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Congressional staff

March 14, 2023

Congressional staff are employees of the United States Congress or individual members of Congress. The position first developed in the late 19th century, and it expanded significantly during the 20th century. Staffers may work with individual members of Congress, or they may be associated with committees or other organizations that support Congress.

History

Before the American Civil War, members of Congress did not have staff assistance or even offices, and "most members worked at their desks on the floor."[1]

In 1891, Congress had a total of 146 staff members: 37 Senate personal staff, 39 Senate committee staff, and 62 House committee staff (37 of whom only worked during congressional sessions).[2] The House first approved personal staff for Representatives in 1893.[2] By the beginning of the 20th century, congressional staff had become a well-accepted feature of congressional operations.[2]

In 1943, House committees employed 114 staff members, while Senate committees employed 190 staff members.[2] The size of individual members' personal staffs were still relatively small, with the average senator having six staffers and representatives limited to having five staffers.[2] In the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, which reformed Congress and greatly reduced the number of congressional committees,[3] Congress expressly authorized permanent, professional committee staff for the first time.[2] The act provided for a much-needed increase in committee staff, allowing for up to four professional and six clerical staff members for each standing committee, except for the appropriations committees (which had no limitation on the number of staff members).[2][3] The 1946 act also reorganized the Library of Congress and created the Legislative Reference Service (which later became the Congressional Research Service) as a distinct entity.[3] The size of both personal and committee staff increased considerably after the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act.[2] Following the significant increase in 1947, there was gradual growth in the number of both kinds of staff for about twenty years.[2] Increased staff specialization also occurred during this period of slow growth (i.e., staffers began to be divided into press, legislative, and casework roles).[2]

In the 1970s, there was again a sharp jump in the number of staff.[2] This was a response "in part to increased workloads and in part to confrontation with the executive branch on various issues, including the president's impoundment of funds and the Watergate crisis."[2] The political scientist Morris P. Fiorina, in his book Congress: Keystone of the Washington Establishment, found that the number of congressional staff more than doubled between 1960 and 1974. The increase was mostly in district or state offices; the percentage of congressional staff who worked in a district office went from 14% in 1960 to 34% in 1974.[4]

In the 1970s and 1990s, "staff numbers generally held level and increases were held down. After 1995, staff numbers actually decreased slightly."[2]

Types of staff members

C-SPAN classifies staff members into five categories:[5]

In the year 2000, there were approximately 11,692 personal staff, 2,492 committee staff, 274 leadership staff, 5,034 institutional staff, and 3,500 GAO employees, 747 CRS employees, and 232 CBO employees.[5]

Personal staff

Budgets for staff were determined by the population of the state; Senators from California, the most populous state, get more money for staff than Senators from Wyoming, the least populous state. Members can choose how to distribute staff between their Washington office and their United States congressional district home office or offices.[5]

Not all offices have the same type of organization, and different titles may be used for substantially similar jobs. Common jobs are:

  • Chief of staff: Highest-ranking and usually highest-paid legislative staffer in the office of a member of Congress, usually the chief operating officer of the office, reporting directly to the member. Oversees a dozen or more other employees. Some chiefs of staffs are charged with personnel decisions and policy initiatives. From time to time a chief of staff may be based out of a district office, but they are almost always found at the Capitol ("on the "Hill"). Chiefs of staff are usually very experienced political staffers, often with years of prior work on the Hill, or are personal friends of Members. Some chiefs of staff were previously campaign managers.[5]
  • Deputy chief of staff: Reports to the chief of staff.
  • Legislative director (LD), senior legislative assistant (SLA), or legislative coordinator (LC): oversees the legislative staff, including all legislative assistants and correspondents. There is usually one in each office.[6]
  • Legislative correspondent (LC): Responsible for drafting letters in response to constituents' comments and questions and also generally responsible for a few legislative issues. According to the Dirksen Congressional Center, most House offices have one or two, while senators have three to five, depending on their state's population.[6]
  • Press secretary or communications director: Responsible for Member's relationship with media; is the liaison for the local and national press; issues press releases.[5]
  • Caseworkers or constituent services representatives: Responsible for helping constituents deal with problems relating to federal agencies. For example, caseworkers help individuals secure veterans' benefits, aid with Social Security and Medicare, and resolve immigration issues.[6] Caseworkers may also provide mediation services to constituents and obtain government information and publications.[5]

Committee staff

Each congressional committee has a staff, of varying sizes. Appropriations for committee staff are made in annual legislative appropriations bills. Majority and minority members hire their own staff except on two select committees in each house—the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the House and the Select Committee on Ethics and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the Senate. These committees have a single staff.[5]

In 2000, House committees had an average of 68 staff and Senate committees an average of 46. Committee staff includes both staff directors, committee counsel, committee investigators, press secretaries, chief clerks and office managers, schedules, documents clerks, and assistant.[5]

