Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments 
A hands-on how to program

This is the first course in our 2-course Legislative Drafting Workshop. The second course is Advanced Legislative Drafting.

This introductory course helps anyone draft, revise, and review bills and amendments, with lessons especially useful to those who review legislation, prepare reports, or draft legislation and other formal legislative documents. In this course our expert faculty explain the role of the OMB, examine various formats and explore ways to choose the most appropriate one for your issue.

You will learn how to:

• Define your audience and broaden your measure's appeal
• Assess existing law and policy objectives before putting pen to paper
• Structure bills and amendments to streamline the drafting process
• Comply with the U.S. Code rules of construction, style, grammar and punctuation guide
• Use drafting styles that work in your favor
• Apply drafting language to your ideas and goals via hands-on exercises
• Review legislation drafted by others

 

The leadership competencies for this course include:

• Influencing/Negotiating
• Strategic Thinking
• Written Communication
   

Bring this course to your site. This course and any combination of its topics are available as custom on-site training for your organization. We have tailored this course for attorneys, paralegals, legislative counsel, inspectors general, and others in agencies, legislatures, and law and lobbying firms.  For more information about how this training can help your staff, please contact our client liaison.

This is an elective course for the Certificate in Congressional Operations.

Space is limited. 
 

Course materials include the Training Edition of "Legislative Drafter's Deskbook," by Tobias A. Dorsey. "[A]n essential tool for anyone who drafts legislation or interprets the law." -- William K. Suter, Clerk of the United States Supreme Court "An essential and indispensable book, both as a reference work and as a thorough introduction to Federal legislative drafting." -- Frank Burk, Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate 1991-1998

Agenda	Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments 9:00 - 4:30 pm (networking lunch at noon) Preparing to Put Pen to Paper Analyze the problem, facts, and existing law -Determine the policy to be drafted and the law to be addressed Decide which approach and drafting style to use Understand the differences between a positive and non-positive law Understand the amendment process: form and technique Use special provisions designed to clarify and simplify Organization and Structural Guidelines Consider who the "audience" of your legislation or amendment will be Review organizational guidelines of a legislative measure Drafting "Rules," Style and Practical Tips Learn punctuation rules, practical tips and suggestions on legislative style, grammar, and specific wording Gain awareness of general drafting problems Review basic rules of construction as outlined in the United States Code Discuss the NPR executive order on "writing in plain English" and legislative branch requirements OMB Approval and Transmittal Processes for Federal Agencies Understand the Office of Management and Budget legislative clearance process required before a Federal agency may submit legislation, testimony, or comments on pending bills to Congress Discuss the legislative proposal package used to transmit a federal agency's approved legislation to the Hill; this package includes a "Speaker letter," draft bill, and section analysis Mini-Practicum Participants will identify errors in a fictitious piece of draft legislation The errors will be discussed Legislative Drafting Practicum: Putting Your Skills to the Test Participants will draft legislation in order to build their drafting skills A suggested solution will be provided The instructor will be available for questions Insights, Observations and Suggestions The instructor will make final comments and observations on the practicum and drafting legislation Comments will include common mistakes and "traps" to watch for     For a printable course description, agenda with dates, and registration form, click here.  PDF This course is also available as a custom program.  Do you need a training course we don't offer or coverage of an additional topic in this course? If you have suggestions for courses or topics you would like to see us offer, please contact us or complete our online suggestion form.
Suggested Prerequisites	Familiarity with Congressional documents, operations and procedures, or our How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents  course. If you need help deciding which courses you should take based on your work experience or training, please contact us via email or phone: 703-739-3790.
Time and Dates	9:00 am to 4:30 pm T, July 17, 2012
Location	July 17, 2012:   Location in Washington, DC will be announced before course. Other dates:  Location in Washington, DC will be announced before course. Our courses are held at these Washington, DC, locations.
Course Materials	Materials include the Training Edition of Legislative Drafter's Deskbook by Tobias A. Dorsey and a course manual.
Certificate of Training and CEUs	A Certificate of Training is available for this course. To get a Certificate of Training, your registration fee must be paid in full, and you must attend the entire course. This is an elective course for the Certificate in Congressional Operations. This course is approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.
Related Training	Congressional Briefing Conference - Capitol Hill Workshop Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process Advanced Legislative Strategies How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories How to Find, Track, and Monitor Congressional Documents Writing for Government and Business: Critical Thinking and Writing Writing To Persuade
Policies	For this course, cancellations and transfers must be submitted in writing to us.  Substitutions must be submitted in writing - include substitute's name, phone and email. Our transfer and cancellation fees are outlined below. Transfer and Cancellation Fee Time Before Course Substitutions Allowed Transfer Fee Cancellation Fee More than 4 weeks No charge No charge No charge 15 days to 4 weeks No charge 10% of tuition 25% of tuition 4 days to 2 weeks No charge 20% of tuition 50% of tuition 1 to 3 days No charge 30% of tuition 75% of tuition day of program (no refunds to no-shows) No charge No refund No refund No refunds for no shows. We reserve the right to change this fee and time period.  Cancellation, Substitution and Transfer Policy  Weather Policy TCN reserves the right to cancel any course in the event of insufficient registrations. All statements and discussion at all of our courses, workshops and seminars, public and custom, are off the record and not for attribution, unless specified otherwise. The resulting confidentiality ensures a frank and free exchange of views.
FAQs	FAQs about our training including suggested attire.
Register	$595 Payment methods we accept include checks, EFT/ACH, and Intuit Payment Network (IPN).     For a printable course description, agenda with dates, and registration form, click here.  PDF Fax or Mail: Print out and complete the registration form (in Adobe pdf). The completed form should include your method of payment.    Fax the completed form to us at 703-739-1195.    Mail the completed form to us at TheCapitol.Net, Inc., PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA  22313-5706
Related Resources	Congressional Deskbook Congressional Operations Poster Congressional Documents Online Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments in a Nutshell, Capitol Learning Audio Course Legislation and Legislatures, including national and state and local links Legislative Drafting Reference and Research Tools Legislative Drafter's Deskbook Legislative History Reference and Research Tools Statutory Construction and Interpretation, Government Series
Educational Tracks	Strategies for Working with Congress Hill Workshops and Special Programs
Available as custom, on-site training?	Yes.  This program can be tailored for private on-site training.  Please call 703-739-3790 for information.
Need more information?	Phone: 703-739-3790 Email: registrar -at- TheCapitol.Net Complete our online information request.
Non-Partisan	TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan firm, and the opinions of its faculty, authors, clients and the owners and operators of its vendors are their own and do not represent those of TheCapitol.Net.

