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Custom Training

Testifying Before Congressional Committees
Learn how to prepare testimony for, and to effectively testify at, Congressional hearings.

Do your staff and executives understand what it takes to give clear, concise, and cogent testimony before a congressional committee? Do they know the rules of testifying-and preparing to testify-in the the congressional "courtroom"? This program is designed for staff who prepare written testimony, prep witnesses for testifying, or staff and executives who plan to deliver testimony.

Gain a better understanding of the role and purpose of congressional committees and the hearing process. Learn what members and congressional staff expect from witnesses before, during, and after the hearing.

During the program, the instructor reviews types of committees and hearings. He focuses on all aspects of testimony preparation including research, the process of persuasion, and specifics of how to effectively structure written and oral testimony.

Participants learn effective delivery and listening techniques, and how to deal with Q&As and difficult situations. Attendees put their new skills to the test by preparing and delivering testimony before a mock committee hearing. Participants are videotaped and critiqued by "committee members."

This is a Congressional Fellows and Presidential Management Fellows Training course This is a Congressional Fellows and Presidential Management Fellows Training course.



SPECIAL OFFER
Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony and Oral Presentations

Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony and Oral Presentations Series, 2 Award-Winning Publications and 5 Capitol Learning Audio Courses

Buy 2 award-wining publications and 5 audio courses on CD and SAVE more than $40.

FREE Shipping

"Testifying Before Congress" softcover

"Common Sense Rules of Advocacy" hardcover

- Course 1: Tips, Tactics & Techniques for Writing Congressional Testimony
- Course 2: Effectively Using Persuasion in Your Oral Presentations
- Course 3: Preparing for Congressional Oversight and Investigation
- Course 4: Creating a Message That Resonates with Your Audience
- Course 5: Keys to Effective Presentations

Buy all five (5) Capitol Learning Audio Courses on audio CDs. Total run time: 385 minutes on audio CDs. CDs include MP3 audio file and course materials in Adobe PDF . Includes FREE shipping in the US.

2736
ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-273-9
This Audio Course Series is sold with a Limited License.

$495
Buy this Capitol Learning Audio Course
This Special Offer applies only to the CD version of this five-course audio course series.



 

More Information
Sample
Agenda
Audience
Level
Course
Materials
Fee Related
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Related Resources


Course materials can include

Testifying Before Congress

Program materials can include the Training Edition of Testifying Before Congress

By William N. LaForge

"This informative 'how-to' guide should be required reading for every new congressional staffer and for the congressional relations staff of every federal department and agency."
-- Lawrence Baca, President, Federal Bar Association, and Deputy Director of the Office of Tribal Justice in the Department of Justice (Retired)
More Reviews


  Custom Training Information

Sample Agenda
Day One
Welcome and Introduction

Committee Action and the Hearing Environment
  • The role of committees and the hearing process in Congress
  • Types and membership of committees; types of committee hearings (informational, legislative, investigative, oversight, public relations)
  • Committee markup of legislation and committee reports
  • The role of the committee chairmen and staff in deciding the hearing subject matter, selecting witnesses and preparing questions
Testimony Preparation
  • Testimony preparation, including research
  • The process of persuasion and the nature of argument
  • Interactive group exercises demonstrate sound arguments .

Testimony Delivery

  • Review a "testimony worksheet"
  • Review of effective delivery techniques
  • Discuss witness/member dynamics and the "art" of responding to questions.        

Testifying Before Congress:  Communications Dynamics

  • How to prepare engaging and dynamic testimony
  • The use of the audience
  • How to handle questions

What Makes Effective Testimony:  The Staff Perspective

  • The work, procedures and organization of the relevant congressional committees
  • How these committees prepare for hearings
  • What staff and members expect from witnesses
  • Differences between authorization and appropriation hearings
  • The nature of the relationship between the committees and executive agencies
  • What staff and members of Congress believe makes effective testimony
  • Suggestions for preparing for congressional hearings

Instructions for Preparing for Simulated Hearing Exercise

Day Two

Introduction and Hand-in Prepared Testimony

Simulated Hearing Exercise
(recorded on video)

Review and Feedback Session       
 

Lunch and breaks will be scheduled each day


All custom training is tailored for each organization and audience. Topics from this program can be combined with topics from our other programs and with topics from your existing training programs.
 

