Custom Training Information

• 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, 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

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 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.
 

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.
 

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

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 can include the Training Edition of Testifying Before Congress.
 

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.
 

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.
 

See FAQs About Our Custom Training.
 

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

• 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
   

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

• 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
   

• Phone: 202-678-1600

• Email: custom -at- TheCapitol.Net

• Complete our online custom program information request.