Congressional Briefing ConferenCe

March 27-29, 2012

During the three-day seminar on Capitol Hill offered by the Woods Institute each spring and fall, participants have the opportunity to observe Congress in action, in committee and, security permitting, from the House and Senate galleries in the U.S. Capitol. A series of speakers cover topics in both programmatic and budget policy areas related to the issues of class participants. Tailored to the needs of the participants, Woods Institute invites guest speakers who work with participants programs and areas of interest. Speakers include Members of Congress and their staff, elected state and local officials, journalists, and government scholars. Sessions with federal agency staff from the legislative and budget offices of the departments that correspond to the agencies represented by class participants are also scheduled. Finally, lobbyists from NGOs and industries whose policy issues are germane to the interests of conference attendees will also be included in the class. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the executive and legislative processes of our Federal Government through the following sessions: Introduction and Overview on Government and Congressional Operations I should have had this course when The Changing Nature of Congressional Power I first entered the Federal Government. Leadership and Power Centers in the Current Congress I now have a greater awareness of the Perspectives on the Current Congress budget and legislation affecting my job. The Role of Congressional Staff All Americans should take this Interest Groups and Capitol Hill course on the Congress. The President (Executive Branch) and Congress An Overview of the Congressional Budget and Appropriations Processes The Congressional Budget Process Formulation in the Executive Branch Preparation for Attendance at Committee Hearings Attendance at Congressional Hearings (in person or via CSPAN) All sessions are led by Dr. Woods or distinguished speakers. Patricia D. Woods, PhD has over thirty years of experience working with the U.S. Federal Government and Capitol Hill power circles. As a Louisiana State University PhD candidate in US History and French, Dr. Woods worked in the Louisiana State Legislature for over seven years. Upon graduating, she worked with the National Association of Counties and as a visiting Professor for the Government Affairs Institute before founding her own civic education organization, Woods Institute in 1984. As President of Woods Institute, Dr. Woods has specialized in providing congressional training for government employees with a focus on Federal Agencies with Public Lands and Natural Resource Agencies including but not limited to the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Other clients have included the Department of State, the Naval Air Systems Command, the University of Virginia, Georgetown University and Trinity University of Washington, DC. The fee for this course includes materials on Congress, two continental breakfasts, and all instruction. $850

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