Additional Professional Development Resources for Staff

This list is a work in progress; we will keep updating it as we learn of more organizations providing professional development opportunities to congressional staff. If you know of an offering that we missed and that you would like to see included please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(Descriptions below are taken verbatim from the organizations' websites. CMF is not responsible for any characterization, promise, or commitment from another organization.)

Click here for a list of CMF's programs for staff.

Brookings Institution

The Brookings Institution is a non-profit think tank that was founded in 1916. In addition to conducting research on a wide range of subject matters, their Governance Studies program is dedicated to solving governance problems on the local, national, and global levels. Courses offered are as follows.

  • Certificate in Policy Strategy: Brookings Executive Education's (BEE) Certificate in Policy Strategy (CPS) provides you with the tools and analytic framework needed to effectively engage in policymaking, and a unique credential from a world-renowned public policy and research think tank.
  • Inside Congress: Walk the corridors of the Capitol, and witness the legislative process firsthand in this fast-paced, in-depth course. Hear from members of Congress, and observe floor action in the House of Representatives and the Senate as you explore how bills are initiated, written, and passed.

Census Bureau

The Census Bureau is a federal agency that collects and publishes information and statistics about the United States. Courses offered are as follows.

Congressional Research Service

The Congressional Research Service (intranet links, internal link only) is a legislative branch agency that provides non-partisan research services exclusively for Members of Congress and their staff. They offer six broad tracks of programs. Each of these tracks provides subprograms, all with varying degrees of professional development. Courses offered cover the a range of topics related to appropriations and budget.

Congressional Staff Academy

The House's Congressional Staff Academy (intranet links, internal link only) offer many courses for House staff and interns on a variety of topics. Additional courses are facilitated through the Congressional Staff Academy, but taught by other entities (CRS, GAO, etc.). Please visit the House intranet at registerme.house.gov for more information on current course offerings or contact the CSA at 202-226-3800 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Government Affairs Institute – Congressional Management Foundation

Formerly a government office within the Office of Personnel Management, GAI is now a part of Georgetown University. They provide education and training on congressional operations and public policy. The Congressional Management Foundation and the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown are bringing together their combined 70 years of experience for the first time to offer a joint program on "Legislative Operations for Congressional Staff." This new two-day course is designed for current legislative staff who want to deepen their skill sets or move into management and interns looking for a permanent Hill job.

Topics include the following:

  • Developing floor vote recommendations, conducting legislative research, writing briefing memos, answering constituent mail, and performing other basic legislative functions;
  • Working with executive agencies, advocacy organizations, and other outside groups to accomplish the Member's goals;
  • Creating an effective mail system and managing staff;
  • Demystifying the Rules and Appropriations Committees and staffing the Member's committee assignments.

Levin Center at Wayne Law

The Levin Center, headquartered at Wayne State University Law School but with an office in Washington, is a center established in honor of Sen. Carl Levin who represented Michigan for 36 years and built a reputation for powerful investigations. Its primary mission is to strengthen bipartisan, fact-based oversight in Congress.

The center offers multiple training programs and resources to facilitate effective oversight, including a series of two dozen online tutorials, each 5-10 minutes in length, with expert advice on how to conduct high-quality investigations. The tutorials cover such topics as conducting effective interviews, handling difficult opposing counsel, and designing hearings to effect change. It also offers bipartisan workshops for committee staff, personal offices, and administrative clerks, which can be customized upon request, as well as a variety of other resources in a section called Inside Oversight. The materials are designed to be helpful not only for new hires, but also mid-career and more experienced staff.

Project on Government Oversight

Project on Government Oversight POGO is an investigative organization dedicated to rooting out wasteful spending in the federal government. It was founded in 1981 to expose wasteful military spending. In 1990, they expanded their mission to exposing wasteful spending throughout the government.

It offers a Congressional Training Program course, which aims to educate Hill staffers and other people in the legislative branch about the oversight powers of Congress. Designed for veterans and neophytes alike, the seminars feature a combination of hands-on training and exercises, case reviews, and lessons from some of the most accomplished current and former congressional oversight experts and practitioners. Though seminars are targeted towards committee staff, much of the skills and information shared during the seminar will be helpful to personal staff in their investigations.

Senate Office of Education and Training

The Senate Office of Education and Training (intranet links, internal link only) is a branch of the Senate Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper. It provides training for Senate staffers.

Staff Up Congress

Staff Up Congress' mission is to increase the number of qualified and talented staffers of color that desire to put their skills to work on behalf of the American people in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. It is a nonpartisan initiative by the NALEO Educational Fund and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies to grow the pool of candidates for senior positions; develop candidates' skills and networks; build a sustainable pipeline of candidates from the entry level to Chief of Staff; and persuade hiring managers to actively consider, recruit and hire candidates in an inclusive manner.

  • Senior Management Academy: an eight-session senior management professional development program, with an emphasis on enhancing the ability of staffers of color to effectively pursue Chief of Staff positions.
  • Legislative Academy: an eight-session leadership program, with an emphasis on enhancing the ability of staffers of color to effectively pursue Legislative Director positions. During the Academy, bicameral, bipartisan, and experienced current and former staffers will educate participants on best practices in various relevant areas.
  • Communications Academy: a seven-session communications professional development program, with an emphasis on enhancing the ability of staffers of color to effectively pursue Communication Director positions. During the Academy, bicameral, bipartisan, and experienced current and former staffers will educate participants on best practices in various topics, including: writing in your member's voice; booking your member on TV and radio; working with internal and external stakeholders; working with reporters; crisis communications; and communications planning for dropping a bill.

TheCapitol.Net

For more than 35 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Executive Conferences, have been teaching professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs about the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them. Courses offered include:
  • Advanced Federal Budget Process: Current Budget Politics and the Federal Budget Process
  • Advanced Legislative Drafting
  • Advanced Legislative Procedure
  • Advanced Media Relations Workshop
  • Budget Formulation, Justification, and Execution
  • Capitol Hill Workshop: Election
  • Certificate in Communication and Advocacy
  • Congress in a Nutshell: Understanding Congress
  • Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process
  • Congressional Oversight and Investigations
  • Defense Capitol Hill Workshop
  • Delivering Congressional Testimony: Advanced Practicum
  • Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments
  • Effective Briefings: The Art of Persuasion
  • Essential Washington Research Skills
  • Fundamentals of Federal Legal Research
  • How America Governs
  • How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents
  • How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories
  • How to Research Regulations and Rulemaking
  • Keys to Effective Presentations: Invigorate Your Delivery and Increase Your Confidence
  • Media Relations for Public Affairs Professionals
  • National Security Policy Process
  • Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony
  • Research Tools and Techniques for Analysts: Refining Your Online and Offline Research
  • Speechwriting
  • Strategies for Working with Congress: Effective Communication and Advocacy on Capitol Hill
  • Testifying Workshop
  • The Defense Budget
  • The New Congress
  • Understanding Congressional Budgeting and Appropriations
  • Understanding the Regulatory Process
  • Update on Congress
  • Writing for Business and Government: Critical Thinking and Writing: How to Compose Clear and Effective Reports, Letters, Email, and Memos
  • Writing to Persuade: Hone Your Persuasive Writing Skills
 
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