Casework in Congressional Offices: Frequently Asked Questions (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 25, 2021 |
| Report Number |
R44696 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Sarah J. Eckman, Analyst in American National Government |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Premium Nov. 22, 2016 (10 pages, $24.95)
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Summary:
Constituents often contact a congressional office looking for assistance; the work congressional
offices do in response to these requests is generally referred to as casework. Members of
Congress determine the scope of their constituent service activities, including casework. Many
requests for casework come from constituents seeking assistance from federal agencies, but
offices may also receive requests from non-constituents. Congressional offices can have different
conceptualizations of casework based on Member preferences, district needs, and constituent
expectations.
This report addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) about congressional casework. It is
intended to provide resources for congressional offices and individual caseworkers. This includes
the casework rules and guidelines established by the House and Senate, as well as some
observations about how congressional offices generally approach casework and work with federal
agencies on behalf of constituents.
Casework practices are largely left to each Member office to determine, like many other aspects
of congressional operations. Each constituent’s situation is unique, and federal agencies vary in
their casework practices, which makes it difficult for either chamber to issue prescriptive
guidelines regarding casework. The degree of flexibility afforded to offices can help caseworkers
tailor their assistance to best meet constituents’ needs.
The relative autonomy afforded to congressional offices regarding casework also means that
many of the answers provided here are necessarily broad-based. Further resources are available
from CRS that can provide more specific, context-specific information. Several of these CRS
resources are discussed throughout this report, including the following:
CRS Video WVB00093, Introduction to Congressional Casework, by R. Eric
Petersen
CRS Report RL33209, Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules,
Laws, and Resources, by R. Eric Petersen
CRS Report RL33213, Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies:
An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management, by R. Eric Petersen
and Sarah J. Eckman
CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies,
by Audrey Celeste Crane-Hirsch
the CRS resources website, “Constituent Services: Casework,” by Jennifer E.
Manning, available at http://crs.gov/resources/casework
