Archive for the ‘Advocacy’ Category.
Intensive 3-day congressional operations workshop
Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, by John Taylor
Congressional decision-making is driven by politics, policy and process. In this engaging 3-day Congressional Briefing Conference, Washington-based experts discuss these 3 P’s and help you understand the complete policy-making process.
You’ll get a solid understanding of:
- Congressional operations and the legislative process
- How public and foreign policy become law
- Congressional politics and leadership
- Congressional budgeting today
- The role of OMB in the legislative process
- Effective communication with Congress
- How the media covers the Hill
- Current campaign and election trends
- How members of Congress advance their legislative, public policy and political agendas
- How personal and committee staff work
- How you can build win/win relationships with staffers
Attend a congressional hearing and see the process in action.
June 13-15, 2012, 8:30 am – 4 pm all three days.
Approved for 1.7 CEUs from George Mason University.
Where: Washington, DC
This is a required course for the Certificate in Congressional Operations and for the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy.
For more information, including agenda and secure online registration, see CongressionalBriefingConference.com
This course and any combination of its topics can be tailored for custom on-site presentation at your location and is available via the GSA Schedule.
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Tags: Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill Workshop, congressional hearing, Congressional Operations Briefing, Congressional Operations Briefing and Seminar, Congressional Operations Conference, Congressional Operations Seminar, House, leadership training, legislative operations, legislative operations seminar, Senate, working with congress
If you have ever wanted to take a position on a particular piece of legislation and take action to persuade the decision making of Congress but felt you did not have any hope of doing so, it is important to understand how legislators are influenced. The decision making of any legislator is primarily dominated by their constituents. With that said, just as it is important for anyone to consult a variety of resources before making an important decision, members of Congress follow the same pattern. They often consult family as well as friends, people they work with and subject matter experts.
photo credit: Michael Cory
Legislators are like the rest of us. Their family and friends have their ear when it comes time to make a difficult decision. Legislators tend to speak with the people they trust the most and this includes their family and friends.
Acquaintances with more than a passing interest on a matter can also influence members of Congress. Legislators tend to know a lot of people. If an acquaintance has knowledge of a particular topic they can provide a lot of influence. Legislators also tend to pay attention to colleagues they respect. In many cases, legislators may actually seek out guidance from experts who have studied an issue and who bring their own perspective to the debate. This is particularly true of other members of Congress. Junior members of Congress may choose 
to sit back and wait to see how senior members are going to vote before determining their own position on an issue.
Legislative leaders can also exert quite a bit of pressure on fellow legislators. There is definitely a hierarchy within Congress and members of the House of Representatives tend to be far more susceptible to influence than senators simply because House rules make it possible for leadership to establish the agenda.
What about lobbyists? How much influence do lobbyists actually exert over members of Congress? The common perception by the public is that it is quite a bit. The truth of the matter is that lobbyists only rarely determine policy outcomes. Organized citizens are more often responsible for determining policy outcomes.
If you have ever thought that you did not have a chance of making an impact, think again. It takes motivation and organization, but it is possible.
To learn more about about the way legislators approach decision making, consider TheCapitol.Net’s 1/2 day course, Congress in a Nutshell, and the 3-day Capitol Hill Workshop.
Reference: Citizen’s Handbook, by Bradford Fitch, Chapter 4 People Who Can Influence Legislators.
Also see
For more information about working with Congress, see these resources from TheCapitol.Net:
- Publications
- Live courses in Washington, DC:
- Capitol Learning Audio Courses:
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Tags: constituents, contacting Congress, grassroots, Grassroots Advocacy, grassroots lobbying, grassroots lobbyist, influencing Congress, Persuading Congress
Posted 2011/03/22, 6:17 am
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Given the frantic pace that typically takes place on Capitol Hill, it is important to ensure that your meetings are as effective as possible. While it is only natural to desire to meet with a member of Congress, do not become disappointed if you meet with staff instead. Lawmakers rely heavily on their staff out of necessity for legislative recommendations and information.
photo credit: ldenny27
When meeting with staff, or a member of Congress, try to use practical – and personal – examples. Practical examples receive a lot of attention because they make it easier for members of Congress to understand the realities of life outside the Beltway. For a legislative strategy to be effective, include several examples of the consequences of the proposal.
