Congessional+Basics


 * Qualifications:**
 * Each representative must be at least twenty - five - years old.
 * Must have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years.
 * Must live in the state that they are representing at the time of the election.


 * Pay:**
 * Senate Leadership - Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400
 * House Leadership - Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader $193,400 Minority Leader $193,400
 * The current salary (2009) for members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.


 * Benefits/Perks:**
 * Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees.
 * Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS).
 * Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System ( CSRS).
 * In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.

we were elected to represent the people of our districts. Not lobbyists on K Street, and not operatives at the White House, or even the President himself. Our responsibility and our loyalty is to the American people who sent us here . []
 * Job Description**
 * When we were elected to Congress,


 * Voting Philosophies**
 * Trustee - voting as a representative to help the state
 * Delegate - voting as the constituents want
 * Partisan - voting as the party represented wants
 * Politico - voting as a way to increase political popularity and the best way to get re-elected



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