Chapter 5 Section 3 Flashcards
The right of senators in representatives to send job related mail without paying postage
Franking privilege
Government projects and grants that primarily benefit the home district or state
Porkbarrel projects
Representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
Lobbyist
Describe the Library of Congress
Largest library in the world, at least one copy of every book in the United States is kept their
GAO
Looks into financial matters for Congress, review spending by federal agencies to make sure that funds are being used well
Making laws
One of the best known tasks of Congress is making laws. Three rolls that congressman/women take on when making laws are writing the law, evaluating the bill, and investigating/thinking about issues to understand them and try to come up with ways to address them
Doing casework
Casework is the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem. Three reasons why law makers spend so much time on casework is because it helps them in elections, Helps them check the executive branch, and provides a way to help citizens deal was federal agencies. Some Congressmen receive 10,000 casework requests a year
Helping the district or state
Pork barrel projects are government project Grant that primarily benefits a congress persons home district or state. The goal of many members of Congress is to give their constituents a share in the money the national government spends every year. Influencing agency officials and adding money to the bills are two methods that lawmakers used to win projects for their district/state.
Qualifications to be a senator
Must be 30 years old, must live in the state they want to represent, must be a United States citizen for at least nine years
Qualifications to be a House of Representatives
Must be 25 years old, must live in the state they want to represent, must be a United States citizen for at least seven years
Five benefits congressman receive
Free office space parking in trips to their home state, send job related mail without paying postage, life and health insurance, use of a gymnasium special restaurants in a clinic, have legal protection in certain situations
The work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
Casework
How much do congressmen get paid
$174,000
Serving in Congress is now a what
Full-time job
How long do sessions normally last
January to December
