News

Contact: Tim Hysom, 202-546-0100

The Congressional Management Foundation’s (CMF) upcoming report, Communicating with Congress: Recommendations for Improving the Democratic Dialogue, synthesizes nearly 10 years of original research on the state of communications between citizens and Members of Congress into actionable recommendations for a more effective public policy dialogue in the 111^th Congress. The timely report comes on the heels of a temporary shut down of the House servers in late September and early October which resulted from an unprecedented number of constituent e-mails regarding the financial crisis, the most recent demonstration of the urgent need for change in the face of Internet-enabled citizen engagement.

Contact: Beverly Bell, 202-546-0100

WASHINGTON—According to a new publication, Members-elect who try to accomplish too much during their transition to Congress risk devoting too little attention to the critical decisions that can make or break a first term.

Setting Course: A Congressional Management Guide, authored by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), tells Members-elect how to use their time wisely in November and December. Members-elect should focus on decisions about their personal circumstances (i.e. whether to move the family to Washington), lobbying for committee assignments, and setting up their personal office.

K Street Café is a new blog where experts from a variety of backgrounds, including CMF's deputy director Kathy Goldschmidt, share new and novel ways that technology, the Internet and social media are being used to shape public policies. The blog will highlight and analyze the shift from one-directional communications to multi-layered conversations as the method of choice for individuals engaged in issue advocacy.

On October 2, Roll Call debuts its new section focused on the role of chiefs of staff in congressional offices called "The Chief." It includes the column "Chief Counsel," in which CMF's Director of Training and Consulting, Meredith Persily, answers a management question submitted by a Chief of Staff. Click here to view the column (subscription req'd).

Nearly 100 Million Adult Americans Contacted Congress in the Last Five Years

Contact: Beverly Bell, 202-546-0100

WASHINGTON—Almost half of all voting-age Americans contacted a Member of Congress in the last five years – often at the urging of a third party – to support, oppose or learn more about issues of interest to them. However, the majority do not believe Congress is interested in what they have to say, according to a new report by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF).

The Congressional Management Foundation Will Release Report on How the Internet Has Changed Citizen Interactions with Congress

WASHINGTON—The report, Communicating with Congress:  How the Internet Has Changed Citizen Engagement, by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) discusses the results of survey research with citizens about their motivations, perceptions, and expectations of communications with Members of Congress.  This report is part of a nine-year project to identify the problems on both sides of congressional communications, facilitate collaborative problem-solving, and develop recommendations to improve the democratic dialogue in the 21^st Century.

Speech of The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland in the House of Representatives, Congressional Record, February 28, 2008.

Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and the Republican Leader Mr. Boehner to congratulate the Congressional Management Foundation on its 30th anniversary. CMF has had a widespread and positive impact on this institution, and we are proud to applaud its efforts over the decades in applying its motto, "Good government through good management.''