Always ask if a decision has been made or when a decision is expected. Mention that you will check back to determine the position of the legislator. Make a point to keep current and educate the legislator and staff members as the time for a vote approaches. Work to establish several contacts in each office.
Never cancel or reschedule meetings except as a last 
resort. If you reschedule, this will likely result in a hampering of any goodwill you established with congressional staff. There is always a cost associated with rescheduling or canceling any meeting. Before you cancel or reschedule, ask yourself whether it is really worth that cost.
Above all, make sure you are prepared in advance for the meeting. Know what you expect from the meeting before you arrive. What is it that you want to ask? You will never receive it if you do not ask for it. If you plan to ask a policymaker to change their established position, you must be prepared to provide justification, including a description of conditions that have changed or new information that has become available on an issue. Select one issue that you want to advocate during the meeting and stick to that point. Do not muddy the waters by trying to advocate for more than one point during a single meeting. Finally, follow-up after every meeting.
To learn more about communicating with policymakers consider signing up for TheCapitol.Net’s 1/2-day course Strategies for Working with Congress and the 3-day Capitol Hill Workshop.
Source: Lobbying and Advocacy, by Deanna Gelak, Section 8.29 Reminders for Hill Visit Participants.
For more information about advocacy in Washington, see
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It is no secret that your message can be the lifeblood of your advocacy activities. Once you have decided upon a message, it is imperative that you refine it.
photo credit: HellN
The process of honing your message involves identifying, developing and refining the most compelling arguments, facts, examples and anecdotes. Take into consideration hot issues and news cycles in order to identify a hook that you can use to interest the media and the public. Ask yourself whether there are any other themes you might make use of, such as holidays or anniversary dates. Where is the story?
Developing a motto or a theme can prove to be extremely helpful. Your message must be interesting to ensure the media will include it. It must also be relevant so that people will remember it. In addition, it must be persuasive for those who do not yet agree with you. Finally, it must be motivational for those who do agree with you in order to keep them on board.
When evaluating your message and honing it, you might consider scoring it to determine whether it meets all of the necessary elements:
Interesting-Does your message tell a story, feature a perspective that is timely or interesting or include a conflict? Remember, your message must always have a hook.
Relevant-Ask yourself why the audience should care. How does your issue impact lives?
Persuasive-Why is your position the right position? How is the opposing position weak or wrong?
Motivational-What is it that you expect your audience to do as a result of your message?
Educational-Does your message provide the target audience with the knowledge they need to take the desired action?
Targeted-Will your message be able to make its way to the intended audience?
Carefully consider all of these elements and whether your message meets the goals of those elements. If you find your message is lacking in any of these areas, it is time to go back to the drawing board and continue honing your message until it does meet each and every element.
To learn more about developing an effective advocacy message, consider signing up for TheCapitol.Net’s 2-day Advanced Media Relations Workshop.
Source: Lobbying and Advocacy, by Deanna Gelak, Section 10.14 Media Relations Principle 6: Hone your Message.
For more information about message development and advocacy in Washington, see
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Tags: lobbying and advocacy, message devlopment, Strategic Planning
Posted 2011/03/17, 6:07 am
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When you are involved in a legislative event, it can be helpful to understand a few key tips that can help things to go much more smoothly. First, introductions to policymakers should be brief. Lobbyists often make the mistake of speaking too long in introductions while attempting to do a suitable job. An effective introduction should provide essential information such as the district or state represented, committee assignments and one or two accomplishments which the representative is particularly proud of. You should also include anything specific regarding the issue that is being discussed.
photo credit: isafmedia
It is also important to confirm the logistics and time limits well in advance with the member’s staff. At the same time, confirm essential information such as the length of the speech and whether reporters will be present.
Whenever there is more than one congressional member participating in an event, there is the potential for the event to become complicated. This is why it is particularly important for such events to be carefully orchestrated ahead of time.
As a general rule of thumb, senators are typically recognized before House members and members of the House leadership are usually recognized before other members. With that said, members of Congress can be sensitive about their order of appearance, therefore it is best to allow them to work out the speaking order themselves if matters become complicated.
Always observe congressional ethics rules regarding gifts, sponsored activities and meals, and make sure you are current on those rules.
