Crs Report for Congress: Casework in a Congressional Office

ISBN-10: 1293025615
ISBN-13: 9781293025611
Series: Crs Report for Congress
Pages: 40
Language: English
Published: 2013-10
Publisher: BiblioGov
Authors: Congressional Research Service: The Libr, John S. Pontius

Description

This report and its appendices present a general overview of congressional office procedures associated with handling casework and the assistance provided by a Member of Congress to help constituents in their dealings with federal agencies. It discusses options for assisting Members' constituents and the role of Members and staff in providing casework services. This report is intended for congressional use only. Casework generally consists of assistance provided by Members of Congress and their staff to constituents in their transactions with federal agencies. Casework may involve individuals or groups with a common concern, and typically includes a problem, grievance, question of eligibility, specific need, or other tangible interest or benefit. Whether it is a delayed Social Security check, a denied veteran's claim, or a Medicare reimbursement dispute, the constituent's problem usually has to do with a federal program, rule, regulation, or administrative decision resulting from the implementation of a public law. Casework mostly emanates from constituent letters, visits, phone calls, faxes, and e-mails. Casework involves "interpreting, interacting, explaining, distributing, and interceding on behalf of constituents toward relief of some problem between them and the bureaucracy." The constituent may also have another need connected with government, national or foreign, on which a ...