Courses

• Leadership and Power Circles in the Current Congress
• The Changing Nature of Congressional Power
• The Hearing Process in the current Congress
• The Press in Washington, DC
• Attendance at Committee Hearings and House/Senate Galleries
• The Role of Congressional Staff (personal and committee)
• Overview of Congressional Appropriations process
• Interest Groups on Capitol Hill
• The Congressional Budget Process and budget formulation in the Executive Branch
• The President, Congress and the National Budget: an overview of US political History
• Perspectives on the current Congress

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

• The Changing Nature of Congressional Power

• Leadership and Power Centers in the Current Congress

• Perspectives on the Current Congress

• The Role of Congressional Staff

• Interest Groups and Capitol Hill

• The President and the Executive Branch

• 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 guest speakers including Members of Congress and their staffs, elected state and local officials, journalists, and government scholars.

Congressional Briefing Seminar Field Courses

Woods Institute hasbrought the intricacies of the United States Federal Government to numerous clients. From Alaska to Florida, the Woods Institute tailors its seminars to the needs of our clients with topic sessions such as:

• The Role of Your Agency in the Legislative Process with a Local Senior Agency Line Officer

• Leadership and Power Centers in the U.S. Congress

• The Legislative Agenda for Your Agency with a National or Regional or State Representative  from the client’s Legislative, Public or External Affairs Office

• Congress in Committee is Congress at Work, a Videotape produced by the Woods Institute on the Recreation Fee Program on Public Lands

• Historic Overview of the Struggle between the White House and Capitol Hill over the Budget

• The Budget Process and Outlook for Your Agency’s Budget with a National, Regional or State Representative from the client’s Budget Office

• Who Has the Power of the Purse?, Videotape on the Federal Budget Process produced by Woods Institute

• The Role of Congressional Staff with Field Representatives from U.S. Senators’ State and/or U.S. Representatives’ District Offices

• Perspectives on the issues facing the current Congress

  
  

  These courses are typically two day courses taught in areas with a high concentration of federal agencies. Recently, we have brought our Field Course to Portland OR, Denver CO, Albuquerque NM, and Phoenix AZ. In the coming months, we will host this course in Atlanta GA, Boise ID, and Billings MT.

  See the "Upcoming WI Course Announcements" links to the right, or on our homepage and to the to view future field course locations.

This course contains basic information on how the budget process unfolds each year in Washington and how you as a citizen can play a part.  The more you know and understand the process, the more you can make your lawmakers accountable for your tax dollars.  How a nation spends its money says a great deal about its values as a culture and a society.  Course sessions include:

• The President, Congress, and the National Budget

• Leadership and Power Centers in the Current Congress

• Appropriations vs. Legislative Process

• The Budget Process Formulation in the Executive Branch and The Role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• The Role of the Congressional Budget Office

• The Congressional Appropriations Process

• Current Budget Request:  Where the Money Comes From and Where the Money Goes

• A Congress Member’s Perspective on Budget

• Attendance at Congressional Hearings (in person or via CSPAN). Budget Hearings occur from February to May.  If course runs during this period, participants may be able to view Budget and Appropriation Hearings in person or via CSPAN.

All sessions are led by Dr. Woods or guest speakers including Members of Congress and their staffs, elected state and local officials, journalists, and government scholars. 

National Policy Seminar

This course combines the The Federal Budget Process course and the Congressional Briefing Conference enabling participants to gain an in-depth understanding of how dollars and policy often go hand-in-hand in the United States Government.  The National Policy Seminar utilizes the following sessions to educate our participants:

• Overview on Government and Congressional Operations

• Congress, the Court, and Lawsuits

• The Role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the Budget Process

• The Press in Washington

• Federal Agencies and Legislative Affairs

• Leadership and Power Centers in the 111th Congress

• A Member’s Perspective on Federal Agency Issues in the 111th Congress

• Interest Groups on Capitol Hill

• The Role of Staff on Capitol Hill

• The Federal Agency Budgeting Process

• The President and Congress

• The Appropriations Process

• Attendance at House and Senate Committee Hearings

• Attend the Floor Action in the U.S. Capitol in the House and Senate Galleries (in person or via CSPAN). Budget Hearings occur from February to May.  If course runs during this period, participants may be able to view Budget and Appropriation Hearings in person or via CSPAN.

All sessions are led by Dr. Woods or guest speakers including Members of Congress and their staffs, elected state and local officials, journalists, and government scholars.
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