Overview of the work of Congress, including the support staff.

1. Work of Congress
For use with section 6.3
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2. I. QUALIFICATIONS &
PRIVILEGES
A. Qualifications
1. Senator 2. Representative
 Age:  Age:
 30  25
 Residence:  Residence:
 state you plan to represent  state you plan to represent
 Citizenship:  Citizenship:
 current US Citizen for at least  current US Citizen for at least
9 years seven years
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3. I. QUALIFICATIONS &
PRIVILEGES
B. Privileges
1. Salary
 $165,000 / year
2. Other Privileges
 professional immunity in certain situations to exercise speech
and expression in order to make clear their point without
outside interference (rule of law still applies)
 free parking, trips to their home states
 franking privilege
 low-cost life insurance
 gym, special restaurants, medical clinic
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4. I. QUALIFICATIONS &
PRIVILEGES
C. Helpers
1. Personal Staff
 gather information on bills and issues
 handle requests from voters
 deal with news reporters and lobbyists
2. Committee Staff
 handle the day-to-day lawmaking duties of Congress, such
as…
 draft bills
 gather information
 organized committee hearings
 negotiate with lobbyists
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5. I. QUALIFICATIONS &
PRIVILEGES
C. Helpers
3. Support Services
a) Library of Congress (LOC)
 holds copies of EVERY book published in the United States
 is a valuable source of information for lawmakers when drafting
bills and learning about issues
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6. I. QUALIFICATIONS &
PRIVILEGES
C. Helpers
4. Finance & Budget
a) General Accounting Office (GAO)
 investigative arm of Congress in financial issues
 reviews spending activities of federal agencies
 studies federal programs
 recommends way to improve financial performance of
government
b) Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
 source of financial and economic information to Congress
members for making budgetary decisions
 helps Congress stick to a budget plan
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7. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
 the basic job of Congress members is to get action
done on constituents’ interests and concerns
 members of Congress can be considered linkage
institutions
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8. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
A. Lawmaking
 write and introduce bills
 take part in committee work
 listen to input from people about the bill
 vote on the bill
 See section 6.4 “How a Bill Becomes a Law”
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9. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
B. Casework
 help individual constituents deal with the federal
government
1. Why bother with casework?
 helps to get reelected
 can better keep an eye on the executive branch ability to
carry out the laws and programs
 to help average citizens
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10. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
C. Helping the District or State
 members of Congress try to bring money and jobs to their
district or state
1. Public Works
 building projects paid for by the government
 creates a new service to the area
 building projects bring new jobs to the area
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11. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
C. Helping the District or State
2. Grants and Contracts
a) Grants
 a grant is money given to a district or state for a specific
purpose, it does not have to be paid back
 grants bring federal money into the state which will be used to
help benefit the people in the state
 the money usually goes towards things that not just benefit the
district or state but the nation
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12. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
C. Helping the District or State
2. Grants and Contracts
b) Contracts
 a contract is an agreement by government with a company for
the production of some good or service
 contracts ensure money to a company (or companies) for a
period of time thus producing jobs
 the goods or services produced usually produce the nation
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13. II. CONGRESS AT WORK
C. Helping the District or State
2. Grants and Contracts
c) “Pork-Barrel” Projects
 a grants or contracts that primarily
benefit the home district or state
 members of Congress try to add pork-
barrel projects to bills in order to bring
more money into their state in order to
gain favor with their constituents
 added favor will mean more votes come
election day or services produced usually
produce the nation
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