Chap. 5, Lesson 3 Notes

Lesson 3 – “How Congress Works"

Makeup of Congress:

*More than half are lawyers

*Almost all have college degrees

*They tend to be “joiners” and are more active in community organizations than the average citizen.

Privileges: Salary: $174K/yr.; Majority and Minority Ldrs. -- $193.4K; Speaker -- $223.5K; Free office space, parking, trips to home states, special facilities;

franking privilege – the right to send job-related mail for free.

Immunity – legal protection that allows them to say and do what they feel is right (within the law) without fear.

Responsibility #1, Lawmaking: Behind the Scenes Helpers

1. Clerks, Secretaries, and Special Assistants

a. do research for new bills (ideas for laws)/ issues

b. handle voters’ requests for help (called “casework”)

c. handle reporters and lobbyists – those hired by private interest groups to try to influence government decision

makers.

2. Interns and Pages

a. interns → college or grad students; do research, perform office duties

b. pages → are high school juniors; run errands, deliver messages, etc.

3. Committee Staff

4. Support Services

a. Library of Congress – one copy of every book published in U.S. is here.

b. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) – plans how to spend money; shows effect of laws/programs on citizens

c. General Accountability Office (GAO) -- monitors government spending; makes recommendations

Responsibility #2: Casework

1. Representatives and Senators help constituents (YOU) from home districts and states deal with the federal government.

2. Most requests -- handled by office staff as “casework.”

3. Casework is important for three main reasons:

a. to remain popular and get re-elected

b. watchdog function – making sure executive branch agencies and programs do what they're supposed to.

c. gives the average person a way to deal with the federal government.

Responsibility #3: Helping Districts & States

Members of Congress also try to bring federal government programs/money into states in three main ways:

1. Public Works Projects – things like local construction and transportation projects;

2. Grants/Contracts – awarded by federal agencies; source of money and jobs

3. Use of influence – try to get federal agencies to consider their district or state. “Pork-barrel

projects”/“earmarks” are those that mostly benefit local districts or states; often are stuck into the fine print of

bills being considered (in the Senate, especially.).