The student news site of Clayton High School.

The Globe

The student news site of Clayton High School.

The Globe

The student news site of Clayton High School.

The Globe

Working in Congress creates insight

Although it was not in the description, my job this summer was composed largely of walking through metal detectors, avoiding sex scandals, sneaking into high security meetings and maneuvering the basement of terrorists’ most desired target.

While serving as a Congressional page, junior Justin Elliot (far right) met Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
While serving as a Congressional page, junior Justin Elliot (far right) met Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

For one month this summer I was given the honor and privilege to be a Page for the House of Representatives’ in the Washington D.C. On the surface my job was fairly monotonous: running errands, making copies, fetching water and answering phones. However, the mere setting made these normally tedious chores into exciting adventures, plus I was getting paid. Between sneaking into Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court hearing in the senate, raising the flag on the roof of the capitol, and even accidentally tripping the Speaker of the House, I was able to keep interested.
Nonetheless, it was not just the occasional escapade that made my experience so extraordinary. As I was running around doing my job I was not only able to watch the spectacle of the House floor from point blank range, but I was actually participating in the legislative process.
If I was sorting bills, gathering cosponsors or working the voting system, I was helping change our nation. If I wasn’t on the house floor I was talking with some of the most powerful people in the country or meeting people from across the globe. Not to mention that having unlimited access to the House floor is a privilege even the President of the United States can’t boast. While I was in DC I had the time of my life, made friends from around the country and did things I will most likely never do again. Ironically, the overwhelming feeling I have about my time in DC is disheartenment. Not in the page program itself, but in the legislative body I worked for. The more I observed the floor, I saw that the House is less like 435 members working together and more like 2 parties working against each other. It seemed more often than not Congressmen voted in obligation to their party and not their constituents.
I believe the party system stops progress. When a Congressman is in the party in the majority, their job is to get things done. On the other hand, when a Congressman is in the party in the minority their job is to make sure things don’t get done. This happened all the time while I was on the floor. The current minority party would talk for as long as possible to waste time, they would attempt to end the day early by voting to adjourn or they would call for the vote of extraneous bills. While I truly believe that Congress’s greatest problem is the 2 party system, it is just the beginning of Congress’s problems.
I could write an entire newspaper of what went wrong in Congress. In this eye opening experience if there is one thing I learned, when I register to vote, I’m an independent.

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Globe
$50
$2000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Clayton High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Globe
$50
$2000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

The Globe intends for this area to be used to foster healthy, thought-provoking discussion. Comments are expected to adhere to our standards and to be respectful and constructive. As such, we do not permit the use of profanity, foul language, personal attacks, or the use of language that might be interpreted as libelous. Comments are reviewed and must be approved by a moderator to ensure that they meet these standards. The Globe does not allow anonymous comments, and The Globe requires a valid email address. The email address will not be displayed but will be used to confirm your comments.
All The Globe Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
The student news site of Clayton High School.
Working in Congress creates insight