Brought to you by the Academy’s Partnership with the Congressional Management Foundation

In collaboration with the Partnership for a More Perfect Union, the Academy is pleased to provide these short videos to help our advocates become more sophisticated and effective advocates. These videos are not a course or other curriculum, but a series of short vignettes on topics of interest to constituent-advocates. The Congressional Management Foundation developed these sessions based on survey data they collected directly from Congressional offices over time. We hope you enjoy these sessions.

Foundational Information About Congress:

• Congress 101 – An Insider’s View of Capitol Hill (approx. 7 minutes):
  In this session, see what motivates a member of Congress, how they spend their time when in Washington and back home, how their offices are structured, and the amount of communication they receive annually.
• How to Host a Local Event That Your Member of Congress Will Want to Attend (approx. 4.5 minutes):
  In this session receive a brief set of recommendations how to attract a policymaker to an event you are hosting locally.
• An Examination of a Member of Congress' Brain (approx. 2 minutes):
  In this session lighter session, obtain a brief overview of what motivates a Member of Congress and why it is important to break through the noise to raise your issue with them.

Relationship Building:

• How to Hug a Porcupine - Building Relationships with Congress (approx. 10 minutes):
  This session provides a more in-depth view of how a Congressional office operates and why it is critical and how to develop relationships with your policymakers and their staff.
• Strategies to Influence Undecided Lawmakers (approx. 3 minutes):
  In this session, learn how and why it is important for you, as a constituent, to make your voice heard when your policymaker is undecided on an issue.
• The Value of Personalization (approx. 3.25 minutes):
  In this session see how much correspondence a typical Congressional office receives, why it is important and how to personalize your messages to Congress, and the impact compared to generic or form communications.

Communications:

• #SocialCongress: Perceptions and Use of Social Media on Capitol Hill (approx. 6 minutes):
  In this session, receive some insight in how and when to leverage social media as a tool in connecting your policymakers.
• What Congress is Looking for in Constituent Communications? (approx. 3 minutes):
  In this session, see how constituent communications have increased over time and why tailoring your communication achieve your specific aim is important.