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The Many Roles of a Member of Congress
Introduction
Since 1789, over 12,000 individuals have had the distinction of serving as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. None of them had a written job description to guide his or her work.
Article I of the U.S. Constitution sets forth the composition and powers of the Congress and the qualifications necessary for election. However, there is no discussion of specific duties for the individual Member — not in the Constitution nor elsewhere. Each Member of Congress defines his or her own duties and sets his or her own priorities.
First and foremost, the Member is a decision-maker. Members are faced with hundreds of decisions in both recorded and unrecorded votes on matters major and minor. Many decisions must be made quickly. Each decision, whether spontaneous or studied, balances the conflicting perspectives received from private citizens, public officials, party leaders. Decisions are often second-guessed by constituents, campaign opponents, colleagues, lobbyists, and media critics. Meetings are continual, in committee rooms, in private offices, in corridors, and in gatherings on the floor. Daily, sacks of mail are delivered. Faxes flow in a steady stream. Electronic mail jams congressional computers. Correspondence must be written and press releases issued. Highly visible issues are debated on the House or Senate floor, fully televised, and the absence or presence of a Member is duly noted. Scandals require investigation.
Programs require oversight. Requests for information, both basic and complex, are received daily. Journalists seek comment. Constituents seek assistance obtaining federal grants, government jobs, and help in overcoming bureaucratic obstacles.
Over time, these daily tasks and the always changing expectations of the electorate have come together to establish a multi-faceted job. What follows is a summary of the many roles performed by a Member of Congress.
Local Representation
Each House Member represents an average of 650,000 people; a Senator represents the entire population of a state.
Members advocate on behalf of the economic needs and political interests of their local District or State in Washington.
Members act as an ambassador for the industries and products of their District or State.
Members keep in touch with local opinion-leaders via personal visits and phone calls, read local editorial pages, view local news programs, and listen to local radio.
Members must analyze and understand the local implications of proposed legislation.
Members read and answer constituent communications: mail, faxes, email.
Constituency Service
Members alert their constituents to Federal government actions and programs, and answer requests for information about Federal activities.
Members provide assistance to constituents in obtaining Federal benefits and grants.
Members seek Federal funds for local projects and programs.
National Policy-Making
Members negotiate with their colleagues to reconcile differing regional interests in order to create one national policy.
Members analyze proposed legislation for its national implications.
Members stay informed about national and international events by reading national newspapers and news magazines, watching television news and magazine shows, and listening to national radio programs.
Members meet to exchange views and information with officials from the executive branch, lobbyists, businessmen, professionals and academics.
Members attend receptions, dinners, and conferences to meet people and cement working relationships.
Committee Work
On average, a House Member serves on two committees, and a Senator serves on four.
Members must develop expertise in the subject matters covered by their committee assignments.
Members attend committee meetings to take testimony or mark-up legislation.
Members prepare questions to pose to witnesses during committee hearings.
Members prepare amendments to bills under committee consideration.
Members vote on motions, amendments, and decisions on whether or not to report a bill out from committee to the floor.
Members write statements for committee reports and studies.
Members prepare amendments to bills under committee consideration.
Members vote on motions, amendments, and decisions on whether or not to report a bill out from committee to the floor.
Members write statements for committee reports and studies.
Oversight and Investigation
Members supervise the efficiency and activities of government agencies.
Members review the expenditures and implementation of government programs.
Members respond to scandals and crises by serving on investigatory panels.
Floor Work
Members participate in floor debate, requiring knowledge of both the substance of the issue under consideration and the parliamentary rules of procedure.
Members offer amendments to bills and debate the substance of amendments offered by colleagues.
Members cast floor votes on motions, amendments, and the question of final passage of legislation.
Members prepare and deliver floor statements during legislative debates.
Members prepare, and sometimes deliver, statements for the Congressional Record on a wide variety of topics.
Members plan legislative and political strategy with their colleagues.
Members lobby one another and attempt to organize voting blocs.
Congressional Leadership
Leaders persuade fellow Members to vote with their party.
Leaders take "head counts" to help predict the outcome of upcoming votes.
Leaders head discussions with their party caucus to formulate a common position on pending issues.
Leaders negotiate agreements with the other party on when and how to consider specific bills on the floor.
Leaders negotiate with the President or the other house of Congress as representatives of their chamber.
Leaders speak on behalf of their party colleagues to the national press.
Political Leadership
Members must organize and maintain a campaign organization for re-election to office.
Members raise money for re-election by attending fund-raisers and staging special events.
Members decide campaign strategies for media advertising, positions on issues, and public appearances.
Members encourage and support local party candidates for local and state political office.
Educating
Members bring national issues to the attention of constituents via newsletters, personal appearances at town meetings, phone calls, and individual meetings.
Members serve as a role-model for public service, civic responsibility, and voter participation.
Members encourage and support the development of future political leaders by speaking to student groups and school assemblies.
Office Management
House Members manage up to 22 staff people in their Washington and District offices who provide administrative, legislative, press, constituency, and computer services.
Senators manage an average of 38 staff people. The exact number funded depends on the size of the population of their state. (For example, a California Senator may have 70 staffers, while a Senator from Wyoming may have 27.)
Members must oversee their personnel and office expense allowances, and are held personally responsible for balancing those accounts at the end of each fiscal year.
Members must decide on what type of office equipment, telephone and computer system to lease or purchase. They also must locate and lease their own office space in their local District or State and decide on whether or not to lease or purchase office vehicles, such as mobile vans.
Advise and Consent (Senate Only)
Senators examine the job credentials and political philosophies of the President's nominees to the Cabinet, Supreme Court, and other federal positions.
Senators hold committee hearings, conduct floor debate, and vote on whether or not to confirm these nominations.
Senators study the implications for the nation of treaties negotiated by the President with foreign countries.
Senators hold committee hearings, conduct floor debate, and vote on whether or not to recommend ratification of these treaties.