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Congressional Oversight Training Series
For congressional staff only - not open to the public
Click here for 2009-2010 seminar details and registration information.
ABOUT THE TRAINING SERIES: One of the goals of the Congressional Oversight Training Series (COTS) is to educate participants about the true powers of Congress. The training series will include a combination of hands-on training and exercises, mock hearings, case reviews, and lessons from some of the most accomplished current and former congressional oversight experts and practitioners.
Congressional oversight is a bipartisan responsibility and effort. The Honorary Co-Chairs for the series are Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Carl Levin (D-MI), as well as Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
The 2010 Congressional Oversight Trainings Series (COTS), dates and topics.
Save the date!
March 26 - Advanced Seminar: What Congress Needs to Know About Inherently Governmental Functions
- Cathy Garman, Professional Staff, House Armed Services Committee (Majority)
- Republican presenter TBA
- Janine R. Wedel, Professor, School of Public Policy, George Mason University; Senior Research Fellow, New America Foundation, and author of the new book, SHADOW ELITE: How the World's New Power Brokers Undermine Democracy, Government, and the Free Market
April 23 - Advanced Seminar: Oversight of the Financial Sector A Year Later
Speakers TBA
** POGO will be distributing copies of its recently published oversight handbook, The Art of Congressional Oversight: A User's Guide to Doing It Right, to congressional staff. **
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To Register simply email idrake@pogo.org and provide your name, title, and contact information or call Ingrid Drake at 202-347-1122
Please spread the word to other Hill staffers.
Click here for resources and summaries of past topics. Click here to go to POGO's podcasts which include presentations from past COTS Series seminars. Click here to learn more about POGO's book, The Art of Congressional Oversight: A User's Guide to Doing it Right, order your copy today!
What did past participants have to say about the Series?
"Excellent discussion and great guest speakers. Very knowledgeable with good handouts."
"Real life situations and tips very helpful to new investigator."
"I like the fact that this is a series – that you continually remind staff of the need to do oversight. As opposed to one seminar at the beginning of the session which we promptly forget about in the rush of everything else we’ve got to do."
"Each session gives new ideas as to how oversight can be done – based on the firsthand experiences relayed by the panelist. It helps answer the question: 'Where do we start?'"
There is no cost for participating in COTS. Seminars will generally be held on the 3rd Friday of the month, alternating each month at rooms in the Senate and House office buildings. Lunch will be provided.
Some of the topics to be covered in the series include, "How to Prepare for an Oversight Hearing," "The Art of Writing a Demand Letter," and "Investigating Public and Private Corporations."
POGO Provides Oversight Handbook To Congress And Hill Staff To Encourage Increased Oversight, July 31, 2009.
Congressional staff members gather tips on oversight, GovExec.com, December 1, 2006.
Click here for resources and summaries of past topics.
