When it comes to job satisfaction, members of Congress aren’t the only ones considering calling it quits.
Only about one in five senior aides on Capitol Hill believe that Congress is “functioning as a democratic legislature should,” and about the same margin believe that it is “an effective forum for debate” on key issues.
These are just some of the findings from an investigation by the Congressional Management Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to improve both lawmaker effectiveness and constituent engagement.
Over the past seven years, the foundation has conducted three very deep dives into the lives of senior staff in Congress, understanding that these unelected officials wield tremendous clout and that their positive outlook — or lack thereof — can deeply affect the health of the institution
The reports should not be considered scientifically conducted polls with margins of error and such. Rather, they are surveys that try to explore what these top staff think of their jobs and the overall environment on Capitol Hill. In addition, these reports measure the skill set senior staff members have and the resources they need to make it a better, more functional workplace.