Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill

Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill (PPDCH), sponsored by Verizon Wireless, provide students with the unique opportunity to meet and interact with members of the Senate or Congress representing their state or congressional district.

 

The purpose of the PPDCH exercise is to:

• Help you improve your understanding of citizen advocacy and representative democracy through personal meetings with members of the Senate or Congress and/or their staff
• Develop teamwork, communication (written and verbal), research, and civic participation skills
• Enhance your understanding of the member’s position on an issue of interest to you

Domestic students will be grouped by state and congressional district to attend one meeting with a member of the U.S. Senate or Congress and/or their staff. International students will meet with a committee focused on a specific region of the world.

 

After your meeting with the member of the Senate or Congress and/or their staff, you will write a one-page follow-up thank you letter. The purpose of the letter should be to provide additional thoughts and reflection about an issue or topic discussed during the meeting and to thank the member and his/her staff for their time. This is not simply a thank you letter, but rather an exercise in citizen advocacy.

 

Read about TWC interns visiting Capitol Hill [1]

 

Additional Resources

• The Academic Course [2]
• The Portfolio [3]