DUTIES OF A LEGISLATOR compiled by Femi Alufa

When citizens go to the polls to vote for their choice of legislators in the state or federal senate or assemblies, many probably cast their ballot without really thinking about what job these legislators are actually doing. The legislator's job deals with various issues ranging from writing laws, to paying for programs, to trying to do the will of those who elected the legislator to lead. The duties of the legislator are many and their actions affect a large number of people.
Serving As Expert
Among the many duties of a legislator is the responsibility of becoming an expert on complex matters that affect the area they represent. In order to discuss potential changes in the way that the local, state or federal government is run, these legislators must be able to understand and analyze the discussions and proposals on a wide array of topics. The legislator must be able to determine how proposed legislation may affect the people he represents.
Budget
Members of any legislative body must contend with an allotted budget each year. When new legislation is proposed, these public servants must be able to examine the budget and know how any new programs will be funded. While many legislative bodies do not work under a balanced budget, it is still the ultimate goal to do so.
Bills and Laws
When new laws are passed, it means that a legislative body has voted for a bill that is then signed by the executive in charge of a particular government. This can be the governor of a state or the president of the United States. Before these pieces of legislation become laws, someone has to write them. This, too, is part of the legislator's job. Legislators write bills that are debated and eventually voted on. If the proposed legislation passes the vote, it is moved on to the next step toward becoming a law.
Commissions
Legislators are often selected to become part of additional special groups known as commissions. These commissions are charged with investigating a particular issue in depth to determine if future legislation is needed to improve the situation. Commission issues can be any social issue such as violence in schools, homelessness or anything else that is deemed worthy of further investigation.
Communicating with Constituents
One thing elected legislators must do to retain their posts is to effectively communicate with the people who vote for them. Legislators must spend some amount of time fielding phone calls and reading letters or emails to determine what the people in their districts are concerned about. The most popular legislators will vote on major issues based on the will of the people in their constituency. The legislator's staff also actively responds to email and telephone calls to lighten the load on the legislator.
Committee Work
In addition to representing a particular district of citizens, legislators are often assigned to committees that take on projects in a particular area. These committees meet when new legislation is proposed that may affect its area of expertise. Committee members review the proposals and evaluate the pros and cons in a hearing. The committee eventually votes to see if the proposed legislation should be sent to the floor for a vote by all the members of the legislature.