2. Representing the People
C & E

3. EQs What benefits do members of Congress enjoy?
What are the duties of congressional support staff members?

4. Key Terms
Franking privilege
Lobbyist
Casework
Pork-barrel project

5. Key Concepts
Legislative Branch

6. The U.S. Capitol in the 1800s

7. Requirements & Benefits of Congress
Must live in state they represent
House members usually live in district, but not required
Senators must be 30 yrs old
Reps must be 25 yrs old
Senators must have been citizens for 9 yrs
Reps must have been citizens for 7 yrs

8. Requirements & Benefits of Congress
Most members have college degrees
~1/2 are lawyers
Salary of $150,000/yr
Free office space & trips home to state
Franking privilege for free.
they may send job-related mail for free
Granted immunity (legal protection) in certain situations
Cannot break the law

10. What are some benefits that members of Congress enjoy?
Along with their $150,000 salary, members of Congress receive free office space, parking, and trips to their home states. They have franking privileges and immunity in some situations. They have low-cost life insurance and use of a gymnasium, special restaurants, and a medical clinic.

11. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-scenes Helpers
Personal staff to run office
Gather info on issues, arrange meetings, write speeches
Handle requests from voters
Deal w/ reporters & lobbyists
People hired by private groups to influence gov’t decision makers
Works for member’s reelection on their own time

12. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-scenes Helpers
Hire students from home state to serve as pages or interns
Interns help w/ research or office duties
Pages deliver messages or run errands
Committee staffs generally have expert knowledge about special topics, such as taxes or defense.

13. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-scenes Helpers
Library of Congress provides info to staffs & members
Library’s Congressional Research Service looks up details for & against bills
General Accounting Office
reviews spending activities of federal agencies
studies programs
recommends ways to spend taxpayers’ dollars wisely.

14. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-scenes Helpers
Congressional Budget Office
provides info & analyses to help Congress create a budget
Estimates cost & effectiveness of programs

15. How could you benefit from serving as a congressional intern or page?
This experience gives young people a firsthand look at the political process.

16. Members of Congress @ Work
Sessions begin Jan. 3
By representing constituents, have 3 major jobs
Make laws
Introduce bills, work on committees
Listen to input for/agnst bills
vote

17. Members of Congress @ Work
Casework
troubleshoot for people from district/state who request help in deal’g w/ fed gov’t
Protect interests of state/district
Ex: a senator from a state with strong timber industries might seek to influence logging policies.

18. Members of Congress @ Work
Helping the District or State
Work to gain share of gov’t spend’g for constituents
Gov’t contracts can bring $$$ or jobs to district/state
Pork-barrel projects
Gov’t projects & grants that primarily benefit district/state

19. What kinds of casework problems do congressional staffs solve?
Most problems constituents have involve the government bureaucracy. The staffs handle problems such as a Social Security check that doesn’t arrive or a veteran’s claim that is held up.

20. Assessment B
__ 1. representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
__ 2. government projects and grants that primarily benefit the home district or state
__ 3. the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
__ 4. the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage
A. franking privilege
B. lobbyist
C. casework
D. pork-barrel projects D C A

21. Personal staff (aides) pages
interns
Personal staff (aides)
pages
Congressional
Staff/Agencies
Committee staff
Library of Congress
Congressional agencies