Representing the People

Qualifications for Congress According to the Constitution to run for a seat in the House you must be 25 years old, live in the state you represent, and have been a US citizen for at least 7 years For the Senate you must be 30 years old, live in the state you plan to represent, and have been a US citizen for at least 9 years Informal qualifications: nearly half the members of Congress are lawyers and most have held elected office at the state or local level Sen. Mitch McConnell- Senate Majority Leader

Perks of Congress Members of Congress receive $165, 200 a year, receive free office space, parking and trips to their home states Members of Congress are also able to send mail without postage, “franking privilege”, advantage in elections? Members of Congress also have limited immunity from prosecution Members of Congress also have low-cost life insurance, the use of a gym, a special restaurant, and a medical clinic Sen. Rand Paul

Congressional Staff Personal Staff: run an office in Washington D.C. and in the congressional member’s home district These workers research and write new bills, arrange meetings, write speeches, and deal with news reporters and lobbyists Many members of Congress also hire students from their home state or districts to serve as interns or pages; these students help with research and run errands Rep. Andy Barr

Members of Congress at Work Members of Congress perform three major jobs Lawmaking: members write and introduce bills, take part in committee work, listen to people about what kind of laws to propose and support, and vote Helping the District or State: congressmen are supposed to protect the interests of their district or state, all members of Congress also work to give their constituents a share in the trillions of dollars the national government spends each year; called “pork barrel projects,” often criticized as wasteful Pork Barrel Projects

Members of Congress at Work Casework: Members of Congress spend a lot of time helping their constitutes deal with the federal govt. Congress gets 80,000 e-mails a day and some office receive over 10,000 pieces of mail a year Most requests are for small matters such as lost Social Security check or a problem with the federal bureaucracy Most requests are handled by the office staff This is a very important job because it directly influences a persons life