What does a staffer do in Congress?

“Plans legislative initiatives and strategies; supervises other legislative staff.” “Specializes in specific issues, monitoring bills and committee meetings in those areas; drafts floor statements and responses to constituent mail.”

What does Congress do on a daily basis?

Through legislative debate and compromise, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives. It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.

What do congressional aides do?

A congressional aide’s duties vary depending on the work needed from their congress person. They could also work in their state or the Capitol. They often handle administrative duties such as managing meetings, events, emails, phone inquiries, and may also be tasked to handle research.

What is the difference between staff and staffer?

A staff is a group of persons under command and control of a single person or an aggregate of persons who operate as a unit. A staffer is one member of a staff.

How much does a Senate staffer make?

U.S. Senate Salary FAQs The average salary for a Professional Staff Member is $81,120 per year in United States, which is 7\% lower than the average U.S. Senate salary of $87,758 per year for this job.

What degree do you need to be a congressional staffer?

Education: There are no set education requirements for entry-level Congressional staffers, but many have an undergraduate degree and perhaps a graduate degree in fields such as political science, public policy, law, and communications.

What is the plural of staffer?

staffer /ˈstæfɚ/ noun. plural staffers.

How much does a congressional staffer make 2020?

announced that senior staffers in the House of Representatives would be eligible for higher salaries — one of the biggest such changes in decades. For the first time, high-level staffers could make more than some members of Congress, with the salary cap increasing from $174,000 up to $199,300 a year.

What is the average salary of a congressional staffer?

The average Congressional aide salary can range from $20,000 to $50,000 a year. The highest paid congressional staffers earn yearly salaries coming in at $60,000 or higher. Salaries often increase by length of employment, meritorious service, or both.

What is it like to work for a congressional staffer?

Quiet days can be followed by a string of fast-paced commitments, and this can be stressful. Congressional staffers might be in an office one day and at a campaign event or speaking engagement the next. The work environment can be unpredictable.

Do Congressional staffs live with their housemates?

Most staffers I know and worked with live with many housemates, many of whom are also congressional staff, in order to be able to live and work in Washington on an entry-level staffer’s salary. (And it doesn’t get much better until you get to senior legislative assistant or legislative director.)

How much do members of Congress pay their staffs?

Congressmembers are given allowances from which they must pay for travel and office expenses, including their staff’s salaries. These allowances are determined by formulas, and they’ve been frozen since 2009. The maximum salary allowed for staffers employed by Representatives was capped at $168,411 as of 2018.

What skills do you need to work in Congress?

The Education and Experience You’ll Need. There are no set education requirements for entry-level Congressional staffers, but many have an undergraduate degree and perhaps even a graduate degree in fields including political science, public policy, law, and communications. During college, many were involved in student government.