Congressional+Basics

__Congressional Basics__
 * Qualifications
 * House
 * Must be at least 25 years old
 * U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
 * A resident of the state they are being elected to represent
 * Not mandatory to live in district
 * Senate
 * Must be at least 30 years old
 * U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
 * A resident of the state in which he or she is being elected to represent

__Job Description__ __Four Philosophies of Voting__
 * Pay
 * Congress representatives and senators is $169,300
 * The majority and minority leaders make $188,100
 * The speaker of the house makes $217,400
 * (Based on the year 2008)
 * Benefits
 * Members of Congress are eligible for coverage under [|Federal Employees Health Benefits Program]
 * All plans offer prescription drug benefits
 * Members of Congress may participate in the government-wide Thrift Savings Plan, which works like a federally-managed 401 (k) salary reduction plan
 * Congress members can receive pension after the age of 50 but only if they have served for 20 years.
 * What do they do?
 * Congressmen are legislators and representatives of their constituents
 * The main power of Congress is to make the laws that, when signed by the President, become the laws that American people must abide by.
 * Members of Congress represent the people of their district. The people share their views with their Congressman, who in turn, votes on matters in a way that best suit the needs of the people in that district.
 * Trustee
 * Uses best judgement, or what he or she thinks is right
 * Delegate
 * Votes how his or her contituents want them to
 * Partisan
 * Votes how his or her party want them to
 * Politico
 * Looks at it as a politician, aimed for reelection