AI Summer Camp: Legislative Directors
For Legislative Directors, the use of generative (GenAI) tools can amplify strategic oversight by assisting in the management of legislative priorities, generating draft policy position papers, and synthesizing stakeholder feedback across multiple issue areas. AI has the ability to handle the heavy lifting of information processing and initial analysis so you can focus your expertise on high-level strategy and leading your leg shop.
Get started with five “quests” designed to support policymakers and their teams in getting to know and understanding this technology in an approachable way:
Safety First: Like any good adventure, using AI involves well-marked paths to follow—and a few areas best avoided. Stay safe and be responsible by keeping these AI safety tips in mind.
Bring a Buddy: See tips and sample prompts for every member of your team, including Staff Assistants, Legislative Staff, Communications Staff, Caseworkers, Schedulers, Field Representatives & Community Outreach Directors, Chiefs of Staff & District Directors, and even the Member!
Quest 1: Summarization
Ranger Tip
AI summarization empowers you to stay on top of multiple complex policy areas simultaneously by quickly distilling legislative analyses, stakeholder positions, and political intelligence into strategic insights. This enhanced oversight capability means you can provide more informed support to your Member while efficiently coordinating your legislative team's priorities.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Analyze policy - Synthesize multiple sources on key legislative priorities to assess political feasibility, stakeholder alignment, and potential amendments or compromises
Provide team coordination and oversight - Summarize policy developments, committee activities, and legislative staff reports to maintain strategic oversight and identify emerging opportunities or threats
Sample Prompts
“Attached are two versions of HR. X, one introduced in the US House of Representatives and one by the US Senate. Please highlight differences between these two pieces of legislation; compare the potential economic, social, or regulatory impacts of each version; and evaluate which amendments might be needed to reconcile the bills.”
“Synthesize this week's committee hearings and staff reports from the attached transcripts and staff/intern notes. Identify: the emerging issues needing Member attention; any unexpected developments that may affect the Congressional district of [State-District] and how; and recommendations for prioritization of next steps.”
Letters from Camp: Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
Quest 2: Brainstorming
Ranger Tip
AI can serve as your strategic thinking partner, helping you explore multiple scenarios, generate comprehensive legislative strategies, and identify creative pathways to advance your Member's agenda in a complex political environment. This expanded strategic thinking can uncover opportunities and approaches that might not be immediately obvious from your daily operational perspective.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Strategize legislative planning - Generate suggested approaches to advance priority legislation, including various timeline scenarios, coalition-building strategies, and contingency plans for different political developments
Innovate across policy areas - Brainstorm ways to connect different policy areas, find unexpected allies, or create package deals that could advance multiple priorities simultaneously
Sample Prompts
“I work for a Senator in the US Senate. Her top 3 priorities are infrastructure, workforce development, and rural broadband. Brainstorm 6 strategic approaches to advance all three: some as separate initiatives, some as combined efforts. Include potential allies, committee strategies, and timing considerations.”
“My Senator recently introduced [S. X], a healthcare reform bill. Generate 5 different scenario plans for trying to pass this legislation depending on political developments: best case, worst case, and 3 compromise scenarios based on likely political coalitions that will form. For each, include specific tactical approaches and coalition adjustments we'd need to make.”
Letters from Camp: Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
Quest 3: Content Creation
Ranger Tip
AI can help you create strategic documents, policy analyses, and coordination materials that keep your legislative operation running efficiently while advancing your Member's agenda. This strategic content creation capability allows you to communicate complex priorities clearly while maintaining oversight of multiple policy areas simultaneously.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Draft strategic planning documentation - Create legislative strategy memos, priority assessments, or coordination materials that guide your team's work and communicate plans to leadership
Draft policy briefing content - Develop briefing materials that inform decision-making and external communications
Sample Prompts
“I oversee a legislative team that supports a Member of Congress who was recently re-elected. We need to coordinate the continuation of the Member’s priorities in the prior Congress to align with our team's current efforts. Attached are numerous documents that outline this work and the Member’s policy priorities. Please create a strategic coordination document and tracker that includes: project overview and goals, role assignments and responsibilities for each team member, communication protocols, key deliverables, stakeholder insights where noted, and progress tracking mechanisms.”
“Draft a comprehensive briefing memo for a Member of Congress’ participation in [insert committee name and hearing topic]. Include: hearing purpose and witness list with backgrounds, key issues likely to be discussed, suggested questions for witnesses, potential amendments or follow-up actions, relevant district/state angles to highlight, and coordination opportunities with other committee members. Format for easy reference during the hearing. Attached are witness testimonies and committee hearing announcements.”
Letters from Camp: Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
Quest 4: Strategizing
Ranger Tip
AI can help you lead your legislative team with intention to proactively and successfully navigate complex legislative dynamics. High-level strategic thinking can help distinguish you as an effective legislative director and create a pathway to senior political roles or policy leadership positions.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Develop a legislative campaign strategy - Develop comprehensive political strategies for advancing legislation, including stakeholder management, timeline optimization, and coalition coordination
Foster your political leadership - Create strategic plans for establishing yourself as a key player in your policy areas and building the relationships and reputation needed for senior political appointments or roles
Sample Prompts
“We need to pass our infrastructure package in a divided Congress with limited floor time. Develop a comprehensive political strategy including: sequential coalition building, committee strategy, leadership engagement, and contingency plans for different political scenarios over the next 4 months.”
“I’m currently a legislative director in Congress and want to position myself for chief of staff or a similar senior role. Create a strategic plan including: policy wins to achieve, cross-office coordination to lead, external relationships to build, and leadership skills to demonstrate. Include specific opportunities to showcase strategic thinking capabilities.”
Letters from Camp: Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
Quest 5: Predicting the Future
Ranger Tip
We're entering an era where AI could simulate legislative scenarios across hundreds of variables, predict coalition dynamics with unprecedented accuracy, and identify strategic opportunities that human analysis might miss. The strategic orchestration of complex political initiatives is about to become far more sophisticated, and those who understand these capabilities could define the future of legislative leadership.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Explore advanced strategic modeling - Experiment with AI's ability to simulate complex political scenarios and strategic decisions, envisioning how legislative strategy might evolve
Sample Prompts
“Imagine legislative strategies using AI in 2030 that can model political scenarios with unprecedented complexity and predict which unlikely bipartisan coalitions might form around emerging issues by analyzing voting patterns, district interests, and relationship networks. How might this change strategic planning? Walk me through how AI might identify a new coalition opportunity that human strategists would miss.”
Letters from Camp: Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
Letters from Camp
Have a particularly good (or wild) experience with this quest? Tell us all about it!
