When I turn on the TV channel that has the Senate or the House featured, there is a person speaking to an?

Question

EMPTY ROOM??
Where are all the people that we elected to BE THERE??????
Are they still being paid, even though they didn't show up for "WORK?"

Answer 1

Even though they are not in the room, you can be sure their egos are. After all , their egos are what need the money and cash and prizes and fame.

Some people get involved in politics to change lives for the common good. After passing the Cynicism 101 class, and receiving their 4th BMW for making special interest and lobbied votes, they sorta just give up.

Maybe all of us would do the same in the same scenario...

Answer 2

A full session of the House or the Senate is called by the leader of the House or the Senate. Usually the politicians are called in when it is time to vote. Recently both Houses ware called to listen to the speech of the Iraqi leader.
General orders speeches are a custom in the House and in the Senate. The Reps and Senators have their televisions on as do you. All of the speeches and any extraneous materials are added into the Congressional Record. The politicians can read the record when it is printed. No votes are taken when only the speaker is present.
If a Republican wants to take the floor to talk for one hour about the need for border security, he can arrange to do that. Democrats don't share his views and don't want to sit and listen to something they don't agree with. Their time would be better spent if they were out drumming up support for a higher minimum wage.
It's just the way the system works.

Answer 3

Could it be that they are speaking to a small committee. Sometimes you may see only a few Democrats and Republicans in the room making their case in support of a bill that they have written. If the bill gains support then it will go before the full House or Senate.

Answer 4

In the Senate there is this idea called a filibuster..when the senator just talks and talks until the bill expires and they can talk about anything..often to a empty house.
Until the "cloture" them with 2/3 votes. It's funny.
But, yes they get paid.

Answer 5

Yes. Most Members of Congress don't show up except to vote. The comments are being read into the Federal Register. But no one is there to hear them.

No politicians mind was ever changed by floor debate. It is party affiliation and lobbying.

Answer 6

Yep. They still get paid. It is not required that they be on the floor for every minute. They all have other things to do like raising money for their re-election.

Answer 7

yes they are there and the only time they show up is to vote .ALL that crap they say in congress is just that .they got a phone call telling them how to vote and no matter what is said the vote goes according to plan .
i could go before congress tomorrow and offer to give them 20 billion dollars and they would send me away .see they have no place to take in donations .you have to bribe i mean donate money to individual people and parties .NOW if i were in charge i would say thank you for the money and what do you suggest we do with it .