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Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony
Prepare testimony and effectively testify at Congressional hearings

 

This Congressional Quarterly Executive Conference is offered exclusively by TheCapitol.Net
Agenda Rave Reviews When Where Registration Fee Policies Related Information

You know your issue better than anyone else. This course gives you the information and confidence necessary to testify before Congress, effectively presenting your case to Congress.

Our experienced faculty explores all aspects of testimony preparation including research, persuasion and the proper structure of both written and oral testimony. Participants learn delivery and listening techniques, ways to deal with anxiety and best practice techniques for addressing both Q&A sessions and challenging situations. You learn how to prepare congressional testimony and how to testify before Congress.

This course provides ample time to discuss concerns with faculty members while helping participants feel at-ease as they prepare testimony or actually deliver testimony on the Hill.

See our "Tips for Visual Layout of Oral Statement when Testifying Before Congress"

The leadership competencies for this course include:

  • External Awareness
  • Influencing
  • Written Communication
  • Political Savvy

Bring this course to your site.

This course and any combination of it's topics are available as custom on-site training for your organization. We have tailored this course for attorneys, military officers, foreign service officers, engineers, scientists, and others.  For more information about how this training can help your members and staff, please contact your client liaison.


Certificate in Communication and Advocacy

This is an elective course for the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy.

Space is limited.
If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.

Next Course
July 30, 2008:
Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC
$595 
Register for this course
If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.

   CEU credits approved by George Mason University
Approved for .6 CEU credits from George Mason University.

 
Educational Tracks
Communication and Advocacy
Working with Congress and Congressional Staff

 Course registration form (pdf) 


  Course Details
Agenda

Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony

9:00 The Committee Hearing Environment
We review the role of committees, types of committees and subcommittees, the hearing process in Congress, types of committee hearings, role of the committee chairman in hearings, the role committee staff play in deciding hearing subject matter, selecting witnesses, and preparing questions.
10:00 Break
10:10 Congressional Hearings: A Staff Perspective
A panel of committee staff members describe the work and organization of their committees, how these committees prepare for hearings, what staff and members expect from witnesses, and how witnesses from executive branch agencies and other organizations can build a good working relationship with committee staff before, during, and after hearings. The staffers will also discuss what they, and members of Congress, believe makes effective testimony, and provide suggestions for witnesses preparing for hearings.
11:20 Break
11:30 Testimony Preparation and Rehearsal
The instructor reviews all aspects of testimony preparation, including research preparation, audience analysis and the process of persuasion, key documents to be prepared before the hearing and how to effectively use each one, and rehearsing and mock hearings.
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Testimony Preparation and Rehearsal (continued)

Testimony Delivery
How to format and organize testimony in a way that improves oral delivery, review tone, body language, and gestures, and when and how to use visual aids during a hearing.
2:30 Break
2:45 Examples of Effective and Non-effective Testimony and Question-and-Answer Techniques
Witness/member of Congress dynamics, the "art" of responding to questions, the importance of preparing written "Q-and-A modules" for all anticipated questions, and other important tools and techniques will be presented. Participants will view video footage of actual congressional hearings that illustrate key do's and don'ts.
4:30 Complete Evaluations, Course Concludes

Register for this course
If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.

This is a sample agenda: the actual program may differ slightly. A detailed sample program agenda is available: (as a custom 1-day program) on the web, (as a custom 2-day program) on the web and as a pdf


Do you need a training course we don't offer or coverage of an additional topic in this course?

If you have suggestions for courses or topics you would like to see us offer, please contact us or complete our online suggestion form.


Suggested Prerequisites None.

If you need help deciding which courses you should take based on your work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 703-739-3790.

Rave Reviews "Would encourage people to do this earlier in their career when they start writing testimony.  All sessions very useful! Great course!" 

"The course is good for people who do lots of presentations as well as Congressional testimony. Well done!"

"This will be extremely helpful in prepping and calming first-time witnesses and in drafting oral testimony.  I especially appreciated the research tips." 
-- Policy Analyst, federal agency

"This is one of the best public communication seminars I've ever attended."

"Good, practical advice and insights on how to prepare and deliver testimony to Congress.  Practical and worthwhile"

"Although I live on the Hill and know many staffers, this seminar really helped me to understand what they do and how hearings work."

See more testimonials about this course.

Time and Dates 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  • Thursday, July 30, 2009

Register for this course

If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.

Location

July 30, 2008Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC (1 1/2 blocks from the Union Station Metro stop)  Our map | Google Map

Other dates:  Location in Washington, DC will be announced before course. Many of our courses are held at these locations:

Course Materials Course manual included.
Registration Fee $595 **   Register for this course

If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.
 
Discounts ** Group Discount!  When 4 people from the same organization register and pay together, the 4th person is free! When 8 people from the same organization register and pay together, the 4th and 8th persons are both free! See complete details here
Certificate of Training
and
CEU Credits
A Certificate of Training is available for this course. To get a Certificate of Training, your registration fee must be paid in full, and you must attend the entire course.

This course is approved for .6 CEU credits from George Mason University.

Certificate in Communication and AdvocacyThis is an elective course for the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy.

Policies For this course, substitutions, cancellations, and transfers must be submitted in writing to us. Our transfer and cancellation fees are outlined below.
 
** Transfer and Cancellation Fee
For all registrations received on or after September 1, 2007
Time Before Course Substitutions Allowed Transfer Fee Cancellation Fee
More than 4 weeks Yes, in writing None None
2 to 4 weeks Yes, in writing 25% of tuition 50% of tuition
3 days to 2 weeks Yes, in writing 50% of tuition 75% of tuition
1 to 2 days Yes, in writing 75% of tuition 100% of tuition
day of program
(no refunds to no-shows)
Yes, in writing 100% of tuition 100% of tuition

No refunds for no shows. We reserve the right to change this fee and time period. 

TCN reserves the right to cancel any course in the event of insufficient registrations.

All statements and discussion at all of our courses, workshops and seminars, public and custom, are off the record and not for attribution, unless specified otherwise. The resulting confidentiality ensures a frank and free exchange of views.

FAQs FAQs about our training including suggested attire.
Register

 

We accept checks, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express

 
Register for this course

If you get a "Wait List Only" message when registering, please select the next available date.

Click here for a course description and registration form (pdf)

Fax or Mail: Print out and complete the registration form (in Adobe pdf). The completed form should include your method of payment. 
  Fax the completed form to us at 703-739-1195. 
  Mail the completed form to us at TheCapitol.Net, Inc., PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA  22313-5706 

Related Information
Educational Tracks
Related Training
Available as custom, on-site training?  Yes.  This program can be tailored for on-site agency, association and corporate training.  Please call 703-739-3790 for information.

Need more information? Phone: 703-739-3790
Email: registrar -at- TheCapitol.Net
Complete our online information request.
Non-Partisan TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan firm, and the opinions of its faculty, authors, clients and the owners and operators of its vendors are their own and do not represent those of TheCapitol.Net. 
 

 


URLs: www.TheCapitol.Net/PublicPrograms/testify.html 
www.CongressionalTestimony.com
c  |  b

Last updated: June 24, 2008

 

 

 

 

 Faculty

Taught by faculty who have a minimum of 10 years' experience working with and helping agency and corporate staff prepare for testifying before congressional committees.
 

Selected Previous Faculty

 

Steven Keller

 

William LaForge

 

Walter Oleszek

 

James Thurber

 


See what others say about this course.
 

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