Opportunities with the House and Senate Leadership

Members of the House and Senate Leadership also hire separate staffs for their leadership offices. Their staffs are culled from personal office staff, other Members, other leadership offices, and former Hill staffers who have left to the private sector. Leadership staff helps set the party's agenda, move the agenda through Congress, and communicate the agenda to the public.

For those with aspirations of working in a prestigious leadership staff post, there are no sure fire ways of landing such a position. Leadership staff positions are rarely advertised; rather they are filled through personal networks and by tapping experienced staff. Still, there are several ways to position oneself for a leadership position:

• Network with leadership staffers: Since openings aren't often advertised, it is best to keep an ear to the ground for openings. Establishing good relationships with leadership staffers will help open doors

• Move up with your boss: Leaders are elected before the beginning of each Congress, and there are often significant changes due to retirement, term limits, or from challenges to standing leaders. When new Members assume leadership positions, they usually assign a number of their personal office staff to positions in their leadership offices. Therefore, working for a member interested in a leadership position can lead to a post, but there is no guarantee.

• Take on leadership assignments: The leadership often assigns Members to carry out special projects. Taking staff responsibility for a leadership project can raise your visibility and create networking opportunities.

House Leadership

Speaker of the House-- The Speaker of the House is elected at the beginning of each Congress, which occurs in January of odd numbered years, by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House is the highest leadership position in the House, and is the third ranking constitutional office of the United States behind the President and the Vice President.

Majority Leader -- The Majority leader is elected by the party in control of the U.S. House of Representatives to direct the floor activity of the House. The Majority leader exercises strong control over which bills are brought to the floor of the House for votes and sets the legislative calendar.

Minority Leader -- The Minority Leader is responsible for the interests of the minority party in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Minority Leader effectively leads his or her party in the House of Representatives and attempts to marshal the party's efforts to present alternative legislation to that advanced by the Majority party.

Majority Whip -- The Majority Whip is responsible for counting the votes on major pieces of legislation and working to ensure that the Majority Party's bills are passed by the U.S. House. The Whip often times must enforce party discipline.

Minority Whip -- The Minority Whip counts votes for the member of his or her party and works to help the party vote to uphold its principles -- which means often opposing the Majority Party's legislation.

Democrat Caucus Chairman -- The Democrat Caucus is the official organizing body of all the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and their staffs. The Democrat Caucus Chairman is responsible for developing effective messages for the party and communicating their messages to the public.

Republican Conference Chairman -- The Republican Conference is the official organizing body of the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and their staffs. Like his Democrat counterpart, the Conference Chairman is also responsible for message development and communications.

Republican Policy Committee Chairman -- The Republican Policy Committee studies and discusses legislative proposals and the party's priorities. The Policy Committee Chairman leads the 46 member policy panel and oversees the staff.

Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman -- The DCCC Chairman oversees the party's efforts to elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives by raising funding, directing campaign operations, and leading advertising and other communications efforts.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman -- The NRCC Chairman performs the same role for his or her party as the DCCC Chairman.

Senate Leadership Offices

Vice President of the United States -- The Vice President of the United States serves as the presiding officer of the Senate and has the responsibility for casting the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote.

President Pro Tempore -- The title of President Pro Tempore is awarded to the member of the Majority Party with the most seniority. The President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President and serves on the Majority Party's leadership team.

Majority Leader -- The Majority Leaders serves as the official leader of the Majority Party in the U.S. Senate. He or she sets the party's agenda and serves as the principal spokesperson for the party.

Minority Leader -- The Minority Leader sets the agenda for his or her party and serves as the party's Senate spokesperson.

Majority Whip -- The Majority Whip counts votes and works to persuade Senators to vote for their party's positions.

Minority Whip -- The Minority Whip serves in the same capacity for the Minority Party.

Republican Conference Chairman/Democrat Conference Chairman -- The Chairman of his or her respective party help organize the party's activities and is responsible for communicating the party's positions and accomplishments to the American people.

Republican Policy Chairman/Democrat Policy Chairman -- The Chairman of the of his or her respective party maintains a staff of policy experts to help shape the party's legislative policies and provide guidance to Senators for their policy development.

This article is excerpted from the Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers.
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