# data[].attributes.headline
The influence of political parties on members of Congress

# data[].attributes.subject
The influence of political parties on members of Congress

# data[].attributes.body
There are as many factors that influence Members of Congress as there are Members, but the most common influences include political parties, staff, colleagues, the President, organized interest groups, and constituents.

From caucuses to legislative agendas, Congress is organized along party lines. This is because a congressperson’s position of power is determined by his or her party’s leadership, and that position of power usually reflects the support and votes each member has given or promises to give to support 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. Congressional offices can range greatly in size (and desirability); some are single rooms divided into cubicles overlooking air conditioning units, while others are six-room suites overlooking the Washington Mall. Budgets for staff, home district offices, and travel all vary according to party leadership decision-making. Party- directed committee assignments can send a congressperson to important committees that are highly relevant to that individual’s home district and re-election prospects, but can also leave a congressperson isolated (as may be the case with an assignment to an Ethics Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee). And when it comes time for a Member to add an earmark, or even introduce legislation, party support will depend on whether that member has been supportive of his or her party in the past. For this reason, when voting, Members of Congress must keep a variety of legislative concerns in mind.

# data[].attributes.body
Staff and colleagues are invaluable sources of information and influence. Members of Congress typically sit on three to five committees, and—although they tend to be great multi-taskers—they often do not have the time to attend all meetings, read all bills, sit in on all testimony, and absorb all relevant background information on all issues so as to make knowledgeable decisions on all issues. Therefore, many Congress Members must rely on their staff and colleagues. A Member of Congress will often first look to other members of his or her state’s delegation, regardless of party affiliation, to assess how an issue might affect his or her home state. Then he or she might look to either a member of the committee in which the issue is being debated or a member of his or her own staff that has been assigned to cover the issue to determine a position. Some people call this process “logrolling” or “trading votes.” Despite this negative connotation, it is a practical way of making decisions on the over 10,000 bills that are introduced into Congress each year