 

 

URLs: www.TheCapitol.Net/PublicPrograms/legisdrafting.html
DraftingLegislation.com
TCNDEFLA.com
TCNDF.com
TCNDL.com
 

Next Course
July 17, 2012
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Location (below)
$595 

   
Approved for .6 CEUs from George Mason University.

All of our courses and workshops include extensive interaction with our faculty, making our courses and workshops both educational and mini-consulting sessions with substantive experts.

Rave Reviews

"This will help me draft legislation for the [Agency] - and we need it." 
-- Chief, Legislative Liaison, federal agency

"We have been on the fringe of legislative drafting. This will help us move into this arena effectively."
-- Director of Federal Affairs, HIMSS

"Excellent! Really enjoyed the practical exercises. Very helpful, excellent instruction."
-- Attorney, DC

"Will directly aid in my legislative drafting skills."
-- Deputy Director, Legislative Reference Service, DoD

"Contextual and drafting components most helpful -  Overview of process as important as drafting. Written materials TERRIFIC!"
-- Workshop attendee

"Have a much better understanding of presenting alternatives to proposed legislation.  The materials are wonderful."

"Excellent overview.  Practical seminar."
-- Workshop attendee

"Even for individuals involved in legislation on a daily basis, this program has something for everyone."
-- Associate Director, American College of Cardiology

See more testimonials about this course.

Faculty

The faculty members for this course each have more than 15 years' experience drafting and editing proposed legislation.

Select Previous Faculty

Frank Burk

Blair Crownover

Toby Dorsey

Bob Rabben

Our Clients

Congressional Offices

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Military

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Diplomatic Corps

Fortune 500

Law Firms

Lobbying Firms

Labor Unions

Associations