Why dont senators have to work a 9 to 5 work week.

Question

Always been curious about this, and why dont they just get their vacation couple times a year, like all of us have to do.

Answer 1

They actually work many more hours than we realize; their jobs are unique.  When they aren't in Washington, they are in their home districts visiting with their constituents, researching issues, and writing proposals for legislation.  You can't represent the people (or get re-elected) by sitting in an office hundreds or thousands of miles away from those that vote for you!  

Answer 2

If you figure in the amount of money they are paid , add the amount they steal and add to it the amount of bribes they take....I would expect them to work at least 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year s******g up the country..............

Answer 3

because our nation was built in 1776. They proposed back then, due to slow transportation, that actually, our senators only have to work one day a year... and it passed!

Answer 4

9-5 would be a welcome downgrade from the current hours, when in session... heck, just watch c-span, often the sessions are live all through the evening, well into the late night. When the Senate, and Congress in general, is not in Session, that by no means, implies that the job is done, infact, just the opposite... that is the time they meet with Constituents-- us.

Saying they don't work during their "vacation" (meaning when they are on break, or not in Session, is like saying the President only works when in the Whitehouse, but doesn't at Camp David, or any other location) These jobs have some of the longest hours imagineable, yet some folks get hung-up on the word "vacation", when in reality, it nothing of the sort.