Duties Of Congressmen Essay

Duties of a Congressman
Overall congressmen and congresswomen are responsible for quite a few duties that include: Representation, Legislation, Constituency, Investigation, Congressional Leadership, Personal Office Management, and Electoral/Political Activity. In a member of congress’ normal week, they participate in committee activities, greet delegations from their home states, oversee constituent services in their districts, supervise their office staff, speak on the floor, interact with news outlets, and attend various political activities like raising money, planning, and or politicking for an upcoming election. Although a congress member’s job ranges far and wide, there is no job description for their role, so upon election to congress, each member is responsible for creating a plan of work to approach a job that serves such a wide range of roles and responsibilities.

While styles of representation can vary, most members see themselves as the connection between their constituents and their government in Washington. This style is known as the “delegate” style. In addition to this style, another style, the “trustee” style, is the act of the member making their actions based upon their own judgment. When considering the new legislation, many members blend these two methods of outlook, giving more weight to their constituency, to reconcile the countering viewpoints. In addition to representation in Washington, many members are involved with the education of their constituents through newsletters, mailings, websites, and interviews. Usually biased, this method allows the member to reach into his or her community to develop a well-rounded approach to a socioeconomic issue brought to the attention of congress in