Legislators

<ul><li>Analyze and understand the local and national implications of proposed legislation.</li><li>Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.</li><li>Confer with colleagues to formulate positions and strategies pertaining to pending issues.</li><li>Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.</li><li>Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.</li><li>Hear testimony from constituents, representatives of interest groups, board and commission members, and others with an interest in bills or issues under consideration.</li><li>Keep abreast of the issues affecting constituents by making personal visits and phone calls, reading local newspapers, and viewing or listening to local broadcasts.</li><li>Maintain knowledge of relevant national and international current events.</li><li>Make decisions that balance the perspectives of private citizens, public officials, and party leaders.</li><li>Negotiate with colleagues or members of other political parties in order to reconcile differing interests, and to create policies and agreements.</li><li>Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.</li><li>Read and review concerns of constituents or the general public and determine if governmental action is necessary.</li><li>Represent their parties in negotiations with political executives or members of other parties, and when speaking with the media.</li><li>Review bills in committee, and make recommendations about their future.</li><li>Seek federal funding for local projects and programs.</li><li>Serve on commissions, investigative panels, study groups, and committees in order to examine specialized areas and recommend action.</li><li>Vote on motions, amendments, and decisions on whether or not to report a bill out from committee to the assembly floor.</li><li>Write, prepare, and deliver statements for the Congressional Record.</li><li>Alert constituents of government actions and programs by way of newsletters, personal appearances at town meetings, phone calls, and individual meetings.</li><li>Attend receptions, dinners, and conferences to meet people, exchange views and information, and develop working relationships.</li><li>Conduct "head counts" to help predict the outcome of upcoming votes.</li><li>Determine campaign strategies for media advertising, positions on issues, and public appearances.</li><li>Encourage and support party candidates for political office.</li><li>Establish personal offices in local districts or states, and manage office staff.</li><li>Evaluate the structure, efficiency, activities, and performance of government agencies.</li><li>Organize and maintain campaign organizations and fundraisers, in order to raise money for election or re-election.</li><li>Oversee expense allowances, ensuring that accounts are balanced at the end of each fiscal year.</li><li>Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.</li><li>Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.</li><li>Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.</li></ul>