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Representing the People

Representing the People. C & E. EQs. What benefits do members of Congress enjoy? What are the duties of congressional support staff members?. Key Terms. Franking privilege Lobbyist Casework Pork-barrel project. Key Concepts. Legislative Branch. The U.S. Capitol in the 1800s.

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Representing the People

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  1. Representing the People C & E

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

  3. Key Terms • Franking privilege • Lobbyist • Casework • Pork-barrel project

  4. Key Concepts • Legislative Branch

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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

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

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

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. 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

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

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