News

Since the release of our Recommendations for Improving the Democratic Dialogue in 2008, we've been working to bring about a dramatic change in the way communications are transmitted to and from congressional offices.

Comprehensive Evaluation of 620 House and Senate Web Sites

The results of the 111th Congress Gold Mouse Award Project will be released by the Congressional Management Foundation’s Partnership For A More Perfect Union, assessing the quality of congressional Member, committee, and leadership Web sites and identifying the best Web sites on Capitol Hill.

Congressional Management Foundation Will Bestow Coveted Gold Mouse Awards to Best Member Web Sites during 1st Annual Reception on April 21.

In case you missed it, the complete press conference for the release of Online Town Hall Meetings: Exploring Democracy in the 21st Century is now up and streaming. Watch it here. 

Approval Ratings Jump by 18% Average 

WASHINGTON, DC—Personal interaction with a Member of Congress, even online, has a significant and positive impact on a constituent’s views of the official and their likelihood to become more politically engaged, according to research detailed in the report, Online Town Hall Meetings: Exploring Democracy in the 21st Century. 

Contact: Tim Hysom, 202-546-0100

The Congressional Management Foundation and its academic research partners are releasing a report entitled Online Town Hall Meetings: Exploring Democracy in the 21^st Century. The report summarizes findings and recommendations from an academic study of online town hall meetings between Members of Congress and their constituents which were facilitated by the partners of the Connecting to Congress project.

Dear Editor:

There are times when the facts of an article may be accurate, but are used to paint a misleading picture. “Lawmakers Have Long Rewarded Their Aides With Bonuses” (April 1, 2009) was just such a story.

Yes, many Members of Congress use unallocated office funds to increase salaries for staffers during the fourth quarter of the year as a merit bonus for exceptional work. These bonuses also serve to help retain the best and brightest staffers. However, they bear little resemblance to bonuses awarded in the private sector for companies that have received government assistance.