Government 101: An Introduction

Whether you're new to the political process or actively involved, the following section contains helpful information on how best to prepare and direct your efforts to represent your views and those of the mortgage finance industry.

Know Your Legislators

The first step to successful communication with your lawmakers is to get to know them before you meet with them.  You should know your legislator's political party, the committees and subcommittees that he or she sits on, any leadership positions that he or she holds, and his or her voting record on MBA's issues.  To find your lawmakers and view their recent votes, visit the CAP web site at www.mortgagebankers.org/CAP.

Understand the Congressional Office Structure

Each member of Congress has staff to assist him or her during a term in office.  To be most effective in communicating with Congress, it is helpful to know the titles and principal functions of key staff.  Get to know the people of these different positions because more often than not, you will meet with these individuals instead of directly with the legislator. Getting to know these individuals is a tremendous bonus because lawmakers rely on the opinions for guidance before voting.  Congressional staff can be your strongest ally.

Commonly Used Titles

Chief of Staff or Administrative Assistant: The Chief of Staff reports directly to the member of Congress.  He or she usually has overall responsibility for evaluating the political outcome of various legislative proposals and constituent requests.  They are 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 Coordinator: The Legislative Director is usually the staff person who monitors the legislative schedule and makes recommendations regarding the pros and cons of particular issues.  In some congressional offices there are several Legislative Assistants and responsibilities are assigned to staff with particular expertise in specific areas.  For example, depending on the responsibilities and interests of the member, an office may include a different Legislative Assistant for health issues, environmental matters, taxes, etc.

Press Secretary or Communications Director: The Press Secretary's responsibility is to build and maintain open and effective lines of communication between the member, his/her constituency, and the general public.  The Press Secretary 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 position on specific issues.

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

Caseworker: The Caseworker is the staff member usually assigned to help with constituent requests by preparing replies for the member's signature.  The Caseworker's responsibilities may also include helping resolve problems constituents present in relation to federal agencies, e.g., Social Security and Medicare issues, veteran's benefits, passports, etc. There are often several Caseworkers in a congressional office.

Other Staff Titles: Other titles used in a congressional office may include: Executive Assistant, Executive Secretary, Office Manager, and Receptionist.