In 1998 average representatives
had 17 staffers and senators had 40.
103rd congress- 10,000 personal
staffers
3000 more employed with
congressional committees
3000 more employed in
congressional research agencies
Largest
growing part of bureaucracy
Personal staffer duty:
Answering mail
Handling problems
Mailing newsletters
Meeting with constituents
1/3 of staff is local
Task is
to get votes
Most members of congress
have one local office
Half have two or more
Incumbent
hard to beat because of this
STAFF AGENCIES
Agencies that work for
Congress as a whole
Gives
Congress specialized knowledge
CONGRESSIONAL
RESEARCH SERVICE (CRS)
- Congressional
Research service (CRS)
- Part
of the Library of Congress
- Employs
over 900 people
- Answers
questions for Congress members
- Over
¼ million questions per year
- Politically
neutral
- Keeps
track of major bill status
- Gives summaries of all bills-
stored electronically
CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE
Congressional Budget
office (CBO)
Created in 1974
Advises Congress on the possible
economic effects of spending programs
Provides information on
the cost of proposed legislation
Prepares analysis of
President’s budget and economic projections
Aids
Congress in budget debates
30,000 men and women work for the legislative branch and it
costs $4 billion per year to finance its operations
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