Understanding Characteristics and

Roles Congress10-4 highlights

Part I

The House of Representati

ves

The Senate

Can just anyone be a representative of the

people?

Who are our representatives like?

A: BackgroundsI) Most House and Senate members are likely to be more wealthy and much older than the agerage U.S. citizens.

A: BackgroundsII) Most members have prior political experience. The average Representative has served four terms.

B: On Being an OfficialI) There are 4 descripions of how

and why representatives cast votes.

1. A trustee . . .

2. A delegate . . .

3. A partisan . . .

4. A politico . . .

4 descriptions1. A trustee bases a vote on how he or she sees the merits of a bill.

2. A delegate bases a vote on how his or her constituents feel about the bill.

4 Descriptions3. A partisan bases a vote on party loyalty.

4. A politico bases a vote on a balance between the opinion constituents views.

B: On Being an OfficialII) Representatives fill 5 essential

roles.1.As legislator . . .2.As representative. . .3.As committee member . . .4.As servant . . .5.As politician . . .

5 roles1. as legislators and representatives they write, debate, amend and decide how and why to vote on bills.

5 roles2. as committee members they specialize in understanding specfic kinds of laws. They preview and amend bills before deciding to send them to the full chamber for consideration. They also use oversight function to investigate if federal agencies are following laws and guidelines.

5 roles4. as servants of their constituants, they use their power and access to help citizens overcome problems with federal agencies.

5. As politicians they look for reelection while balancing all other roles and priorities.

C: Compensation1. Salary for rank and file members of both chambers is currently $174,0002. Non Salary benefits: pension, health benefits, and social security benefits.3. Other compensation: franking privilege and a budget for staff, office space at home and D.C., housing in D.C. and travel expenses.

C: Compensation3. Pay raises•limted by voter backlash and presidential veto.• 27th Amendment stalls the effects of a pay raise until after next election, except CODA.