CHAPTER SEVEN
Congress

Explore

The official web site of the U.S. House of Representatives provides links to individual members' offices as well as committee and party leadership offices, and other links to dealing with business before the House.

The official web site of the U.S. Senate provides links to individual members' offices and committee offices as well as other links (including an interesting Art & History link).

Housed at Indiana University and headed by well-respected former representative Lee Hamilton, the mission of the Center on Congress has been to educate citizens about Congress. Fearing a lack of familiarity with the institution was the reason for many Americans' negative feelings toward Congress, the Center attempts to provide information on public perceptions of Congress and the role of the legislature in American society and politics.

From the official U.S. Senate web site, this link provides a history of major Senate and congressional select committee investigations. Interestingly, most of these select committees have been formed to study major political problems but also numerous Washington scandals throughout our history.

This section of the Senate's official web site answers recurring questions the public has about Congress. In particular, it responds to many of the urban legends that swirl around the country regarding congressional history and politics.

One of the key jobs of Congress is to produce the nation's budget every year. The United States currently runs an enormous budget deficit, and Americans often blame Congress for spending too much. Here's your chance to show them how it should be done through The National Budget Simulation game. Choose either the Short Version or the Long Version and decide what programs to cut, increase, or hold steady. Good luck! It's not as easy as it seems!

The watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste often produces reports about congressional public works programs they refer to as pork barrel spending.

TheCapital.Net provides a brief but informative run-down of historical and current congressional pay and perquisites.

The Library of Congress has for fifty years provided a guide to How Our Laws Are Made. This update is authored by the U.S. House Parliamentarian, who is the resident expert on congressional procedures.

The House leadership offices web pages provide very different views of the business of the U.S. House. Compare the Speaker of the House's statement on political issues with the Democratic leader's statement on the same political issues.

KEEPING THE REPUBLIC

Citizens have the conflicting goals of wanting both their local interests and the national public good promoted by their representatives.

• Know who your representatives are. Visit www.vote-smart.org, where you can find out who your representatives are, how they're voting, what they're bringing back to the district, and what role they're playing in Washington politics. Most senators and representatives maintain their own web sites, where they provide information of interest to their constituents; you can access those from www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.
• Let your representatives know who you are. Write, e-mail, or phone your legislators' office with your ideas and opinions on national and local issues. Remember that they work for you.
• Know your district. Find out who else your representative represents. Congressional district maps are available on-line through most state legislatures or via congresspeople's individual web sites (accessible from www.house.gov). Statistical information for every district can be found at http://www.fedstats.gov/.
• Get involved. Apply to be a legislative aide or intern, or join a political campaign for a candidate you believe in.
• Vote. Vote in every election and, if eligible, in every primary.