Is it true members of Congress work only partial weeks, ie; 3 to 3 1/2 days?

Answer 1

Well, congress is not oficially required to "work" at all. But this all depends on what you consider "work" to be. I certainly didn't see them unloading cargo at the dock, or digging ditches or anything. Last year, congress was "in Session" for 99 days or so.. But does that mean they only "worked" for 99 days? Really, having congress in "session" just means that a lot of them got together for what ammounts to a massive board meeting for the nation. Do you EVER feel productive when you're in the middle of a board meeting? Honestly, I'd bet they're more productive when congress is not in session.

You must remember that these people are from 50 different states. Their "job" includes understanding the problems of their constituents, writing legisltion to solve those issues, and getting that legislation passed into law by passing it on to the senate and president... all the while, attempting to make things especially nice for their base of voters so they can get re-elected.

To get re-elected, and to understand the problems of their constituents, members of congress generally go on "junkets," and "Campaigns," to tour their areas of interest, shake hands, kiss babies, and hear grievances. They also have a number of staffers to help with this, but every staffer must get paid for by government funds, or campaign contributions. It's more economical for the nation if the members of congress do most of this work themselves.

Once they've heard some problems, they can iron out a few legislative ideas as to how they can help solve the issues, by proposing construction works, finagling legislation to funnel more funds their way, and such. However, to get that legislation written, it then has to go to the right comittee, who will oversee writing of the legislation. After that, the house of congress votes on the legislation, which passes it on to the senate,which sometimes changes things a little before voting on it again, and passing it on to the President.

In order to get anything like the desired result for their constituent, the member of congress must find people in the appropriate comittes, who are outspoken enough,and who have similar enough problems among their base of voters that the desired result will remain in the legislation through the initial writing process.

After that, the member of congress must drum up enough support among other congressmembers to ensure that the legislation will be passed on to the senate. Doing this can be difficult, because often members of opposite parties will reject any legislation from their "enemy" out of spite.

Even then, the legislation may remain useless, or die in the senate unless the congressperson knows enough of the right senators to ensure that the documents are approved without serious modifications. Finally, the congressmember may need to get on the president's good side, or at lest convince him that the bill is worth accepting as law.

Such a maze of finagling, backroom deals, and haggling over what may seem to the congressmember like enormously trivial details is what allows laws to get passed. The actual "work" of bringing a fully written piece of legislation up, and voting as to whether or not it gets sent to the senate is a mere formality of inefficient boardroom proceedures.

Just as you in your office really can't get any "work" done in a board meeting, congress doesn't actually "Work" when it is in session. Indeed, with fax machines, Email, phones, and private meetings, congress probably "works" more efficiently when it is not in session, because much of the legislation writing and vote assuring can be easily performed from your own home state while hearing other grievances. Thus, when the bill is finally brought to congress, with most questions already answered, and most votes already assured, the congressional session need not get bogged down in complaints, questions, fillibusters, and resounding rejection of the legislation that was so painstakingly written... all for nothing as it would then turn out.

Does congress only work three and a half days a week? Far less than that I should think if it's in session for all of 99 days a year. The way I see it, the less time they're in session, the MORE work the could get done.

Answer 2

they have no official requirement to work at all. last year they worked 99 days. so it is up to voters to kick them out when they are lazy and to be careful who they put in for years.

Answer 3

why don't i find that surprising...

It sounds even work in this article that says it's just 2 days a week.

http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/06oct/article001.html

Answer 4

That is what I saw on CNN news a few wks ago!

Answer 5

its been known to happen but not for everyone