Equipping Conservatives

Knowledge for Action

Based in Washington D.C., the Conservative Partnership Academy is an in-person training program for those interested in gaining the skills to advance conservative principles.

Become a
CPI Bellator

At CPI, we believe in creating public policy warriors-in Latin, "bellators" - who will use their intellectual talents to fight on behalf of the conservative principles of liberty and small government.

Those who fully complete all of the courses within the below concentrations will become a CPI Bellator and receive a credential from CPI.

We offer four certifications: Appropriations, Statecraft, Domestic Policy, and Process.

Appropriations Certification
  • - Procedure Course (House, Senate 101, or Senate 201)
  • - Federal Budget Policy and Process
  • - Fundamentals of Appropriations
Statecraft Certification
  • - Procedure Course (House, Senate 101, or Senate 201)
  • - Defense Policy & the NDAA
  • - America First: A Foreign Policy Overview
Domestic Policy Certification
  • - Procedure Course (House, Senate 101, or Senate 201)
  • Select 3 of the below:
  • - Agriculture
  • - Fundamentals of Federal Election Integrity
  • - Second Amendment
  • - Healthcare Policy
  • - Fundamentals of Immigration Policy
  • - Energy Policy: An Overview
Process Certification
  • - House Procedure and Strategy
  • - Senate Procedure and Strategy 101
  • - Senate Procedure and Strategy 201

Course Offerings

Introduction to Congressional Writing

The ability to engage in clear, organized, and responsive writing is a foundational skill in succeeding on Capitol Hill. Through reviewing examples and engaging in writing practicums, this course is designed to impart the technical skills of good policy writing. Attendees will gain practical insights into good writing from Michael Connolly, a veteran Capitol Hill speechwriter, as well as the opportunity to practice and hone the craft of congressional writing. This course is highly recommended for entry level positions.
Session 1: Overview and Pre-Writing

pre-writing strategies, first drafting, developing good habits and overcoming common challenges

Session 2: Paragraphs and Revision

four elements of paragraphing and strategies for improving successive drafts

Session 3: Sentences

sentence types, functions, and architecture

Session 4: Congressional Formats

Overviews of and strategies for common congressional writing formats



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America First: A Foreign Policy Overview

This course is designed to focus on a singular question: what does a conservative foreign policy look like? Attendees will pursue this concept within the context of a rising China, threats in the Middle East, and a militarily stagnant Europe. Discussion will also cover the main actors shaping the country’s foreign policy intellectually and in practice, and walk away with a framework to process critical questions regarding America’s changing role in the world.

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Defense Policy & the NDAA

The Department of Defense is the largest federal agency with 1.3 million active duty soldiers, 700,000 civilian personnel, and 1.1 million citizens who serve in the National Guard and Reserve Forces. This course is designed to provide attendees with an overview of how the DOD is organized, how it sets budget priorities, and ultimately how Congress authorizes and appropriates its funding. Over three sessions, the course material will cover the DOD's structure, the agency’s budget priorities, and close by covering the National Defense Authorization and defense appropriations.
Session 1: DOD Organization and Structure
Session 2: Budget Priorities and Process
Session 3: NDAA and Congressional Defense Priorities


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Energy Policy: An Overview

“Energy independence” has been a platform issue for decades – but the mechanics of how it actually works are less well understood. Instructed by Kenny Stein, the Vice President of Policy at the Institute for Energy Research, this course is designed to unpack the practical aspects of American energy policy. Course material will cover regulations and policy as it relates to electricity generation, mining and fracking, energy markets, and how federal energy policy interacts with environmental policy.
Session 1: Overview of America's Energy Sector

Energy Sectors, Production Basics, Regulatory Roles, and Lobbying Interests

Session 2: Electricity 101

Electricity Generation, State and Federal Environmental Mandates, and Comparing Generation Sources

Session 3: The Federal Role | Energy Taxes and Regulations

Federal Laws Governing Energy in the United States

Session 4: The Goals of Energy Policy

Shale Revolution, Foreign Policy, and Market Changes



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Federal Budget Policy & Process

