The Legislative Process: Working With Congress

Federal personnel who work with Congress should know how it is organized, how it functions, and how to interact with congressional committees that oversee agency programs and appropriated funds. You will establish a working knowledge of Congress by exploring best practices for interacting with key players and applying proven budget development, presentation, and justification techniques.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze congressional responsibilities related to the legislative process
• Analyze the influence of various key players have on the legislative process
• Develop a sample agency budget
• Develop and present an effective budget justification
• Determine whether appropriated funds are being executed according to Congress's intent regarding Purpose
• Determine whether appropriated funds are being executed according to Congress's intent regarding Time and Amount

Course Topics

Overview of the Legislative Process

• Introduction to the Legislative Process
• Sources of Legislation and Forms of Congressional Action
• Congressional Issues

Influences on the Legislative Process

• Roles of the Office of Management and Budget, and Congressional Budget Office
• Nongovernmental Organizations and Lobbying

Federal Budget Process

• The Federal Budget
• Federal Budget Process
• Key Players in the Federal Budget Process
• Considerations of Agency Budget Formulation

Budget Justification Process

• Budget Justification Process
• Budget Submission to OMB
• Budget Presentation and Justification Skills and Techniques
• Module Capstone

Executing Appropriations according to Purpose Criteria

• Overview of Appropriations Execution
• Statutory Interpretation
• Purpose Law
• Purpose Criteria

Executing Appropriations according to Time and Amount Criteria

• Time Criteria
• Amount Criteria