Surviving Inside Congress
Staffers Easy Guide to Weathering CongressFebruary 24, 2009By Elizabeth KenigsbergCongressNow StaffThe Hill is often the destination for young political types hoping to be part of the change or maybe just join the old establishment. And in a town infamous for its 60-hour workweek, the sources offering their secrets to success and for that matter, survival are infinite. One new career guide, however, attempts to gather all the information together, calling itself the practical insiders guide.Surviving Inside Congressis written by three former Congressional staffers Mark Strand, Michael Johnson and Jerome Climer who tout their more than 50 years of combined Hill experience. The book tries to differentiate itself from the multitude of other D.C. career guides and Congressional textbooks to provide new and older staffers with the tools for success."We wanted to write a book for staff a lot of people write books for Members and just about Congress," said Strand, president of the Congressional Institute, the book s publisher. Strand's Capitol Hill experience includes a stint as the chief of staff to then-Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.). "Staff members," he said, "are the glue that holds Congress together."The book does a thorough job of explaining the history, rules and procedures of the legislative branch, and even provides an easy-to-use glossary and procedures manual."The book is a revelation of things that people didn t get in high school or college civic classes," Strand said. "The jobs on the Hill are so unique, but there is no training for them because you can t go just get a credential you have to usually learn on the job."Despite the difficulty in preparing for a job on the Hill, Strand said he and his co- authors wanted to take a stab at showing how can you gain five years of experience by reading a book.Surviving Inside Congressis not the first Capitol Hill career guide to hit the market; a number of books catering to Hill hopefuls exists, yet few others are marketed so specifically to Congressional staff.The book is perhaps most valuable for its understanding of the new challenges that legislative staff must face and its in-depth look into the ever-changing and increasingly rapid realm of Congressional communication."What you say and how you say it help determine you and your employer s success or failure in the political fishbowl," the authors write. "Communication is more than mere information. It demands a link that runs in two directions he who shares knowledge gains it in return."Special attention to political strategy and the undeniable challenges of working on Capitol Hill also play a critical role in the book, and the authors advice is easy to read and comprehend."Nearly everyone who works for the Congress is a temp, most of all the elected officials who run the show but whose futures are as uncertain as the next election," the authors write, speaking about the high turnover on the Hill. "What little job security there is usually derives from a staff member's dedication, talent and experience."The authors long tenures on the Hill seem to have left them with a need to recruit a new wave of Congressional staff. Identifying the elements of day-to-day work on the Hill and explanations of the often-obtuse rules and procedures, the guide can provide a worthwhile first glance into the legislature to those willing to study it.</P"There is nothing else in the world like it," Strand said about working for Congress. "There are not many jobs where you can help change the world and make it a better place by going to work every day."--Roll Call: The Newspaper of Capitol Hill Since 1955Hill ManualMarch 13, 2009Are you lost on Capitol Hill? Are you mindlessly nodding along during meetings, with no idea what your chief of staff is even talking about? Three Republican former Capitol Hill veterans have just published a book called Surviving Inside Congress, devised to help new congressional staffers and others learn the ropes. The book gives plenty of tidbits on how congressional offices are staffed, parliamentary procedure, ethics guidelines, and the e-mail and snail mail systems. All current Hill staffers can get the first edition of the book free. It's a project of the Congressional Institute and is co-authored by the organization's president, Mark Strand, who served as chief of staff to then-Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo; former institute President Jerome Climer; and Michael S. Johnson, staff chief to then-House Leader Bob Michel, R-Ill. "I think it just makes the institution work better if people know more about what they're doing, and don't get frustrated by the process," Strand said.-- Gregg Sangillo</P --National JournalFive Question for Mark Strand, Co-Author 'Surviving Inside Congress'By Bennett Roth, CQ StaffStrand was most recently chief of staff to Missouri Republican Jim Talent, a senator from 2002 through 2006, and is now president of the Congressional Institute, a Republican think tank. He wrote this field guide for prospective congressional aides with two other Washington veterans: Michael S. Johnson and Jerome F. Climer, both of whom have worked in the executive branch and for members of Congress.Q. What is your best advice for young people seeking to work on Capitol Hill?A. Don t be afraid to ask for help. There is so much to know about Congress even the most senior staff are still learning.Q. You devote a long chapter to ethics; is this an increasing worry for staffers?A. There is no doubt people who work on the Hill work in a fishbowl. There are a whole bunch of people waiting for them to make mistakes. We really emphasize learning the rules. We re trying to keep good and decent people working on the Hill.Q. How do the boomers and millennials (born after 1980) get along on staffs?A. Baby boomers invented the 60-hour workweek. They feel that people should pay their dues. They are not as comfortable with e-mails. They prefer face-to-face communication. The millennials are highly connected and technologically savvy. They have grown up as team players and believe they should participate in decisionmaking without waiting for arbitrary time to pass.Q. You cover pretty basic information, like how bills are passed. Is that necessary?A. Young people don t get information in high school or college to know how Congress really works. If you think cloture is Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, you will be in for a rude awakening.Q. Do you have any daily living advice for staffers, such as where to live or eat or socialize?A. That wasn t what we were trying to do with this book, such as talking about where to live and eat and everyone s favorite bar. At my age my favorite is getting home to dinner with my wife.Source: CQ WeeklyThe definitive source for news about Congress.© 2009 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved.--Congressional Quarterly Weekly