"[A]n essential tool for anyone who drafts legislation or interprets the law."
-- William K. Suter, Clerk of the United States Supreme Court

"An essential and indispensable book, both as a reference work and as a thorough introduction to Federal legislative drafting."
-- Frank Burk, Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate 1991-1998

  Custom Training Information

Welcome and Introductions
 

Preparing to Put Pen to Paper

• Analyze the problem, facts, and existing law -Determine the policy to be drafted and the law to be addressed

• Decide which approach and drafting style to use

• Understand the differences between a positive and non-positive law

• Understand the amendment process: form and technique

• Use special provisions designed to clarify and simplify

Organization and Structural Guidelines

• Consider who the "audience" of your legislation or amendment will be

• Review organizational guidelines of a legislative measure

Drafting "Rules," Style and Practical Tips

• Learn punctuation rules, practical tips and suggestions on legislative style, grammar, and specific wording

• Gain awareness of general drafting problems

• Review basic rules of construction as outlined in the United States Code

• Discuss the NPR executive order on "writing in plain English" and legislative branch requirements

OMB Approval and Transmittal Processes for Federal Agencies

• Understand the Office of Management and Budget legislative clearance process required before a Federal agency may submit legislation, testimony, or comments on pending bills to Congress

• Discuss the legislative proposal package used to transmit a federal agency's approved legislation to the Hill; this package includes a "Speaker letter," draft bill, and section analysis

Mini-Practicum

• Participants will identify errors in a fictitious piece of draft legislation

• The errors will be discussed

Legislative Drafting Practicum: Putting Your Skills to the Test

• Participants will draft legislation in order to build their drafting skills

• A suggested solution will be provided

• The instructor will be available for questions

Insights, Observations and Suggestions

• The instructor will make final comments and observations on the practicum and drafting legislation

• Comments will include common mistakes and "traps" to watch for

Lunch and breaks scheduled as appropriate

This program can be presented as a 1, 2 or 3-day program.

Sample agendas of different versions of this program tailored for previous custom clients are available in Adobe PDF.

• 1/2 day for law firm 

• 1-day for federal agency

See our Sample Agendas page for more.
 

Our selected client list includes clients who have purchased custom training, sent staff to our public programs and who have purchased our publications.
 

Usually requires 1 to 3 days.

This program is usually held in Washington, DC. It can be presented anywhere in the United States online. 
 

The program fee includes pre-program development and design, materials for your internal marketing and promotion, all course materials, and faculty chosen for your topic and your audience at the time and location you choose.

Our custom program clients provide the classroom/meeting space, all audio visual equipment, any food and beverages, all registration functions, and travel arrangements for attendees. When the program is held outside the Washington, DC metro area, travel arrangements for faculty can be made by the client or by us. 

We can also provide meeting space, online venue, audio visual equipment, food and beverage, registration, and travel arrangements, though this affects program cost.
 

• Capitol Hill Workshop - Congressional Operations Briefing

• Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process

• Advanced Legislative Procedure

• How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories

• How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents

• Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing
   

FEIN: 54-1917701     DUNS: 04-273-5071      CAGE: 1K5S4
 

• Congressional Procedure

• Congressional Operations Poster

• Congressional Documents Online

• Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments in a Nutshell, Capitol Learning Audio Course

• Legislation and Legislatures, including national and state and local links

• Legislative Drafting Reference and Research Tools

• Legislative Drafter's Deskbook

• Legislative History Reference and Research Tools

• Statutory Construction and Interpretation, Government Series
   

• Phone: 202-678-1600

• Email: custom -at- TheCapitol.Net

• Complete our online custom program information request.