Question

Please submit a three page paper that describes the motivation of an average congressman. What influences their vote? What structures their lives? What are their fears and aspirations?

Answer 1

There are as many factors influencing Congress members as there are members, but the most common influences are political parties, staff, colleagues, president, organized interest groups, and constituents.
Congress is structured along party lines from caucuses to parliamentary agendas.
This is because the position of authority of a congressman is determined by the management of his or her group, and that position of authority generally represents the assistance and votes provided or promised by each member in support of his or her party.Political parties determine who gets what in Congress, ultimately deciding, for example, which individuals receive which office and committee assignments and how budgets and earmarks are made.

Representational view is the reasonable assumption that members want to get reelected, and therefore vote to please their constituents The sociological composition of Congress and the activities of representatives once they are in office are very much influenced by electoral considerations. Three factors affect who gets elected and what they do—who decides to run, the advantage of incumbency, and the way congressional districts are drawn.A number of external influences affect how members of Congress vote, including the member's constituency and interest groups. A number of internal factors influence members votes, including party leadership, congressional colleagues, and the president.

The most important powers include the power to tax, to borrow money, to regulate commerce and currency, to declare war, and to raise armies and maintain the navy. These powers give Congress the authority to set policy on the most basic matters of war and peace.