Safety and security

Like members of Congress, congressional staff have occasionally been the targets of violence or threats of violence.[7][8][9] Between 1789 and 2011, there were five incidents affecting some congressional staff alongside members of Congress.[7] The following recorded incidents of violence against congressional staff have taken place:

Notes

  1. ^ "Careers, congressional" in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (2007), eds. Robert E. Dewhirst & John David Rausch, p. 83.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Susan Webb Hammond, "Life and Work on the Hill: Careers, Norms, Staff, and Informal Caucuses" in Congress Responds to the Twentieth Century (Ohio State University Press, 2003: eds. Sunil Ahuja & Robert E. Dewhirst), pp. 73-96.
  3. ^ a b c "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946" in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (2007), eds. Robert E. Dewhirst & John David Rausch, p. 319.
  4. ^ "Offices, district" in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (2007), eds. Robert E. Dewhirst & John David Rausch.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h , November 15, 2000.
  6. ^ a b c "How to Communicate Effectively with Congress," Dirksen Congressional Center.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g R. Eric Petersen, Jennifer E. Manning & Erin Hemlin, Violence Against Members of Congress and Their Staff: Selected Examples and Congressional Responses (January 25, 2011).
  8. ^ Emily Goodin, Members have 24-hour protection at Capitol but home is a different story, The Hill (April 23, 2013).
  9. ^ Man Accused of Threats to Congressman's Staff Denied Bond, Associated Press (March 6, 2017).
  10. ^ Michael D. Shear, Adam Goldman & Emily Cochrane, Steve Scalise Among 4 Shot at Baseball Field; Suspect Is Dead, New York Times (June 14, 2017).

