SYNERGY ALLIANCES

THE ROLES OF KEY CONGRESSIONAL STAFF

There are a total of 535 members in the United States Congress, 435 in the U.S. House of Representatives and 100 in the U.S. Senate. Each member of Congress has staff to assist him or her during a term in office (i.e., 2 years for the House, and 6 years for the Senate). During an election year, they have a campaign staff that is separate and not connected to the legislative staff. To be effective in communicating with the U.S. Congress, it is helpful to know the titles and principal functions of the member’s key staff:

Chief of Staff or Administrative Assistant: The Chief of Staff or AA reports directly to the member of Congress. He or she usually has overall responsibility for evaluating the political outcomes of various legislative proposals and constituent requests. The CoS is usually the person in charge of overall office operations, including the assignment of work and the supervision of key staff.

Legislative Director, Legislative Assistant or Legislative Counsel: The LD is usually the staff person who monitors the legislative schedule and makes recommendations regarding the pros and cons of particular issues. In most congressional offices there are several LAs or Legislative Counsels. Legislative responsibilities are assigned to staff with particular expertise in specific topical issue areas (e.g., transportation, defense, technology, international trade). It is common for a legislative staffer to hold a portfolio of several – perhaps as many as 6 to 8 – substantive issues of interests to the member and his/her constituents, and based on his/her committee assignments (e.g., House Transportation & Infrastructure, Senate Appropriations, House Armed Services).

Communications Director or Press Secretary: The CD or Press Secretary and Deputy Press Secretary are responsible for building and maintaining open and effective lines of communications between the member of Congress, his/her constituency, and the general public. The Communications Director is expected to know the benefits, demands, and special requirements of both print and electronic media, and how to most effectively promote the member’s views or positions on specific issues.

Scheduler or Appointment/Executive Secretary: The Scheduler or Executive Secretary is usually responsible for allocating a member of Congress’s time among the many demands that arise from congressional responsibilities, staff requirements, and constituent requests. The Scheduler may also be responsible for making necessary travel arrangements, arranging speaking dates, visits to the district, and other important engagements, etc.

State/District Director: The State/District Director is responsible for the member of Congress’s legislative offices located throughout the district or state. The SD works closely with the member’s Washington, DC office, including local constituent requests or cases. He or she is also responsible for all activities (e.g., speaking engagements) while the member is in the district or state.

Caseworker: The Caseworker is the staff member usually assigned to help with constituents’ requests by preparing replies for the member of Congress’s signature. The Caseworker’s responsibilities may include helping to resolve problems or cases constituents present in relation to federal agencies (e.g., veteran’s benefits, passport and immigration, Social Security and Medicare).

The member of Congress also has other staff members that focus on administrative matters (e.g., Office Manager, Receptionist, Staff Assistant, computer technician, interns), and those that support the duties of the senior legislative staff (e.g., Legislative Correspondent). These individuals do not advise the member of Congress on legislative matters, draft legislation or House/Senate floor statements.



	THE ROLES OF KEY CONGRESSIONAL STAFF There are a total of 535 members in the United States Congress, 435 in the U.S. House of Representatives and 100 in the U.S. Senate. Each member of Congress has staff to assist him or her during a term in office (i.e., 2 years for the House, and 6 years for the Senate). During an election year, they have a campaign staff that is separate and not connected to the legislative staff. To be effective in communicating with the U.S. Congress, it is helpful to know the titles and principal functions of the member’s key staff: Chief of Staff or Administrative Assistant: The Chief of Staff or AA reports directly to the member of Congress. He or she usually has overall responsibility for evaluating the political outcomes of various legislative proposals and constituent requests. The CoS is usually the person in charge of overall office operations, including the assignment of work and the supervision of key staff. Legislative Director, Legislative Assistant or Legislative Counsel: The LD is usually the staff person who monitors the legislative schedule and makes recommendations regarding the pros and cons of particular issues. In most congressional offices there are several LAs or Legislative Counsels. Legislative responsibilities are assigned to staff with particular expertise in specific topical issue areas (e.g., transportation, defense, technology, international trade). It is common for a legislative staffer to hold a portfolio of several – perhaps as many as 6 to 8 – substantive issues of interests to the member and his/her constituents, and based on his/her committee assignments (e.g., House Transportation & Infrastructure, Senate Appropriations, House Armed Services). Communications Director or Press Secretary: The CD or Press Secretary and Deputy Press Secretary are responsible for building and maintaining open and effective lines of communications between the member of Congress, his/her constituency, and the general public. The Communications Director is expected to know the benefits, demands, and special requirements of both print and electronic media, and how to most effectively promote the member’s views or positions on specific issues. Scheduler or Appointment/Executive Secretary: The Scheduler or Executive Secretary is usually responsible for allocating a member of Congress’s time among the many demands that arise from congressional responsibilities, staff requirements, and constituent requests. The Scheduler may also be responsible for making necessary travel arrangements, arranging speaking dates, visits to the district, and other important engagements, etc. State/District Director: The State/District Director is responsible for the member of Congress’s legislative offices located throughout the district or state. The SD works closely with the member’s Washington, DC office, including local constituent requests or cases. He or she is also responsible for all activities (e.g., speaking engagements) while the member is in the district or state. Caseworker: The Caseworker is the staff member usually assigned to help with constituents’ requests by preparing replies for the member of Congress’s signature. The Caseworker’s responsibilities may include helping to resolve problems or cases constituents present in relation to federal agencies (e.g., veteran’s benefits, passport and immigration, Social Security and Medicare). The member of Congress also has other staff members that focus on administrative matters (e.g., Office Manager, Receptionist, Staff Assistant, computer technician, interns), and those that support the duties of the senior legislative staff (e.g., Legislative Correspondent). These individuals do not advise the member of Congress on legislative matters, draft legislation or House/Senate floor statements.




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