CPI’s federal budget course is designed to give attendees a practitioner's view of how federal budgeting works at the congressional and executive level. Course material covers the House and Senate budget process, including the unique features of how the budget reconciliation process is handled in each chamber and how budgeting interacts with the appropriations process. Finally, attendees will get an overview of how the executive branch manages federal spending through the Office of Management and Budget.
Session 1: Federal Budget | Policy and Practice
Session 2: The Budget Resolution, Amendments and CBO Score
Session 3: Reconciliation & The Byrd Rule
Session 4: From Authorizing to Appropriating
Session 5: The Office of Management and Budget


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Fundamentals of Appropriations

The Fundamentals of Appropriations course outlines the architecture and mechanisms of federal spending. Over the course of three sessions, attendees will receive a historical overview of the federal appropriations process at the executive and congressional level, specifically: House and Senate appropriations process, the appropriations interaction with the 302(a) and 302(b) allocations set in the federal budget, the President’s budget, and how the Office of Management and Budget are involved with the congressional appropriations process. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to also take our Federal Budget Policy & Process course.
Session 1: House Appropriations

Historical overview of the appropriations process.

Session 2: Senate's Rule 16

The basics of Rules 16, which governs appropriations in the Senate.

Session 3: President's Budget | OMB

Discussing the appropriations interaction between Congress and the executive branch agencies.



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Fundamentals of Election Integrity

Our Election Integrity Course introduces the major federal elections statues, identifies the appropriate areas for congressional engagement, and provides insight into current election related issues. This course is taught by leading experts in the field with decades of experience working on the issues from inside and outside the federal government. Some of the major statutes that you will learn about are: Voting Rights Act, Help America Vote Act, National Voter Registration Act, Ranked Choice Voting, and ensuring only citizens can vote.
Session 1: Elections and the Constitution

Proper understanding of Article 1, Section 4, Electoral College Process, Funding of Elections

Session 2: Key Federal Election Laws and Agencies

EAC and FEC, VRA, HAVA

Session 3: Citizen-Only Voting in Elections

SAVE Act, NVRA, UOCAVA, and State Voter Laws, Congress/State Actions to Ensure Citizen Voting

Session 4: State Election Issues

Efforts to change voting laws, Ranked-choice voting, mail voting/vote harvesting, state election reforms



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Fundamentals of Immigration Policy

What is conservative border security policy? What's the right amount of legal immigration? How can illegal immigration be disincentivized and prohibited? Fundamentals of Immigration Policy is designed to bring awareness to all of these concepts. The course material will cover the basics of federal asylum law, border security, interior enforcement, family-based immigration, and provide a robust discussion of conservative policy solutions.

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Healthcare Policy and Politics

Healthcare policy can be complicated and a seemingly unending labyrinth of copays and premiums, but you as a congressional staffer, you might need to know how it works for your job. Come learn the layman's version of our complicated healthcare system. This course will cover insurance markets, Medicaid and Medicare, delivery system reform, and more.

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House Procedure and Strategy

Instructed by veteran House staffers, this course covers the basics of House procedure. Sessions cover the history and function of the House Rules Committee, the role of staff and Members on the House floor, an overview of germaneness, and the various procedural motions offered to the minority. This course is perfect for a new House staffer, policy organization staffer, or a veteran looking for a refresher.
Session 1: House Basics

House Floor, Committee of the Whole and the House, House calendars, and the discharge calendar

Session 2: House Rules 1 | The Rules Committee

Overview of important House rules, Rules Committee, reading rules, and types of rules

Session 3: House Rules 2 | The House Floor

Drafting and considering amendments, germaness as a concept, resolving differences between the House and Senate

Session 4: Rights of the Minority

Means of delay or protest, motions to recommit and case studies



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Introduction to Congressional Writing

The ability to engage in clear, organized, and responsive writing is a foundational skill in succeeding on Capitol Hill. Through reviewing examples and engaging in writing practicums, this course is designed to impart the technical skills of good policy writing. Attendees will gain practical insights into good writing from Michael Connolly, a veteran Capitol Hill speechwriter, as well as the opportunity to practice and hone the craft of congressional writing. This course is highly recommended for entry level positions.
Session 1: Overview and Pre-Writing

pre-writing strategies, first drafting, developing good habits and overcoming common challenges

Session 2: Paragraphs and Revision

four elements of paragraphing and strategies for improving successive drafts

Session 3: Sentences

sentence types, functions, and architecture

Session 4: Congressional Formats

Overviews of and strategies for common congressional writing formats



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Senate Procedure and Strategy 101

This course is designed to bring new Senate staffers up to speed and remind veterans of the tools and strategies they have at their disposal. Senate Procedure and Strategy 101 will cover the basic mechanics of the Senate floor, including the interaction between regular order and unanimous consent, cloture, moving to proceed, and the fundamentals of the Senate’s amendment tree and appropriations process. Each session ends with a practicum where attendees are encouraged to apply their skills in context. This a “must take” class for any Senate staffer and a prerequisite for Senate Procedure & Strategy 201, our advanced Senate procedure course.
Session 1: Why The Senate?

