It’s one of the persistent complaints about our government: Why can’t Congress get anything done? Actually, getting issues debated and voted on is much simpler in the House of Representatives, where only a majority vote is required. But, in the Senate, the process can be much more difficult. Over the past two years, and in … Read more
If you are new to lobbying and advocacy, legislative language can be confusing and complex. Below is a guide to help introduce you to some of the most common terms you will encounter on Capitol Hill. photo credit: CarbonNYC Adopted-used for conference reports Agreed to-used for amendments, simple resolutions and concurrent resolutions Concur-used for an … Read more
After a policy has been thought through, the next step is to begin crafting the words that will be used. The goal at this stage is not identifying the focus, but expressing it as effectively as possible. There is no special language that is used for writing legislation. Effective drafting requires clear writing. There must … Read more
This course, held each year in mid-February, focuses on the President’s next fiscal year budget proposal released in early February. Our faculty discuss the policy initiatives of the President and how Congress will respond to them. photo credit: thelastminute Attendees participate in a comprehensive overview and analysis of the President’s most current budget, Congressional response, … Read more
In January each year, the new session of Congress opens. The 20th Amendment provides that The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. photo credit: gregor_y In 2011, the 112th Congress … Read more
Organizations can have multiple messages they wish to convey to stakeholders and the media at any given time. There are many ways a campaign message can be created, but here are four basic steps that can help to ensure the process goes smoothly. First, you must have agreement on the goal of the message. There … Read more
Lobbyists should be familiar with the code of ethics adopted by the American League of Lobbyists (ALL), which provides basic guidelines and standards for the conduct of lobbyists. photo credit: Ryan Somma Honesty and Integrity Lobbyists should always be truthful in their communications with public officials and with all other interested parties. Compliance with Laws, … Read more
In the House, after a measure has been reported from committee, it is placed on a calendar. Whether the measure comes off its respective calendar and receives floor consideration is the responsibility of the majority-party leadership. Leadership is also responsible for influencing the way in which a measure is considered. photo credit: disrupsean There are … Read more
In a presentation at the recent ACC Annual Meeting, Google’s General Counsel Kent Walker relayed this startling piece of information: in the entire history of humankind, until 2003, man had created a total of 5 exabytes of information. Today, we create 5 exabytes of information every two days. And the pace of information creation is … Read more
In preparing to work with members of Congress, it is important to understand the differences between the House and the Senate. The more you understand about each chamber of Congress, the better prepared you will be to gain support for your issue. photo credit: Ewan-M At 435 members, the House is the larger chamber. The … Read more