The Congressional Deskbook, now in its Sixth Edition, explains the legislative and congressional budget processes along with all aspects of Congress. Many of the sections are expanded online at CongressProfile.com And an expanded legislative and budget glossary is available online at TCNLG.com This comprehensive guide to Congress is ideal for anyone who wants to know how Congress really works, including federal executives, attorneys, lobbyists, media and public affairs staff, government affairs, policy and budget analysts, congressional office staff and students. Complete Table of Contents with links to other material at CongressionalDeskbook.com

Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, Sixth Edition (Congressional Deskbook (Legislative Series))

Politics & Social Sciences

Koempel, Michael

Schneider, Judy

Politics & Government

Sunwater Institute

Practical guidance how to prepare for and meet with elected officials and staff, how to write effective letters and emails to elected officials, strategies for influencing legislators face-to-face, best practices for communicating with Congress and state legislatures, and how to write persuasive "letters to the editor". This book is one part research studies, one part interviews and focus groups, and one part experience. It uses available research on Congress and its decision making. Dozens of elected officials, including members of Congress, and their staff agreed to off-the-record interviews and discussed the factors that contribute to their decision-making process. Strategies for Influencing Legislators Face-to-Face Best Practices for Communicating with Congress and State Legislatures Practical Guidance How to Prepare for and Meet with Elected Officials How to Write Effective Letters and Email to Members of Congress How to Write Persuasive Letters to the Editor that Get Published Summary Table of Contents Part I. How Government Really Works Ch. 1. How Congressional Offices Work Ch. 2. Congressional Culture Ch. 3. How Legislators Make Decisions Ch. 4. People Who Can (and Can't) Influence Legislators and How They Do It Part II. How to Influence a Legislator Ch. 5. Strategies for Influencing Legislators Ch. 6. Face-to-Face Meetings Ch. 7. Communications Appendices A. The Advocate's Pledge B. US Constitution and Amendments C. Declaration of Independence D. Information about Congress and Washington, DC Index
Complete Table of Contents online at www.CitizensHandbook.com

Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials: Citizen Advocacy in State Legislatures and Congress: A Guide for Citizen Lobbyists and Grassroots

Fitch, Bradford

Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers: A Practical Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Be a Better Advocate (Communication)

The classic advocacy guide for trial lawyers, Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers has been hailed by attorneys, mediators and professors nationwide. It's the practical advocacy guide designed for anyone who must persuade others, including attorneys, lobbyists, negotiators, account executives, law students, sales professionals, and parents. "Reading this book would profit any advocate of any experience level. Judicious application of the advice contained in the book will make anyone a better advocate." -- George R. (Bob) Dekle, Legal Skills Professor, University of Florida, Retired Assistant State Attorney, Third Judicial Circuit of Florida (successfully prosecuted Ted Bundy) "Keith Evans, the author of Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers, is an experienced trial lawyer. He has studied the game from the inside and he has seen things others have missed. He has distilled his experience and offers it up in the brisk aphoristic style that brought him his success in the courtroom. The book is a valuable review for the old timers and an excellent primer for those who are starting the climb." -- Jacob A. Stein, Stein, Mitchell &amp; Mezines, Washington, DC "This is a terrific guidebook that should be followed by all young trial lawyers. While it is true that these rules are based upon common sense and that most seasoned trial lawyers will figure them out over time, this book will allow young advocates to benefit from all the painful lessons learned by inexperienced lawyers before them." -- Philip H. Corboy, Corboy &amp; Demetrio, Chicago, IL "Down to earth advice for the advocate. Keith Evans' book provides important, down-to-earth advice and guidance for both the novice and experienced advocate. Having adjudicated many, many cases, I wish every advocate would review these practical rules for effective advocacy. All advocates will benefit from this helpful book." -- Jay Grenig, Arbitrator "Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers is a superb how-to book for the trial lawyer. The author, Keith Evans, walks the reader through the essentials of effective trial advocacy, teaching every step of the way while at the same time never sounding the slightest bit like a lecturer. The scope of the book -- everything from what to wear in the courtroom to writing a trial brief -- is truly impressive, yet the author maintains a tone that is refreshingly readable. The author never loses sight of the underlying rules of evidence, procedure, and ethics, but his real genius is translating those rules into -- as the title says -- common sense rules of advocacy. I wish I had had this book when I was a young lawyer. I highly recommend it." -- Karl Tegland, author, "Courtroom Handbook on Washington Evidence" "Advocacy is an art as well as a skill, and Keith Evans presents the rules of mastering that art in a very down to earth manner. Filled with humor and eminently readable, his book is a great introduction for the new lawyer and a wonderful learning tool for the advocate with experience." -- Sherman L. Cohn, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center (first national President of American Inns of Court) "Even the most experienced trial lawyer can pick up some new techniques here. I will heartily recommend it to my Trial Advocacy students." -- Frederick C. Moss, Professor, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University Complete Table of Contents available online at www.RulesOfAdvocacy.com

