Personal and Political Backgrounds
• 535 members are in the Congress.
• It is not a representative cross section of America.
• Average member is a white male in his 5os.
• There are 68 women in the House and 14 in the Senate.
• Nancy Pelosi is the first female speaker of the House.
• 42 African Americans in the House.
• 24 Hispanics in the House.
• 1 African American in the Senate.
• Nearly all members are married.
Personal and Political Backgrounds—C.d.
 60% are protestant.
 30% are Roman Catholic.
 6% are Jewish.
 Between a third and one half are lawyers.
 Most have had considerable political experience.
 Many senators once served in the House.
 Many senators were governors of their states.
The Job
 The members of Congress have five major duties—
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legislating, representing their constituents, serving on
committees, serving their constituents, and serving as
politicians.
Congressmen are elected to represent the people.
Congressmen vote on hundreds of bills during each
session.
They vote as trustees—believe each question they face
should be decided on its merits—call it as they see it.
They vote as partisans—vote along party lines.
The Job—c.d.
 They vote as politicos—combining characteristics of partisans,
delegates, and trustees.
 They also serve on committees.
 Each bill originates in a committee.
 Members of Congress have oversight functions while on their
committees—making sure agencies in the executive branch are
working effectively and acting in line with congressional policies.
 Congressmen also serve constituents.
--Help people who have problems with the bureaucracy.
--People at home feel Congressmen are in Washington to serve
them.
• If they fail to serve the people, they may lose votes in the next
election.
Compensation
 Salary is $158,000.00 per year.
 Very substantial fringe benefits.
 Travel expenses paid.
 Great retirement plans.
 Each congressman given an office on Capitol Hill in
Washington, D.C.
 Allowance for offices in their home state.
Capitol Hill
Compensation—c.d.
 Congressmen also get Franking Privileges—free
postage on all mailings.
 All congressmen are protected by the Constitution
from arrest while Congress is in session except for
felony, treason, and breach of the peace.
 Congressmen are granted freedom of legislative
debate.
 They cannot verbally or in writing attack each other.