What Exactly Does a Member of Congress Do?

There are countless sources of information about Congress: how Senators and Representatives vote, how a bill becomes law, how congressional performance can be measured, yet no document outlining the actual responsibilities of a Member of Congress exists – until now.

The Congressional Management Foundation developed a job description of a Member of Congress, then vetted it with former and current congressional staffers, who have more than a combined 140 years of congressional experience. Though we do not propose it as the definitive word on the role Members of Congress play in our democracy, we envision it as a means for current and future Members of Congress, staff, and citizens to think about what legislators do, and serve as a reminder of their commitment to public service.

This job description groups Members' current duties into seven main functions and outlines their primary responsibilities in each: Representation, Legislation, Investigation/Oversight, Management, Politics, Collaboration, and Leadership. Developed by Kathy Goldschmidt and Bradley Joseph Sinkaus, the job description offers a foundation for future assessment of Member performance.

• Download "Job Description for a Member of Congress" (567 KB)

Funded by a grant from Democracy Fund.