If you are going to use a congressional facility, be aware of the rules. For instance, some congressional hearing rooms prohibit taping signs to walls. Signage may be limited. Make a point to arrive early and have multiple staff contacts in case there are logistical problems.
Be prepared to fill time if the featured speaker should be delayed or needs to leave abruptly or even cancels before the event. Hopefully you will not need to fill much time, but if the need arises it is better to be prepared.
Finally, mind your words. Make sure you know who is in the room and assume the press is present even if you are not aware of it.
To learn more about advocacy on Capitol Hill, consider TheCapitol.Net’s 1-day workshop Strategies for Working with Congress.
Reference: Lobbying and Advocacy, by Deanna Gelak, Section 10.50 Tips for Coordinating Legislative Events.
For more information about advocacy in Washington, see
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Under certain circumstances, congressional committee staff members may choose to depose potential witnesses and scheduled witnesses. The purpose of such depositions is to gather information in order to prepare for a hearing. This is more common in investigative hearings.
photo credit: Vincent van der Pas
Formal in nature, such questioning of a witness is the equivalent of taking testimony in private. The deposition may be administered under oath and may also include advanced written questions as well as a full transcript. In most instances, deposed witnesses will be accompanied by legal counsel.
Any witness that is called for a deposition should ensure they have a clear understanding regarding the purposes as well as the authority for the deposition. It is often a good idea to consult legal counsel to obtain advice regarding the substance and procedure of the deposition. This will also help to ensure that the constitutional rights of the witness are protected. The practices of committees regarding depositions can vary significantly.
Witnesses who are called to testify before a congressional committee should fully understand that they have basic rights and protections provided under the U.S. Constitution and to rights provided under rules that are 
adopted by the Senate and the House and their committees. Basic constitutional rights include First Amendment rights to free speech, assembly and petition; Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure to obtain documents or information; and Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. This includes protection against being compelled to provide testimony against oneself that might be incriminating.
Under House and Senate rules, added protections include the right to legal counsel, the right to have counsel present to provide legal advice, the right to request that television cameras be turned off, and, in some cases, the right to refuse to be photographed. In certain circumstances, witnesses may also have the right to request that hearings be closed.
The protocol regarding the use of legal counsel during a hearing falls within the purview of each individual committee. As a result, witnesses who would like to bring legal counsel to a hearing should first consult with the relevant committee staff. In most cases, legal counsel is not necessary, but when an investigative hearing is involved and when a witness has been subpoenaed or requested to submit to a deposition, legal counsel is more frequently involved.
To learn more about preparing to testify before Congress, consider attending TheCapitol.Net’s workshop, Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony, also available for custom, on-site training.
Reference: Testifying Before Congress, by William LaForge, Section 2.50 Depositions Conducted by Committee Staff, Section 2.51 Testifying under Oath-Sworn and Unsworn Testimony, Section 2.52 Rights of a Witness.
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Tags: 1st Amendment, 4th Amendment, 5th Amendment, Congressional Investigation, deposition, depositions, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Investigative Hearings, sworn testimony, Testifying Before Congress, Testifying under Oath, Unsworn Testimony, witness
As an advocate, particularly in a courtroom setting, it is important to think out in advance the answer you want to hear and then design your questions to present a view toward obtaining that desired answer.
photo credit: Taylor.McBride™
Ultimately, you are seeking an answer that favors your position. And a big part of your job is to control what is said and how it is said.
You must give proper time and consideration to knowing precisely what you want to be said, in advance. Once you know what it is that you want to be said, the next step is to arrive there by asking a series of questions. Slowly, question by question, it is possible to lead the audience to the desired conclusion. Each question within the series should be designed to obtain the individual answer that you want.
The goal is to get the audience to agree to several points and then as a consequence to agree to the final point. In order to be effective, you must have a clear understanding in advance of what those points will be. You must know what it is that you want the audience to agree with.
Every question is an objective and each series of 
questions leads you to the answer or conclusion you desire. Once you obtain the answer that you desire to a question, you move on to the next question. After you know your ultimate objective it is then possible to break that objective down to individual objectives so you can work on them one by one. The best way to approach this strategy is by thinking “if this, then that.”
Another approach would be to look at it as “if such and such, then so and so.” Make a point to design your questions to that you can bring out the desired conclusion and then invite the audience or the witness to agree with what must naturally follow as a result.
