Descriptive information about federal programs. Most of this comes from the executive Branch and a few educational associations. Members relate this to what they personally expect a program to accomplish. Many, however, are suspicious of self-serving materials emanating from federal agencies. Attendance is often low, but key Members are usually present to hear educators present long, dull papers full of jargon.
Field hearings are more important although they are infrequent.
General Accounting Office reports and other independent reports in programs. Studies by the GAO are accepted because GAO is an arm of the Legislative Branch and its studies are done at the request of, or in cooperation with Members. The same applies to the Congressional REsearch Service of the Library of Congress. Some other non-federal studies of existing federal programs are given similar credibility. Policy research studies and reports.