New Survey Finds Minorities in Government Relations Workplace Experience Inequalities
by CMF Research Assistant
on August 08, 2022
As the demographics in American continue to change, it is critical for all to have political representation to ensure laws are benefiting as many as possible. Which is why it is disheartening that a recent survey conducted by the Diversity in Government Relations Coalition (DGR) found that government relations professionals of color feel undervalued at work.
Read more »
State of the Congress 2022: Hope for Resiliency Amid Turmoil
by CMF Research Assistant
on August 03, 2022
The necessity of strong institutional barriers to autocracy is unquestioned, but equally important to a well-functioning democracy is the commitment to our democratic principles by the Members and staff who comprise our national legislature. Despite many concerning findings in State of the Congress 2022, that commitment, often unnoticed, clearly remains strong.
Read more »
Statement from Congressional Management Foundation on New Recommendations from Modernization Committee
The Congressional Management Foundation enthusiastically celebrates the latest recommendations adopted this week by the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. This round builds on the amazing work by the Select Committee, which has served as a model for bipartisanship and productivity during its tenure. We are especially excited by those recommendations regarding district offices, which are often overlooked yet are often the first point of contact with Congress for millions of Americans.
Read more »
Watch: Time & Information Management
Information is one thing that isn't in short supply in congressional offices. And yet there aren't enough hours in a day to EVER catch up! How do you go about juggling these opposing forces? Follow CMF's CEO and President, Bradford Fitch, in this recording where you will learn how to:
Read more »
Congress: Change Your Office Phone Answering Policies AGAIN
Without warning, your staffer picks up the phone to hear these chilling words: "We're coming for the congresswoman, her family, you, your family ... and we know where you live!" Before the staffer can hang up, the caller has cursed at her several times. Congressional managers and Members need to appreciate – and mitigate – the impact of these verbal attacks on staff and on interns.
Read more »
Principle 10: Input from the public should be integrated with other sources of information for Congress to make good public policy decisions.
by Kathy Goldschmidt
on May 27, 2022
Public sentiment alone should not be the sole determinant in developing public policy—if it was, we would not need Congress, just a national polling firm. The Founders gave us a republic, a representative democracy, not a direct democracy.
Read more »
Principle 9: Constituent advocacy must prioritize content and quality over medium and quantity.
by Kathy Goldschmidt
on May 23, 2022
Both Congress and the organizers of grassroots campaigns are stuck with an antiquated and inaccurate belief that the best way to demonstrate broad support for a cause or issue is to send as many emails as possible to as many Members of Congress as possible. Because it is now so much easier and less expensive than in pre-Internet days to generate high volume, these tactics are no longer a clear indication of the salience of an issue. Generating identical form email campaigns to Congress just sap the time, resources, and hard drive space of Congress.
Read more »
Principle 8: The People should be honest and transparent in their engagement with Congress.
by Kathy Goldschmidt
on May 19, 2022
Democracy is a two-way street. While our elected officials bear the lion’s share of the burden to be transparent and accountable to those they represent, the People who engage Congress have a civic duty, as well.
Read more »
Principle 7: While individual Members should prioritize engagement with their own constituents, Congress should develop additional venues for public policy participation and engagement.
by Kathy Goldschmidt
on April 29, 2022
Since lawmakers are bound by duty and practice to focus mostly on their own constituents, however, Congress should create other means for the People to engage with Congress in meaningful and thoughtful ways. There are currently few mechanisms for a concern to be raised to Congress except through an individual’s own legislators, who have complete discretion in what issues they pursue.
Read more »
Advocacy organizations are focusing on ease and efficiency when lobbying Congress, instead of strategies that are more effective, but harder to implement
by Kathy Goldschmidt
on April 19, 2022
Like Congress, the associations, nonprofits, and corporations that facilitate grassroots advocacy campaigns to legislators are unwittingly aiding the process of turning constituent contact into data points instead of true engagement.
Read more »
|
|