1. House & senate qualifications Ch 6 – goal 2

2. Qualifications and Privileges
United States Senate
30 years old
Live in the state you represent
Citizen for 9 years

3. Qualifications and Privileges
United States House of Representatives
25 years old
Live in the state you represent
Citizen 7 years

4. Qualifications and Privileges
Annual salary of $174,000
Free office and parking
Paid trips home
Low cost life insurance
Gym, restaurants, medical clinic

5. Qualifications and Privileges
Franking Privilege: send job-related mail for free

6. Qualifications and Privileges
Senators and representatives are granted immunity, or legal protection in certain situations but they cannot break the law

7. Personal Staff
Run offices in Washington, DC, as well as in the home district
Gather info on new bills and issues, handle requests for help from voters, deal with reporters and lobbyists, and work for reelection of the congressional member

8. Personal Staff
Lobbyists: people hired by private groups to influence government decision makers
Add on: Hired by interest groups to persuade legislators – examples: sta

9. Personal Staff
In addition to professional staff, many members hire students from their home states; interns help with research and office duties, pages run errands

10. Committee Staff
Congressional committees also need staffs, committee members draft, or outline bills, gather information, organize committee hearings, and negotiate with lobbyists

11. Support Services
The Library of Congress is an important source of information to Congress

12. Support Services
The General Accounting Office reviews government spending, studies, programs, and recommends ways to improve the government’s financial performance
The Congressional Budget Office Helps make budget decisions

13. Lawmaking
Members of the Senate and House write and introduce bills, take part in committee work, listen to the input of people for and against a bill, and then vote on the floor of the House or Senate

14. Casework
Members of Congress help people from their home districts and states who request help in dealing with the government, this is called casework

15. Helping the District or State
Every year through public works bills, Congress appropriates billions of dollars for a variety of local projects such as post offices, dams, and military bases
These can bring jobs and money into a state or district

16. Helping the District or State
Lawmakers also try to make sure their districts or states get their fair share of federal grants and contracts funded through the federal budget

17. Pork-Barrel Projects
Government projects and grants that benefit the home district or state
The “barrel” is the Federal Treasury, the “fat” is money for a federal project for the Congressman’s district