Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials

  Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials Citizen Advocacy in State Legislatures and Congress – A Guide for Citizen Lobbyists and Grassroots Advocates By Bradford Fitch Practical guidance how to prepare for and meet with elected officials and staff, how to write effective letters and emails to elected officials, strategies for influencing legislators face-to-face, best … Read more

Persuading Congress

  Persuading Congress A Practical Guide to Parlaying an Understanding of Congressional Folkways and Dynamics into Successful Advocacy on Capitol Hill By Joseph Gibson Persuading Congress is a practical book, packed with wisdom and experience. For less than the cost of a cab ride to the airport, you can learn how to stop wasting your … Read more

Speechwriting: Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations – 1-day course in DC

Speechwriting Preparing Speeches and Oral Presentations This is one of the courses in our Word Workshop, offered throughout the year. Get expert guidance on writing speeches and preparing oral presentations. This course shows you how to prepare for and draft an effective speech, focusing on organization, sequence, support and style. You will get tips and … Read more

The Original Velvet Revolution

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

Super PAC / Independent Expenditure-Only Committee (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Super PAC / Independent Expenditure-Only Committee   PACS and Super PACs   “Super PAC” is the colloquial term for “Independent Expenditure-Only Committee”. Independent expenditures represent spending by individuals, groups, political committees, corporations or unions expressly advocating the election or defeat of clearly identified federal candidates. … Read more

Political Action Committee / PAC / Leadership PAC (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Political Action Committee / PAC / Leadership PAC   PAC-MAN (REMI GAILLARD)   Political Action Committee (PAC): A private group organized to elect or defeat government officials or to promote or defeat legislation. PACs are defined and regulated by state and federal law. A leadership … Read more

George Mason, “Grandfather of the Bill of Rights” (1725-1792)

George Mason is known, together with James Madison, as the “Father of the Bill of Rights.” However, George Mason would be better named the “Grandfather of the Bill of Rights” since the basis for the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was the Virginia Declaration of Rights. That all men are born equally free … Read more

“Requiring Individuals to Obtain Health Insurance: A Constitutional Analysis”

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), P.L. 111-148, as amended, Congress enacted a “minimum coverage provision,” which compels certain individuals to have a minimum level of health insurance (i.e., an “individual mandate”). Individuals who fail to do so may be subject to a monetary penalty, administered through the tax code. … Read more

Petition (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Petition A request or plea sent to one or both chambers from an organization or private citizens’ group asking support of, or opposition to, particular legislation or favorable consideration of a matter not yet receiving congressional attention. Petitions are referred to appropriate committees. Petitions are … Read more