Evans, Keith

Rules & Procedures

The Congressional Deskbook, now in its Sixth Edition, explains the legislative and congressional budget processes along with all aspects of Congress. Many of the sections are expanded online at CongressProfile.com And an expanded legislative and budget glossary is available online at TCNLG.com This comprehensive guide to Congress is ideal for anyone who wants to know how Congress really works, including federal executives, attorneys, lobbyists, media and public affairs staff, government affairs, policy and budget analysts, congressional office staff and students. Complete Table of Contents with links to other material at CongressionalDeskbook.com

Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, Sixth Edition

Congressional Procedure: A Practical Guide to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress: The House of Representatives and Senate Explained

"A clear explanation of the workings of the United States government that should be required reading for politically engaged Americans." -- KIRKUS
Congressional Procedure explains the legislative and congressional budget processes along with all aspects of Congress.
This comprehensive guide to Congress is ideal for anyone who wants to know how Congress really works, including federal executives, attorneys, lobbyists, media and public affairs staff, government affairs, policy and budget analysts, congressional office staff and students. <ul>
<li>Clear explanation of the legislative process, budget process, and House and Senate business</li> <li>Legislative process flowchart</li> <li>Explanation of the electoral college and votes by states</li> <li>Relationship between budget resolutions and appropriation and authorization bills</li> <li>Amendment tree and amendment procedures</li> <li>How members are assigned to committees</li> <li>Glossary of legislative terms</li> </ul>
Each chapter concludes with Review Questions. Chapter 1 examines the relationship between the U.S. Constitution and the House and Senate. It discusses Constitutional provisions that directly affect Congress. The makeup, roles and leadership of the House and Senate are compared and contrasted. Congressional committees and their place and power in the House and Senate are explored. Chapter 2 begins with a discussion of why members submit legislation, explains the forms of legislation, and lays out the steps involved in drafting legislation. Bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions and simple House and Senate resolutions and their purposes are separately described. Ends with a flowchart of the legislative process. In Chapter 3, the work of Congressional committees is examined in greater detail: types of committees and their structures; subcommittees; power of the chairs of committees; hearings, markups and amendment procedure in committee; and the reporting of legislation to the House and Senate floor. Chapters 4 and 5 follow the course of legislation through the respective chambers and some of the more arcane elements of House and Senate floor action. Chapter 4 addresses some of the unique characteristics of the House including the central and crucial role played by the Rules Committee and the special rules it reports. Scheduling, consideration, amending, and passage of legislation through the House is described in detail. Chapter 5 discusses the handling of legislation on the Senate floor, including unique Senate characteristics like the filibuster, the nuclear option, holds, and the filling of the amendment tree. Chapter 6 explains the various procedures for resolving differences in legislation between the Senate and the House. The budget process is addressed in Chapter 7, including appropriations and authorization procedures, the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act and the key role it has played since its adoption, the use of the optional budget reconciliation process, and the somewhat complex but crucial Byrd Rule. Chapter 8 concludes the detail and analysis of Congressional procedure with a number of processes that are not strictly legislative, including a number of Constitutional responsibilities given to Congress such as oversight and investigation and advice and consent, counting of Electoral College ballots, and impeachment. The conclusion, Chapter 9, describes the way in which many of the procedures explained in this book are increasingly being used, and some would say abused, in both the House and the Senate. Glossary Index Also see related CRS Reports and links on TCNCPAM.com For detailed Table of Contents, see CongressionalProcedure.com

Arenberg, Richard A.