Congressional Oath of Office:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

What do members of Congress do?

• Making laws
• Raising revenue, authorizing & appropriating federal funds, and managing the federal debt
• Providing for the common defense and general welfare
• Regulating commerce among the states and with foreign nations
• Establishing the federal court system and defining federal crimes
• Declaring war and maintaining and regulating the military
• Directing a Census every ten years
• Impeaching federal officers, including the President (House) amd trying impeachments (Senate)
• Advising and consenting to treaties and appointments of judges and federal officials (Senate)

What are the requirements for someone to run for Congress?

An individual must be twenty-five years old and have been a citizen for seven years to serve as a member of the House of Representatives.

An individual must be thirty years old and have been a citizen for nine years to serve as a member of the Senate.

That’s it.

How can I tell how extreme a Congressional candidate is without doing too much digging?

GovTrack has an interesting page that gives you a sense of a US Senator or Representative’s ideology to the right or left. It will give you a general idea about where they will stand on many issues.

Could a person in prison hold office?

Yes, even if they have been indicted or convicted. There are certain potential consequences related to their status in Congress, but just because they are indicted or convicted of a felony, they are not removed from office, according to the Congressional Research Service. 

How do I find voting records of elected officials?

Ballotpedia has a huge amount of information of all kinds on elected offices, candidates, and issues.

VoteSmart provides free, unbiased, in-depth information about current officials, candidates, issues, legislation, and voting.

OnTheIssues.org provides information about where different politicians stand on a variety of issues.

How can I find out if my Congressmen have been accused of misconduct?

The Legislative Misconduct Database covers some instances dating back to 1789, including letters of reproval, censures, and expulsions from Congress. 

Investigations occur through

• The House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)
• The House Committee on Ethics (HCE)
• Senate Select Committee on Ethics (SSCE)

Keep in mind that monetary settlements occur often when a member of Congress is alleged of personal misconduct. Resignations are likely relevant to an allegation of misconduct.