March 14, 2023
congressional, staff, employees, united, states, congress, individual, members, congress, position, first, developed, late, 19th, century, expanded, significantly, during, 20th, century, staffers, work, with, individual, members, congress, they, associated, wi. Congressional staff are employees of the United States Congress or individual members of Congress The position first developed in the late 19th century and it expanded significantly during the 20th century Staffers may work with individual members of Congress or they may be associated with committees or other organizations that support Congress Contents 1 History 2 Types of staff members 3 Personal staff 4 Committee staff 5 Safety and security 6 NotesHistory EditBefore the American Civil War members of Congress did not have staff assistance or even offices and most members worked at their desks on the floor 1 In 1891 Congress had a total of 146 staff members 37 Senate personal staff 39 Senate committee staff and 62 House committee staff 37 of whom only worked during congressional sessions 2 The House first approved personal staff for Representatives in 1893 2 By the beginning of the 20th century congressional staff had become a well accepted feature of congressional operations 2 In 1943 House committees employed 114 staff members while Senate committees employed 190 staff members 2 The size of individual members personal staffs were still relatively small with the average senator having six staffers and representatives limited to having five staffers 2 In the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 which reformed Congress and greatly reduced the number of congressional committees 3 Congress expressly authorized permanent professional committee staff for the first time 2 The act provided for a much needed increase in committee staff allowing for up to four professional and six clerical staff members for each standing committee except for the appropriations committees which had no limitation on the number of staff members 2 3 The 1946 act also reorganized the Library of Congress and created the Legislative Reference Service which later became the Congressional Research Service as a distinct entity 3 The size of both personal and committee staff increased considerably after the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act 2 Following the significant increase in 1947 there was gradual growth in the number of both kinds of staff for about twenty years 2 Increased staff specialization also occurred during this period of slow growth i e staffers began to be divided into press legislative and casework roles 2 In the 1970s there was again a sharp jump in the number of staff 2 This was a response in part to increased workloads and in part to confrontation with the executive branch on various issues including the president s impoundment of funds and the Watergate crisis 2 The political scientist Morris P Fiorina in his book Congress Keystone of the Washington Establishment found that the number of congressional staff more than doubled between 1960 and 1974 The increase was mostly in district or state offices the percentage of congressional staff who worked in a district office went from 14 in 1960 to 34 in 1974 4 In the 1970s and 1990s staff numbers generally held level and increases were held down After 1995 staff numbers actually decreased slightly 2 Types of staff members EditC SPAN classifies staff members into five categories 5 Personal staff who work for individual members of Congress Committee staff who serve either the majority or minority on congressional committees Leadership staff who work for the speaker majority and minority leaders and majority and minority whips in the House of Representatives and the majority and minority leaders and assistant majority and minority leaders whips in the Senate Institutional staff including majority or minority party floor staff and non partisan staff such as the Capitol Police Architect of the Capitol facilities and maintenance employees and legislative clerks Support agency staff non partisan employees of the Congressional Research Service CRS Congressional Budget Office CBO and Government Accountability Office GAO In the year 2000 there were approximately 11 692 personal staff 2 492 committee staff 274 leadership staff 5 034 institutional staff and 3 500 GAO employees 747 CRS employees and 232 CBO employees 5 Personal staff EditBudgets for staff were determined by the population of the state Senators from California the most populous state get more money for staff than Senators from Wyoming the least populous state Members can choose how to distribute staff between their Washington office and their United States congressional district home office or offices 5 Not all offices have the same type of organization and different titles may be used for substantially similar jobs Common jobs are Chief of staff Highest ranking and usually highest paid legislative staffer in the office of a member of Congress usually the chief operating officer of the office reporting directly to the member Oversees a dozen or more other employees Some chiefs of staffs are charged with personnel decisions and policy initiatives From time to time a chief of staff may be based out of a district office but they are almost always found at the Capitol on the Hill Chiefs of staff are usually very experienced political staffers often with years of prior work on the Hill or are personal friends of Members Some chiefs of staff were previously campaign managers 5 Deputy chief of staff Reports to the chief of staff Legislative director LD senior legislative assistant SLA or legislative coordinator LC oversees the legislative staff including all legislative assistants and correspondents There is usually one in each office 6 Legislative correspondent LC Responsible for drafting letters in response to constituents comments and questions and also generally responsible for a few legislative issues According to the Dirksen Congressional Center most House offices have one or two while senators have three to five depending on their state s population 6 Press secretary or communications director Responsible for Member s relationship with media is the liaison for the local and national press issues press releases 5 Caseworkers or constituent services representatives Responsible for helping constituents deal with problems relating to federal agencies For example caseworkers help individuals secure veterans benefits aid with Social Security and Medicare and resolve immigration issues 6 Caseworkers may also provide mediation services to constituents and obtain government information and publications 5 Committee staff EditEach congressional committee has a staff of varying sizes Appropriations for committee staff are made in annual legislative appropriations bills Majority and minority members hire their own staff except on two select committees in each house the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the House and the Select Committee on Ethics and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the Senate These committees have a single staff 5 In 2000 House committees had an average of 68 staff and Senate committees an average of 46 Committee staff includes both staff directors committee counsel committee investigators press secretaries chief clerks and office managers schedules documents clerks and assistant 5 Safety and security EditLike members of Congress congressional staff have occasionally been the targets of violence or threats of violence 7 8 9 Between 1789 and 2011 there were five incidents affecting some congressional staff alongside members of Congress 7 The following recorded incidents of violence against congressional staff have taken place In 1905 Doc Thompkins private secretary to Representative John M Pinckney of Texas was wounded in a riot in which the congressman was slain 7 In 1935 Earle Christenberry secretary to Senator Huey Pierce Long of Louisiana opened a parcel bomb which did not detonate 7 In 1978 Jackie Speier then a staffer for Representative Leo Joseph Ryan of California was seriously injured by a gunshot wound in an attack in Guyana in which Ryan was assassinated 7 1998 United States Capitol shooting incident In 1998 two Capitol Police officers were killed by a gunman 7 2011 Tucson shooting In 2011 a gunman Jared Lee Loughner attacked a public event being held by Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona in Tucson Six people were killed including Gabriel Matthew Zimmerman a member of Gifford s staff Thirteen others were injured including Giffords and two of her staff members Ron Barber and Pamela Simon 7 Congressional baseball shooting In 2017 a gunman attacked Republican congressmen and others who were practicing in Alexandria Virginia for the Congressional Baseball Game House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several others were wounded including two Capitol Police officers a staff member for Representative Roger Williams and a former congressional staff member and lobbyist 10 Notes Edit Careers congressional in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress 2007 eds Robert E Dewhirst amp John David Rausch p 83 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Susan Webb Hammond Life and Work on the Hill Careers Norms Staff and Informal Caucuses in Congress Responds to the Twentieth Century Ohio State University Press 2003 eds Sunil Ahuja amp Robert E Dewhirst pp 73 96 a b c Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress 2007 eds Robert E Dewhirst amp John David Rausch p 319 Offices district in Encyclopedia of the United States Congress 2007 eds Robert E Dewhirst amp John David Rausch a b c d e f g h C SPAN s Capitol Questions November 15 2000 a b c How to Communicate Effectively with Congress Dirksen Congressional Center a b c d e f g R Eric Petersen Jennifer E Manning amp Erin Hemlin Violence Against Members of Congress and Their Staff Selected Examples and Congressional Responses January 25 2011 Emily Goodin Members have 24 hour protection at Capitol but home is a different story The Hill April 23 2013 Man Accused of Threats to Congressman s Staff Denied Bond Associated Press March 6 2017 Michael D Shear Adam Goldman amp Emily Cochrane Steve Scalise Among 4 Shot at Baseball Field Suspect Is Dead New York Times June 14 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Congressional staff amp oldid 1143948964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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