Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments 
A hands-on how to program

This course helps anyone draft, revise, and review bills and amendments, with lessons especially useful to those who review legislation, prepare reports, or draft legislation and other formal legislative documents. In this course our expert faculty explain the role of the OMB, examine various formats and explore ways to choose the most appropriate one for your issue.

You will learn how to:

• Define your audience and broaden your measure's appeal
• Assess existing law and policy objectives before beginning to draft
• Structure bills and amendments to streamline the drafting process
• Comply with the United States Code (U.S.C.) rules of construction, style, grammar and punctuation guide
• Use drafting styles that work in your favor
• Apply drafting language to your ideas and goals via hands-on exercises
• Review legislation drafted by others

 

The leadership competencies for this course include:

• Influencing/Negotiating
• Strategic Thinking
• Written Communication
   

Tailor this course for your organization. This course and any combination of its topics are available as custom training, on-site and online, for your organization. We have tailored this course for attorneys, paralegals, legislative counsel, inspectors general, and others in agencies, legislatures, and law and lobbying firms. For more information about how this training can help your staff, please contact our client liaison.

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

Space is limited. 
 

Course materials include the Training Edition of "Legislative Drafter's Deskbook," by Tobias A. Dorsey. "[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

Agenda	Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments 9:00 - 4:30 pm (networking lunch at noon - only at live in-person course) Preparing to Draft 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 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 executive orders 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 identify errors in a fictitious piece of draft legislation The errors are discussed Legislative Drafting Practicum: Putting Your Skills to the Test Participants draft legislation to build their drafting skills A suggested solution is provided The instructor discusses the solution and answers questions Insights, Observations and Suggestions The instructor discusses common mistakes and "traps" when drafting  This course is also available as a custom program.  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	Familiarity with Congressional documents, operations and procedures, or our How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents  course. If you need help deciding which courses you should take based on your work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 202-678-1600.
Time and Dates	9:00 am to 4:30 pm Not schceudled yet, 2024
Location	2024:  Online  We use Adobe Connect and Zoom for our live online courses. For the September 27, 2023, class we will use Zoom. You need a computer or laptop with a camera and microphone and Internet access. You will be sent a course URL and password before the course date. We encourage you to test the connectivity of your computer/laptop prior to the course. We will mail, via USPS, logon instructions and the printed course materials to you at your preferred shipping address (that you provided at registration) approximately two weeks before the course starts via USPS Priority Mail. For delivery of the print course materials before the course we encourage you to register with your preferred shipping address no later than two weeks before course date. Other dates: Online via Adobe Connect or Zoom. Location in Washington, DC or Online will be announced 4 to 8 weeks before course. Our in-person courses are held at these Washington, DC, locations. This live course, when held in-person, is often held at Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC (1 1/2 blocks from the Union Station Metro stop)  (You must come inside and sign in, and then you will be directed to the training room.) Our map | Google Map
Course Materials	Materials include the Training Edition of Legislative Drafter's Deskbook by Tobias A. Dorsey and a course manual.
Certificate of Training and CEUs	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 is a Congressional Fellows and Presidential Management Fellows Training course. This course is approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.
Related Training	Congressional Operations Briefing - Capitol Hill Workshop Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing Writing To Persuade
Policies	See https://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/CoursePolicies.html 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	$645   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 202-688-2424.    Mail the completed form to us at the address on the registration form.
Available as custom, on-site training?	Yes.  This program can be tailored for on-site and online training for your organization. Please call 202-678-1600 for information.
Need more information?	Phone: 202-678-1600 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/legisdrafting.html
DraftingLegislation.com
TCNDEFLA.com
TCNDF.com
TCNDL.com
 

Next Course
Not scheduled, 2024
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Location (below)
$645 

   
Approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.

All of our courses and workshops include extensive interaction with our faculty, making our courses and workshops both educational and mini-consulting sessions with substantive experts.

Rave Reviews

"This will help me draft legislation for the [Agency] - and we need it." 
-- Chief, Legislative Liaison, federal agency

"We have been on the fringe of legislative drafting. This will help us move into this arena effectively."
-- Director of Federal Affairs, HIMSS

"Excellent! Really enjoyed the practical exercises. Very helpful, excellent instruction."
-- Attorney, DC

"Will directly aid in my legislative drafting skills."
-- Deputy Director, Legislative Reference Service, DoD

"Contextual and drafting components most helpful -  Overview of process as important as drafting. Written materials TERRIFIC!"
-- Workshop attendee

"Have a much better understanding of presenting alternatives to proposed legislation.  The materials are wonderful."

"Excellent overview.  Practical seminar."
-- Workshop attendee

"Even for individuals involved in legislation on a daily basis, this program has something for everyone."
-- Associate Director, American College of Cardiology

See more testimonials about this course.

Faculty

The faculty members for this course each have more than 15 years' experience drafting and editing proposed legislation.

Select Previous Faculty

Frank Burk

Blair Crownover

Anthony Coe

Toby Dorsey

Bob Rabben

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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