5.5 - Staff and Support Agencies

Every year, lawmakers direct thousands of requests for information to the Congressional Research Service. What support agency does this service belong to?

• Government Accountability Office

• Library of Congress

• Congressional Budget Office

• Government Printing Office

What is one way that the Congressional Budget Office serves members of Congress?

• by projecting costs of proposed programs

• by overseeing how appropriated funds are spent

• by collecting government debts

• by publishing the Congressional Record

What are the two types of congressional staff?

• administrative assistants and legislative assistants

• caseworkers and expert staff

• support agencies and lobbyists

• personal staff and committee staff

When a buzzer sends lawmakers rushing to the floor to vote, what staffer briefs them on the subject of the vote?

• legistlative assistant

• legislative director

• caseworker

• adminstrative assistant

What is the role of congressional caseworkers?

• control the lawmaker's image in the media

• inform the lawmaker about the details of upcoming bills

• establish the legislative agenda

• handle requests for help from constituents

Which staff member helps shape the lawmaker's public image?

• office manager

• press secretary

• local caseworker

• party whip

Which of the following is true about the role of committee and subcommittee staff?

• They prepare committee reports.

• They review the constituent mail for each committee member.

• They provide political advice to committee members.

• They also serve in support agencies.

Lawmakers rely on their personal staff to

• draft new bills.

• testify in committee hearings.

• cast the lawmaker's vote when the lawmaker is absent.

• introduce new bills to Congress.

What accounts for the growth of congressional staff over the last 30 years?

• Increasing congressional salaries enabled lawmakers to hire more staff.

• Lawmaking became increasingly complex.

• Congress began hiring staff to serve committees.

• Lobbyists began serving as congressional staff.

What staff person serves as the lawmaker's chief of staff?

• legislative director

• press secretary

• administrative assistant

• legislative assistant