Bill Well's 17 Cardinal Rules
for Working With Congress
The beneficiary of 14 years experience as a staff member and staff director for key science subcommittees in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as an advisor to the Executive Branch, Bill Wells has outlined the following 17 Cardinal Rules for working with Congress:
Convey that you understand something about Congress. Demonstrate your grasp of the fundamentals of the Congressional
decision-making system, especially the need for compromises and trade-offs. Don't seek support of science as an entitlement. Don't convey negative attitudes about politics and politicians. Perform good intelligence-gathering in advance. Always use a systematic checklist technique. Remember that timing is vital. Keep the Congressional calendar in mind. Understand Congressional limitations. Make it easier for those in Congress to help you by focusing your problem or
issue clearly and making apparent what decision is needed or what action Congress should take. Remember that members and staff are mostly generalists. Keep the "bottom line" in mind. Use time -- yours and theirs -- effectively. Don't patronize either Members or staff. Don't underestimate the role of staff in Congress. Remember your friends and thank them often. Finally, remember that the great majority of members and staff are intelligent, hard working, and dedicated to public service.
IEEE members interested in understanding how government works and in communicating effectively with policy-makers should note William G. Wells, Jr., Working With Congress: A Practical Guide for Scientists and Engineers, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science with support from the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government.
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Last Updated: April 13, 1999 |