Unlocking ChatGPT for Government: A Prompt-Pack for Leaders

# Prompt Packs

# Prompting

# Solution Packs & Patterns

# OpenAI for Government

A quick-start guide for leaders at any level of government who just received ChatGPT access and wonder, “How can this help me today?”

David Sperry

Why It Matters

Whether you serve in a national government, regional authority, or local government agency, you balance policy, budgets, crises, and citizen expectations—often simultaneously. Generative AI won’t replace your expertise, experience or judgment, but it can speed the drafting, analysis, and coordination work that fills your calendar. The prompt-pack below offers copy-ready starters you can paste into ChatGPT right now, each paired with a concise “So What?” that explains its payoff.

How to use the pack

Replace brackets […] with your own program names, jurisdiction, or data sources.

Attach any spreadsheets, reports, or links ChatGPT should reference.

Specify output style (e.g., “bullet points,” “one-page brief,” or “public-facing summary”).

Review every draft for accuracy, suitability, compliance before sharing.

Simple steps for writing a good prompt

1. Outline the task Be clear about what you need ChatGPT to do.

→ Example: Summarize last quarter’s program participation data and suggest policy or operational adjustments for the next quarter.

2. Give helpful context Add any background (or documentation) that will help.

→ Example: Use data from our Q2 outreach and enrollment report submitted to the Department of Health Services.

3. Describe your ideal output Tell ChatGPT how you’d like the response.

→ Example: Write it as a formal executive summary.

Executive Decision Support

Prompt (paste into ChatGPT)	Upload?	So What?
“Summarize the last five quarterly performance reports for the [program name] initiative. Highlight trends in cost, schedule, and outcomes in a one-page brief for the senior leadership meeting.”	✅ Upload reports (PDFs, spreadsheets, etc.)	Gives you a data-driven briefing in minutes instead of days.
“Summarize key findings from our last [performance audit or evaluation] and prepare a talking-point brief for leadership.”	✅ Upload audit or evaluation file	Speeds prep for meetings and improves internal alignment.
“Create a timeline of major decisions and milestones for the [initiative name] over the last three years, based on these planning documents.”	✅ Upload project plans, memos, or past summaries	Reconstructs a high-level project history for briefings.

Policy Drafting & Analysis

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Rewrite this draft regulation on [topic] in plain language for public consultation.”	✅ Upload regulation draft	Increases accessibility and meets plain-language standards.
“Identify potential conflicts between the proposed [draft policy] and existing statutes. Present findings in a comparative table listing the policy section, conflicting statute, and nature of the conflict.”	✅ Upload draft policy	Helps avoid duplication or contradiction early in the process.
“Summarize common public feedback themes from these consultation submissions on [topic]. Format the summary as bullet points grouped by theme, and include the frequency or volume of comments per theme.”	✅ Upload public comments or submissions	Speeds analysis of open consultation & survey responses.

Constituent Communication

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Compose a 250-word public announcement about new [grant or service] eligibility, and translate into Spanish and Korean.”	✅ Upload existing announcement or program info	Supports multilingual access and inclusive messaging.
“Turn this 10-page program manual into a 2-minute speech for a public meeting.”	✅ Upload program guide	Makes technical materials digestible for the public.
“Draft responses to frequently asked questions about the new [zoning policy / tax rule / health ordinance]. Format as a bulleted FAQ with clear, concise answers appropriate for public website use. Use plain language.”	✅ Upload background policy or rule	Builds consistent, accurate constituent messaging.

