Politics

Politics is the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.

The role of a politician is varied and changes from day to day. Some politicians have greater responsibility or influence than others, depending on the size of the district they represent and the positions they hold on committees. As such, a politician's schedule can begin very early in the morning and end very late at night, as they meet goals in the effort to ensure they fulfill their duties.
Represent and Respond to Constituents * Representing constituents is at the core of the responsibilities of a politician, who is elected by the people she represents to ensure that laws passed reflect the needs of the district. Towards this end, politicians must meet with constituents daily who may bring forth legislative ideas and problems that are occurring in the district. They may also meet with lobbying groups who represent an industry that heavily impacts their district. For example, if a member represents a district that has a large farming community, they may meet with lobbyists from the agricultural industry to discuss the impacts of water and agriculture policy on their constituents. Members will also lobby other members to get them to support or reject legislation that impacts their district. Lastly, members may have their staff respond to constituent inquiries and assist them with issues impacting them individually.
Vote on Legislation * Voting on legislation is the most prominent aspect of a politician's job. When other members carry legislation, a politician will vote for or against it both in committees and on the Senate or House floor. Some politicians vote for bills that are partisan in nature according to their party's principles. A Republican member, for example, may vote against a bill that raises taxes since this may oppose his party's principles.