#44: CIVICS 101: The Legislative Branch
Q&A #44: What services are officially available to Members and to committees to assist them in the performance of their legislative duties?
Our American Government
Our American Government is a small book published by the House of Representatives for citizens and those who seek a greater understanding of the American interpretation of democracy. It follows a question-and-answer format and covers a broad range of topics dealing with the three branches of our Government, the electoral process, and the role of political parties.
The Savvy Citizen is reproducing the 169 questions-and-answers through a series of posts called Civics 101. Each post will contain the Q&A as well as some additional commentary to add historical context, fun facts, or anything we believe will add to our collective understanding of these topics.
Think of it as your adult Civics class but without the test!
Let’s keep at it.
SECTION: The Legislative Branch: The Congress
Members, Offices, and Staff
Q&A #44: What services are officially available to Members and to committees to assist them in the performance of their legislative duties?
Research assistance is available both from congressional staff and from legislative branch agencies created to assist Members, committees, and their staffs.
Senators and Representatives are allocated funds to hire personal staff to assist them in performance of their legislative and constituent work. Committees are provided with staff assistance, subject to House or Senate approval of operating funds for each committee. Committees may also be given authority to hire temporary consultants (in addition to their full-time staff) or to accept assistance from staff of other government agencies loaned to the committees.
Each Chamber has an Office of Legislative Counsel to assist individual Members, committees, and staff in the drafting of legislation or in drafting amendments to bills, and both Houses maintain legislative libraries. Finally, each House has technical staff charged with providing computer services and automated systems services. Additional support is provided by legislative branch agencies.
The Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress provides both committees and individual Members with information, research, and analysis on a wide range of subjects.
The General Accounting Office assists committees and Members in fulfilling oversight and program evaluation responsibilities.
The Congressional Budget Office provides specialized fiscal and budgetary analysis and cost estimates of Government agencies, programs, and operations.
My Thoughts
I worked for a retired law professor for eight years after I graduated from college. I began my tenure with him in April 1996, the same year the Economic Espionage Act was passed by Congress and signed into law. Then Congressman Chuck Schumer from New York was one of the sponsors of the bill and I recall many meetings between his personal staff and my boss - an expert on intellectual property theft and criminal economic espionage - in the months prior to its passing. It was a fascinating look into the world behind-the-scenes the public rarely has a chance to see.
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Back next time with Q&A #45: Are there opportunities to work as a volunteer, intern, or fellow?
Meanwhile, don’t forget that we’re organizing the post links on a single page available here.
xo,
Kelley for the Savvy Citizen Team
February 11, 2025