Why do we elect representatives

To stay informed of current events, they confer with members of the public and a wide variety of interest groups, for example during working visits.

They also answer questions by email and letter. Citizens can also influence local or national politics by taking action themselves, for example by sending emails to members of parliament or town councils. A section by section analysis is also available. The Committee on Ethics has jurisdiction over the rules and statutes governing the conduct of members, officers and employees while performing their official duties.

The Rules Committee controls what bills go to the House Floor and the terms of debate. The makeup of the Rules Committee has traditionally been weighted in favor of the majority party, and has been in its current configuration of 9 majority and 4 minority members since the late s.

The Rules Committee has an online Parliamentary Bootcamp that gives an overview of House Floor procedures, process and precedents. As outlined in the Constitution , the House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. In , the House assembled for the first time in New York.

It moved to Philadelphia in and then to Washington, DC, in The House of Representatives moved into the House wing on the south side of the Capitol in , four years before the wing was fully completed. Skip to main content. Find Your Representative. Enter your zip code:. Learn About:. What is a Representative?

Directory View the list of House members. Find Your Representative Enter your ZIP code in the banner of this page to find the representative for your congressional district. Did You Know? Leadership List View the list of leadership offices and links to the websites. Do You Know? Committee Websites All committees have websites where they post information about the legislation they are drafting.

Examples of commissions Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission: a temporary, independent investigative body created by law and made up of private citizens. House Page Board: a permanent, Congressional advisory group created by law and made up of House members, Officers, and private citizens.

A Representative's Schedule. Key Concept Representatives carry out a broad scope of work in order to best represent their constituents. Contact Your Representative Share your thoughts with your representative. To be eligible to be an elected representative in New Zealand, you need to be over years old, enrolled as a parliamentary elector, and be a New Zealand citizen. No qualifications are required to become an elected representative.

There are elected representatives with qualifications at all levels, and in many different fields. However, degrees in law or political studies are not uncommon, and business degrees are becoming more common. Although it is not a formal requirement, it is common to have extensive professional experience before becoming an elected representative, particularly at the national level.

Experience in business, law, or the community sector, or in student union elections or labour unions can all be useful. To become an elected representative, you need to stand for election and win a seat in a legislative body. This is very hard, and generally it becomes harder for higher levels of government. Becoming a Member of Parliament is more difficult than becoming a local councillor, for instance. No post-school study is required to become an elected representative.