting Washington, D.C. Often these constituent visits include an invitation to stop in the Congressman's office, and as indications of this, the Constituent Tour Files, 1985-1998, include guest books that visitors signed, desk planners that included scheduled appointments for the visitors, and thank you notes received in the office. Another major constituent service provided by congressional offices is responding to mail received from district residents. To this end, offices generally create form letter responses to be sent on many issues that generate a large volume response from constituents. The Fawell Congressional office termed the form letters explaining the congressman's stances as "Position Papers". The Position Paper Files, 1985-1998, include drafts as well as final versions. The May Mail, 1986-1998, series demonstrates usage of the Position Papers through a sampling method instituted by the Congressional office. As a method of garnering constituent opinions, Congressman Fawell held a series of Town Meetings each year that were located at various towns in the 13th District. The Town Meeting Files, 1985-1997, include briefing books covering likely topics of discussion assembled by staff for Congressman Fawell's referral, as well as sample invitations sent to constituents. The final series, Case Files, demonstrates the actions of Congressman Fawell as a liaison between constituents and federal agencies, but is closed due to personal privacy restrictions.