overview

On October 1, 2007, CMF held the Communicating with Congress Conference, providing a forum for information sharing, education, and problem-solving with all sides of the communications equation. Panels were made up of experts from representatives from Member offices, citizen groups, communications vendors, and the technology industry. At lunch a keynote speaker from Zogby International previewed data from the 2^nd phase of this project: a national survey of citizens to find out their practices, perceptions, and expectations of their communications with Capitol Hill.

In June 2008, CMF will release an interim report which will synthesize discussions from the conference and original CMF research with both the senders and receivers of communications. Upon release, CMF will solicit comment from the public which we will incorporate into a final report on recommendations for possible solutions to improve communications between citizens and Members of Congress in the future.

It is our hope that, at the conclusion of CMF’s Communicating with Congress project, there will be a new model for communications between constituents and their elected officials that reduces or removes the current frustrations and barriers, facilitates increased citizen participation in the public policy process, and increases a meaningful democratic dialogue that benefits our country.

conference materials

• Detailed agenda
• Handouts: Conference-program (2.3 MB) and Conference-testimony (2.5 MB)
• Roll Call article: "CMF Tries to End E-mail 'Arms Race'" (login req'd)
• Summary of the "Communicating with Congress Conference" by Josh Tauberer of the Open House Project

conference videos

• Panel 1-The Process: How Do Messages Get from Citizens to Capitol Hill and Back?

Presentations: Broadband | Dial-up

• Panel 2-The Problems: What About Constituent Communications Isn't Working?

Presentations: Broadband | Dial-up

• Panel 3-The Solutions: Options for a New Model for Constituent Communications that Works for Everyone

Presentations: Broadband | Dial-up

Q&A: Broadband | Dial-up

About the Communicating with Congress Project

• Project Overview - In 2001, CMF began work on this project to improve communications between citizens and Members of Congress.

• How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy - A report on congressional staffs' views of constituent communications based on focus groups, interviews, and surveys of 350 House and Senate Staff in 200 offices.

• Conference on Constituent Communications: Dispelling Myths and Discussing Solutions - A forum in which more than 200 experts and stakeholders from both sides came together to share perspectives and discuss possible solutions.

• How the Internet Has Changed Citizen Engagement - A report on citizens' views on communicating with Congress based on nationwide telephone and online surveys of citizens.

• Recommendations for Improving the Democratic Dialogue - This report is the culmination of CMF's nine years of research, outreach, and study, with recommendations for all stakeholders on how to improve communication between citizens and Congress.

• Navigating the Rising Tide of Grassroots Advocacy - CMF offers educational presentations for grassroots/advocacy organizations on the topic of how to effectively communicate with Congress.