Budget & Finance

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Analyze spending over the last three years and identify accounts with more than 15% variance from budget. Present results in a table with account name, year, budgeted vs. actual spending, variance %, and notes for follow-up review.”	✅ Upload budget reports or spreadsheets	Pinpoints cost anomalies quickly.
“Analyze this budget and break it down by subject area with associated justifications and impact statements if the funding is not provided. Format as a spreadsheet-style table with columns for subject area, budget request, rationale, and potential impacts of underfunding.”	✅ Upload budget	Equips leaders to clearly communicate the impact of budget decisions.
“Draft a summary of upcoming fiscal priorities based on our latest strategic plan. Write it as a one-page executive brief for senior leadership, using bullet points and short paragraphs organized by strategic goal.”	✅ Upload strategic plan or policy goals	Connects high-level planning to actual allocations.

Human Resources

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Draft a clear and detailed job description for a new [role], highlighting essential duties, qualifications, and competencies required for a successful candidate.”	✅ Upload similar job descriptions, organizational charts, or role outlines	Streamlines job postings, helping attract suitable candidates with clarity and precision.
“Write a formal, detailed letter of recommendation (approx. 300–400 words) for an employee applying to a senior leadership program. Highlight leadership potential, performance record, and alignment with program goals. Use a professional, supportive tone suitable for external review.”	✅ Upload résumé, achievements, or prior memos	Generates tailored, formal letters that highlight strengths and accomplishments.
“Prepare a structured onboarding checklist for new hires in [department], including necessary training, documentation, and initial orientation activities.”	✅ Upload department guidelines, existing onboarding documents, or relevant policy materials	Provides smooth and comprehensive onboarding experiences for new employees, promoting productivity and engagement from day one.

Risk, Compliance, & Oversight

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Create a risk register for our upcoming [project], aligned with [compliance framework] categories. Include columns for risk description, likelihood, impact, mitigation strategy, responsible party, and status.”	✅ Upload project proposal or scoping document	Adds structure to early-stage planning and accountability.
“Summarize how our new data-sharing agreement aligns with current oversight guidance. Draft talking points for stakeholder briefings.”	✅ Upload the agreement	Prepares leaders to speak confidently on governance.
“Highlight areas in this compliance checklist that may need revision based on new legislation. Return an annotated list with checklist item references, the reason for revision, and a brief suggested update.”	✅ Upload checklist and recent law	Helps legal teams keep up with changing legal frameworks.

Crisis Response

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Draft a press release, SMS, and social media post about [severe weather / cyber event], using emergency communication best practices.”	✅ Upload incident info or previous alert text	Helps provide fast, unified, and accessible public messaging.
“Create an emergency response checklist for [event type] specific to our jurisdiction. Organize it by response phase (e.g., preparation, active response, recovery), and include responsible parties, timelines, and references to best practices used in other jurisdictions..	Optional - Upload existing SOPs or response plans	Supports consistent crisis decision-making.
“Summarize response actions from the last major emergency to support an after-action debrief. Present in a table with columns for action taken, responsible entity, timeline, outcome, and lessons learned.”	✅ Upload after-action reports	Provides an objective, consolidated narrative.

Interagency Collaboration

Prompt	Upload?	So What?
“Identify overlapping objectives in [Agency A] and [Agency B] strategies. Propose three shared indicators.”	✅ Upload both strategic plans	Promotes alignment and shared accountability.
“Summarize intergovernmental responsibilities in [infrastructure / health / education] programs across national, regional, and local levels.”	✅ Upload relevant program guidelines	Clarifies roles, reduces duplication, improves coordination.
“Create a one-slide overview of roles, funding flows, and reporting requirements across departments involved in [program].”	✅ Upload relevant memos or diagrams	Simplifies complex governance into shareable insights.

Safeguards & Review

Outputs are drafts—not final policy. Apply your normal expert judgement, legal, privacy, records-management, and accessibility reviews before publication.

Take Your First Step Today

Choose the prompt that matches your immediate priority, paste it into ChatGPT, and experience how generative AI can lighten administrative load—freeing you to focus on strategic leadership and public impact.

Unlocking ChatGPT for Government: A Prompt-Pack for Leaders

A quick-start guide for leaders at any level of government who just received ChatGPT access and wonder, “How can this help me today?”

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