Congress Staff and Support

What role do congressional staffs play in assisting lawmakers?

• Offering legal advice to citizens

• Providing security for congressional buildings

• Drafting new bills and running committee hearings

• Managing the national budget

What triggered the growth of congressional staff numbers?

• Public demand for transparency

• A decrease in the number of elected officials

• The introduction of the internet

• The Legislative Reorganization Act in 1946

How many personal staff members did Congress have in 1947 compared to 2009?

• From 100 in 1947 to 2,500 in 2009

• From 500 in 1947 to 5,000 in 2009

• From 2,000 in 1947 to more than 10,600 in 2009

• From 1,000 in 1947 to 8,000 in 2009

What are the two types of staffs in Congress?

• Personal staff and Committee staff

• Legislative staff and Judicial staff

• Administrative staff and Operational staff

• Internal staff and External staff

What is the role of Legislative Assistants?

• They provide security and logistical support

• They manage the congressional budget

• They do research, draft bills, and study bills currently in Congress

• They handle public relations and media inquiries

What does the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) do?

• Coordinates the budget-making work of Congress

• Provides security assessments for congressional buildings

• Drafts legislation for Congress to vote on

• Manages the Library of Congress

What is the primary function of caseworkers?

• Handling requests for help from constituents

• Drafting press releases

• Conducting financial audits of government programs

• Researching legal precedents for upcoming cases

What significant change occurred after the Legislative Reorganization Act in 1946?

• The budget for congressional operations was reduced

• The process for drafting legislation was altered

• Congress began to meet in a new location

• The number of personal staff members in Congress increased significantly

Who are committee staff members employed by?

• The Supreme Court

• Individual senators and representatives

• The President of the United States

• The many House and Senate committees

What is the role of the Government Printing Office (GPO)?

• It reviews the financial management of government programs

• It coordinates the budget-making work of Congress

• It does the printing for the entire federal government

• It provides security for federal buildings