Sample Agendas

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

  • 2-hour program for busy executives called to testify before Congress - Delivering Effective Testimony Before Congress

  • 1-day for federal agency with media training - Media and Testimony Skills

  • 1-day for national association - Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony

  • 2-day program for federal agency - Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony  

See our Sample Agendas page for more.
 

Audience Level

All staff who are or will be responsible for preparing or presenting testimony before Congress will benefit from this training. Past attendees include military officers, SES, managers, scientists, budget analysts, and others.
 

Audience Size

This program is most effective for between 5 and 30 attendees.  

Previous Clients

Variations of this program have been presented for federal agencies.

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

Course Materials

Course materials can include the Training Edition of Testifying Before Congress.
 

Length and Location

Usually requires 2 days.  A 1-day program is available with little or no attendee videotaping and feedback.  

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

Fee The fee for this program depends on the location, number of attendees, length, and training materials.  Call us for details, or complete our custom program information request for more information.  

Request More Information About this Custom Training Program

What is included in the fee? TheCapitol.Net tailors each program to meet your training and educational objectives. Before we issue a cost proposal, we will work with you to tailor a program to meet your training objectives. 

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.
 

FAQs

See FAQs About Our Custom Training.
 

Payment

Payment methods we accept for custom training include checks, and EFT/ACH.
 

Related Custom Training 
  • Advanced Media Relations

  • Advocacy Campaigns in Washington

  • Critical Thinking and Writing

  • Grassroots Advocacy on the New Capitol Hill

  • How to Work with the Media

  • Preparing for Congressional Oversight and Investigation

  • Strategies for Working with Congress

  • Writing To Persuade
     

About Us TheCapitol.Net, Inc., is a non-partisan small business, and a Virginia corporation.  We are registered with CCR / SAM. See our Capability Statement and our About Us page for more details.

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

Related Resources
  • Congressional Deskbook

  • Congressional Directory

  • Congressional Leadership and Committees (listing)

  • Congress - Published Schedules

  • Essential Hill and Political Washington Web Sites

  • Lobbying and Advocacy links

  • Politics and Political News

  • Quick DC Links - Washington Essentials

  • Testifying Before Congress
     

Need more information?
  • Phone: 202-678-1600

  • Email: custom -at- TheCapitol.Net

  • Complete our online custom program information request.

    Request More Information About this Custom Training Program

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. 
 

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URLs: TheCapitol.Net/CustomPrograms/testify2agenda.html
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Custom Training from TheCapitol.NetRequest More Information About this Custom Training Program

TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training, contract GS02F0192X
TheCapitol.Net, Inc.
Contract GS02F0192X

Custom Training, On-Site and Online

All custom training from TheCapitol.Net is tailored for each organization and audience. Topics from this program can be combined with topics from our other programs and with topics from your existing training programs.



Rave Reviews

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

 

"Excellent guidance on preparing to report to Congress and their staff. [The course] provided valuable insight into congressional hearings and how to prepare for them." 
-- Branch Chief, Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, Department of State

 

"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 program.

 

See what some of the attendees at our custom programs say about our custom training.


 

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.

 

Internal Marketing

To help you publicize and market a custom program to your organization's audience, we can provide printed materials and language for your own internal promotion and publicity.

 

Our Clients

Congressional Offices

Federal Agencies

Military

NGOs and Nonprofits

Diplomatic Corps

Fortune 500

Law Firms

Lobbying Firms

Labor Unions

Associations

 

 

 

 
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