An introduction to key concepts and procedural features of Senate procedure and the Senate floor.

Session 2: The Senate Floor

An overview of Rule 13, Rule 14, and Rule 22 in the context of daily Senate operations, as well as the motion to proceed and an introduction to cloture.

Session 3: Unanimous Consent

How unanimous consent interacts with the Senate, creates leverage, and informs the Senate’s custom of holds – and how to handle it.

Session 4: The Senate in Deliberation

An overview of the forms and types of amendments, drafting guidance, and how amendments are made pending utilizing the Senate’s amendment tree.

Session 5: Appropriations and Rule 16

The basics of appropriating and an introduction to the Senate’s Rule 16, which covers the appropriations process in the Senate.



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Senate Procedure and Strategy 201

This advanced Senate procedure class builds on the offerings of Senate Procedure & Strategy 101 with more advanced concepts governing the Senate’s appropriations process, Senate committees, conference rules, Rule 22 germaneness, the amendment tree, and several case studies of complex floor scenarios. The last session is a Senate floor practicum with attendees applying strategy in various roles and contexts in the majority and the minority. This course is specifically designed to hone the skills taught in Senate Procedure & Strategy 101 and help attendees learn to apply floor tactics in multiple dynamic scenarios. Attendees must have taken Senate Procedure & Strategy 101 to register, or be waived in after consultation with the instructors.
Session 1: Rule 16 Advanced

A detailed look at how the Senate appropriates under its rules, including points of order and the defense of germaneness.

Session 2: Rule 22 Advanced

A deep-dive into Rule 22, including germaneness, precedence of motions, the one-hour rule, and advanced amendment trees.

Session 3: Committees and Conference Rules

An overview of committee rules and process, Rule 28, and conference rules.

Session 4: The Clay Pigeon and Other Case Studies

Bringing multiple concepts together using case studies from real floor scenarios.

Session 5: Practicum

A live Senate floor practicum with participants standing in as Senators.



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America First: A Foreign Policy Overview
Defense Policy & the NDAA
Energy Policy: An Overview
Federal Budget Policy & Process
Fundamentals of Appropriations
Fundamentals of Election Integrity
Fundamentals of Immigration Policy
Healthcare Policy and Politics
House Procedure and Strategy
Introduction to Congressional Writing
Senate Procedure and Strategy 101
Senate Procedure and Strategy 201

Testimonials

"CPI training has proven an invaluable resource for not just me but for countless staffers working on the Hill. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to brush up on floor procedure heading into appropriations season, I could not recommend their courses more highly."
Joe Chatham, Senior Government Relations Manager, Federation for American Immigration Reform
“Conservative Partnership Academy offers a chance for you to jumpstart your training as an effective researcher who can investigate the waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, and weaponization of the federal government. “
Tom Jones, President of American Accountability Foundation and CPI Academy Adjunct Professor
“This program is invaluable. My office and I would have greatly benefited from the expertise of CPI staff had I taken these classes while working in the Senate.”
Former Senate staffer Alexandra McPhee, now Member Services Director, House Homeland Security Committee

One man with courage is a majority.

- Thomas Jefferson

Want to Know more?

To learn more about the Academy, or to sign up for a course, tell us more about yourself.

    I am interested in:

    Select courses of Interest:

    ALL COURSESSenate Procedure and Strategy 201America First: A Foreign Policy OverviewFundamentals of Immigration PolicyFundamentals of Election IntegrityHealthcare Policy and PoliticsDefense Policy & the NDAAFundamentals of AppropriationsFederal Budget Policy & ProcessSenate Procedure and Strategy 101House Procedure and StrategyEnergy Policy: An OverviewIntroduction to Congressional Writing

    I have taken courses in the past: