Members of Congress

Backgrounds Majority of the members are white Majority of the members are white 81 Women in House 81 Women in House 20 Women in Senate 20 Women in Senate Average age in the House is 56, 61 in the Senate Average age in the House is 56, 61 in the Senate Most are Lawyers Most are Lawyers 4 out of 5 Congressmen have college degrees and most have advanced degrees 4 out of 5 Congressmen have college degrees and most have advanced degrees

5 Major Roles of Congressmen Legislators Legislators Representatives of their constituents Representatives of their constituents Committee members Committee members Servants of their constituents Servants of their constituents Politicians Politicians

Rep. of the People Each lawmaker has four voting options Each lawmaker has four voting options Trustees Trustees They believe that each question they face must be decided on their merits They believe that each question they face must be decided on their merits Conscience and independent judgment are their guides Conscience and independent judgment are their guides Very little outside influence Very little outside influence Delegates Delegates Agents of those who elected them Agents of those who elected them Vote how they believe the “folks back home would vote” Vote how they believe the “folks back home would vote”

Partisans Partisans Owe first allegiance to political party Owe first allegiance to political party Tend to vote in line with wishes of party’s leaders Tend to vote in line with wishes of party’s leaders Politicos Politicos Try to balance all of the previous roles into one Try to balance all of the previous roles into one

Committee Members Members screen and decide which bills will go to floor of House or Senate to be debated and voted on Members screen and decide which bills will go to floor of House or Senate to be debated and voted on Oversight Function Oversight Function Process by which Congress checks to make sure the agencies in executive branch are working properly and are in line with the law Process by which Congress checks to make sure the agencies in executive branch are working properly and are in line with the law

Servants Try to help constituents with various problems Try to help constituents with various problems Social Security benefits Social Security benefits Passport applications Passport applications Small business loan Small business loan

Compensation Salary Salary Base is $174,000 a year Base is $174,000 a year Cost of Living adjustments increase takes effect annually Cost of Living adjustments increase takes effect annually

House Leadership House Leadership Speaker of House $223,500 (Same as Vice-President) Speaker of House $223,500 (Same as Vice-President) Majority Leader $193,400 Majority Leader $193,400 Minority Leader $193,400 Minority Leader $193,400 Senate Leadership Senate Leadership Majority Leader $193,400 Minority Leader $193,400 Pro tem of Senate $207,954

Non Salary Non Salary Special Tax deductions Special Tax deductions help members who must have 2 residences help members who must have 2 residences Generous travel allowances Generous travel allowances Pay small amount for life insurance Pay small amount for life insurance Full medical care at military hospitals Full medical care at military hospitals Generous retirement plans Generous retirement plans Based on number of years of service Based on number of years of service Some have had $150,000 Some have had $150,000 Average in 2003 was $46,900 Average in 2003 was $46,900

Also get Social Security’s retirement and medicare programs Also get Social Security’s retirement and medicare programs Office space in building near the Capitol Office space in building near the Capitol Allowances for offices in home state or district Allowances for offices in home state or district Given funds for hiring staff and for operation costs Given funds for hiring staff and for operation costs Franking Privilege Franking Privilege May send letters and other materials postage-free by using their signature May send letters and other materials postage-free by using their signature

Pay raises? Pay raises? Who Raises congressional Pay? Who Raises congressional Pay? Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so. Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so. Instead of Pay, congress has given itself more “perks” or better fringe benefits of the job Instead of Pay, congress has given itself more “perks” or better fringe benefits of the job