AI Summer Camp: Members of Congress
The use of GenAI tools can help you quickly digest complex policy briefings, generate draft talking points for speeches and hearings, and stay informed on constituent priorities across your district. AI has the ability to transform hours of reading into actionable insights that keep you prepared for votes, meetings, and media appearances in formats that you can read on the go.
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, Legislative Directors, Field Representatives & Outreach Directors, and Chiefs of Staff & District Directors!
Quest 1: Summarization
Ranger Tip
AI summarization can help you stay informed across multiple complex issues without getting overwhelmed by information overload, enabling you to engage more effectively in debates, interviews, and constituent meetings. This technology becomes your strategic advantage in making well-informed decisions quickly while maintaining authentic connections with the issues that matter most to your constituents. It can also be prompted to provide information to you in the format you most prefer to match your learning style and demanding schedule.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Digest key policy briefs - Quickly digest comprehensive briefing materials, committee reports, and background research before important votes, hearings, or media appearances
Analyze constituent and stakeholder intelligence - Summarize feedback from town halls, meeting reports from staff, and correspondence from key constituency groups to stay connected with district priorities and public sentiment
Sample Prompts
“Prepare me for tomorrow's committee hearing on trade policy. Summarize these 3 briefing documents and 4 witness testimonies focusing on: key arguments I should be prepared to make, likely questions from the other side, and 2-3 district-specific examples I can reference in representing [State-District].”
“Summarize this month's constituent feedback on healthcare policy from the attached anonymized call notes and emails received. Include: main concerns residents are raising, specific stories that illustrate broader issues, and how these align with or differ from national polling trends.”
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 a strategic thinking partner, helping you explore new policy ideas, insightful political approaches, and unique solutions to complex challenges facing your constituents and the nation. This expanded thinking capability allows you to consider multiple perspectives and strategies simultaneously, potentially leading to breakthrough approaches that set you apart as a thoughtful leader.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Be a policy leader - Brainstorm comprehensive approaches to major policy challenges, exploring both incremental and transformational solutions that could establish your leadership on key issues
Strategy and coalition building - Brainstorm creative ways to build bipartisan support, reach across traditional divides, or position yourself as a problem solver on contentious issues
Sample Prompts
“I want to establish leadership on boosting economic opportunity in rural America. Brainstorm 5 comprehensive policy approaches: include traditional economic development, innovative programs, federal-local partnerships, and private sector engagement. Each should be distinctive and politically viable.”
“Generate 4 different strategic approaches to building bipartisan support for infrastructure investment. Consider: messaging strategies, coalition partners, compromise positions, and ways to make this a winning issue for both parties while advancing meaningful solutions.”
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 articulate your vision, craft compelling policy proposals, and assist in the creation of initial drafts of communications that match your voice and style while connecting with diverse audiences. This enhanced content creation capability may allow you to communicate more effectively with more constituents in less time, improving response time and quality.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Explore policy and vision communication types - Create an outline or the first draft of talking points and materials to use articulating your positions and vision for addressing important issues
Draft leadership content development - Draft thought leadership pieces, coalition letters, or strategic communications that establish your expertise and build support for your priorities
Sample Prompts
“Draft talking points that I can use while traveling throughout my district if asked about key current events. Keep them in bullet point format and pull from the information on my website (insert site). Please include key current events from local news clips and national events.”
“Review our local newspaper’s op-ed section for opportunities to respond about the work I am doing in Washington, D.C. to support our district.”
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 brainstorm and develop sophisticated political strategies that advance your policy agenda while building your national profile and political influence within your party and across the aisle. This strategic thinking capability can unlock the ability for you to be proactive and responsive day-to-day while identifying opportunities to establish lasting policy legacies and political leadership.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Develop a legislative leadership strategy - Develop approaches to establishing yourself as a leader on key issues, building bipartisan coalitions, and advancing legislation that creates lasting impact
Explore political influence strategies - Experiment with potential strategic approaches to building national influence, establishing expertise in key policy areas, maximizing the effectiveness of your staff, and positioning yourself for leadership roles within Congress or future political opportunities
Sample Prompts
“I’m a sophomore Member of Congress from the Northwest and want to establish myself as the leading voice on rural economic development. I serve on the Natural Resources Committee and Financial Services. Develop a comprehensive 12-month political strategy that I can work on with my Chief of Staff and Legislative Director that focuses on coalitions to build, media positioning, committee work, and stakeholder engagement.”
“Develop a strategic plan for building bipartisan support for major immigration reform legislation [attached]. Include: relationship building with key Republicans, private sector engagement, coalition management, and messaging strategy that builds momentum while maintaining political viability in a divided Congress.”
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
You are serving during one of the most significant technological transitions in human history—AI capabilities are approaching levels that could transform governance itself, from how we understand constituent needs to how we craft policy solutions based on real-time data to how we maintain democratic accountability. Your decisions about AI adoption and regulation will shape the future of democratic governance for generations.
Quest Directive
Use an institution-approved LLM to:
Investigate democratic innovation opportunities - Ask AI to help you imagine how technology might strengthen democratic participation and representation while maintaining core democratic values
Sample Prompts
“Envision AI systems that could enhance democratic participation by making complex policy issues more accessible to citizens while maintaining the deliberative nature of democracy. How might technology transform the relationship between representatives and constituents? Walk me through how AI might facilitate more informed public discourse on complex issues while preserving authentic democratic debate.”
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!
