Conspiracy theories give true believers the illusion of power by offering a “secret” and, to believers, a convincing account of how the world works; but they simultaneously disempower the believers because they buy into a narrative in which the Powers are so smart, so well-organized and so far-sighted that nothing short of an apocalyptic meltdown … Read more
On November 19, 1989, the people of Prague, in the former state of Czechoslovakia, gathered to commemorate a massacre of Czech students by Nazi Germany fifty years earlier. By the end of the day, the gathering turned into a demonstration against a ruling Communist government that had begun massacring Czechs and Slovaks from virtually the … Read more
How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories Searching for Legislative Intent Learn how to research, compile and analyze the legislative history of federal laws and statutes. Our faculty demonstrate and discuss: Federal legislative history research methodologies Various document types necessary to research and compile legislative histories including: Enacted laws Bills and resolutions Floor debates Committee … Read more
Clarke and Dawe – European Debt Crisis Also see Federal Debt; Budget Deficit / Budget Surplus; Date Shifting / Fiscal Transparency / Fiscal Illusion; Public Debt / Debt Ceiling; “We Don’t Want Your Clunkers“. Courses Congressional Operations Briefing – Capitol Hill Workshop Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments Writing for Government and … Read more
Whether you are delivering a speech to sway an audience or writing a closing argument for the courtroom, you want to deliver an effective conclusion. A few rules can help guide you. photo credit: jimduell The most important emotion in the conclusion of any argument is that of your audience. Ultimately, it is not your … Read more
How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents: Going Beyond Thomas Research Workshop: Congressional Documents Are you responsible for tracking legislation for your organization, finding committee hearings and reports, or searching for legislation and amendments? Do you know which online resources are most useful for your particular task? Do you need to know alternative methods … Read more
Congressional Briefing Conference: Capitol Hill Workshop Intensive 3-day Congressional Operations Briefing and Seminar Congressional decision-making is driven by politics, policy and process. This engaging workshop and seminar on legislative operations provides the full Capitol Hill experience as our Washington-based experts focus on these 3 P’s. They discuss the policy-making process and the legislative agenda, help … Read more
Referenced in our course: Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing. Life After Death by Powerpoint (Corporate Comedy Video) Old-fashioned slide briefings, designed to update generals on troop movements, have been a staple of the military since World War II. But in only a few short years PowerPoint has altered the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Official Objectors / Passed Over Without Prejudice The Sopranos – Ralph Gets Passed Over Pass Over Without Prejudice: A request in the House to defer action on a measure called up from the Private Calendar without affecting the measure’s position on the calendar. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Optics Optical illusions show how we see | Beau Lotto A “term of art for how a bit of news will be perceived by the public at large, which is only used by people who bill by the hour.” — Troy Senik “The … Read more