By using this strategy, your solution will seem to be irresistible to the audience. They will have followed you through every single step and will have seen the way you reach your objectives. It will then be natural for them to agree with you.
To learn more about advocacy and the best techniques to win others over to your issue, consider the Capitol Learning Audio Course, Effectively Using Persuasion in your Oral Presentations: A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective, or this 1-day workshop, Effective Briefings: The Art of Persuasion.
Reference: Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers, by Keith Evans, Chapter 3 The Mandatory Rules of Advocacy, Rule 57: Think Out in Advance the Answer You Want to Hear and Design Your Questions With a View to Getting That Answer.
For more information about becoming a better advocate, see these resources from TheCapitol.Net:
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Tags: advocacy, Common Sense Rules of Advocacy, courtroom advocacy, Keith Evans, leading questions
Posted 2011/03/07, 6:17 am
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Preparing to testify before Congress can require a significant amount of preparation on the part of the witness. When you are invited to testify before Congress, it is important to understand the advance preparations that must be made and the rules and requirements related to those preparations.
photo credit: Daquella manera
Committee rules and guidelines often require witnesses to submit a certain number of advance copies of the witness’s written statement along with their biographical information. In some cases other written materials regarding the witness’s organization or the topic of the hearing may also be requested in advance. Generally, this information must be submitted by a certain deadline, ranging from one to three days before the hearing. The actual deadline can vary based on the committee as well as the nature of the hearing. Guidelines are often established by committees regarding the number of copies that must be submitted and in some instances an executive summary may also be requested.
Such requests will usually be outlined by the committee in the letter of invitation issued to the witness. Written witness materials will then be included in the briefing folders or books that are prepared by committee staff specifically for the use of committee members before and during the actual hearing. Materials are often excerpted or summarized. Copies of witness materials are usually made available on the committee’s web site and provided to the media, congressional staff and the public during the hearing.
Prospective witnesses should consult with committee staff well in advance of the commencement of the hearing to be certain they are in compliance wit all committee rules, practices, policies and requirements. This is particularly important regarding the “Truth-In-Testimony” rules that apply, requiring specific information from witnesses. This can include not only advanced copies of testimony and biographical information, but also financial information regarding government contracts and grants as well.
To learn more about rules and practices regarding testifying before Congress, consider TheCapitol.Net’s course, Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony, which is also available as custom, on-site training.
Reference: Testifying Before Congress, by William LaForge, Section 2.7 Advanced Copies of Witness Statement
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As an advocate in court, you want to be careful about putting words in the mouth of your witness, also known as asking leading questions. While it can be difficult to steer away from asking leading questions, think of this rule as “do not put words into the mouths of your witness.”
photo credit: byebluemonday
What exactly is a leading question? A leading question is any question that contains its own answer. Leading questions can be asked with a simple yes or no answer. For example, you might ask a witness “You are now 25 years old?” The witness can answer “Yes.” All the witness needs to do is agree. If you change the question to eliminate the inclusion of the answer, it then becomes much safer. For instance, you would ask, “How old are you?” The witness then states their current age.
Simply because a witness can answer a question with a nod or shake of their head, that does not necessarily mean it is a leading question. The reverse is always true, however. Leading questions can always be answered with a yes, no, nod or shake of the head or even a grunt.
The danger of leading questions is that testimony comes from the advocate and not the witness. The advocate should never provide evidence or testimony — that is the job of the witness. There are also two other reasons why leading questions are dangerous.
First, when evidence comes from an advocate, it is difficult for the factfinder to assess the credibility of the witness. In addition, if the advocate provides testimony by placing words into the mouth of the witness, the value of that testimony can be spoiled. The effect of the witness’s testimony is diluted.
To learn more about advocacy and the best techniques to win others over to your issue, consider The Capitol Learning Audio Course, Effectively Using Persuasion in your Oral Presentations: A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective, or this 1-day workshop, Effective Briefings: The Art of Persuasion.
Reference: Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers, by Keith Evans, Chapter 3 The Mandatory Rules of Advocacy, Rule 18: Never Put Words in the Mouths of Your Own Witness.
For more information about becoming a better advocate, see these resources from TheCapitol.Net:
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Tags: Common Sense Rules of Advocacy, Keith Evans, leading questions
Posted 2011/02/18, 6:07 am
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