{
  "id": "R44696",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "R",
  "number": "R44696",
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  "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com",
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      "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov",
      "title": "Casework in Congressional Offices: Frequently Asked Questions\t",
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      "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov",
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      "type": "CRS Report"
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    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 457197,
      "date": "2016-11-22",
      "retrieved": "2016-11-28T21:04:27.674903",
      "title": "Casework in Congressional Offices: Frequently Asked Questions\t",
      "summary": "Constituents often contact a congressional office looking for assistance; the work congressional offices do in response to these requests is generally referred to as casework. Members of Congress determine the scope of their constituent service activities, including casework. Many requests for casework come from constituents seeking assistance from federal agencies, but offices may also receive requests from non-constituents. Congressional offices can have different conceptualizations of casework based on Member preferences, district needs, and constituent expectations.\nThis report addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) about congressional casework. It is intended to provide resources for congressional offices and individual caseworkers. This includes the casework rules and guidelines established by the House and Senate, as well as some observations about how congressional offices generally approach casework and work with federal agencies on behalf of constituents.\nCasework practices are largely left to each Member office to determine, like many other aspects of congressional operations. Each constituent\u2019s situation is unique, and federal agencies vary in their casework practices, which makes it difficult for either chamber to issue prescriptive guidelines regarding casework. The degree of flexibility afforded to offices can help caseworkers tailor their assistance to best meet constituents\u2019 needs. \nThe relative autonomy afforded to congressional offices regarding casework also means that many of the answers provided here are necessarily broad-based. Further resources are available from CRS that can provide more specific, context-specific information. Several of these CRS resources are discussed throughout this report, including the following: \nCRS Video WVB00093, Introduction to Congressional Casework, by R. Eric Petersen\nCRS Report RL33209, Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources, by R. Eric Petersen\nCRS Report RL33213, Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management, by R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman\nCRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies, by Audrey Celeste Crane-Hirsch\nthe CRS resources website, \u201cConstituent Services: Casework,\u201d by Jennifer E. Manning, available at http://crs.gov/resources/casework",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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  "topics": [
    "American Law"
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}