Imagine you are a newly elected member of the House from a district with a military base that provides many jobs for your constituents and access to federal resources.Due to budget cuts, there is pressure to close a number of bases across the country.The House Committee on Armed Services must deal with military base closure requests from the Defense Department.What is the best way you could prevent an attempt to close the base in your district?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Requesting a seat on the Armed Services Committee would give the newly elected member access to information and the ability to participate in discussions regarding the closure of military bases. This would provide a platform to argue the importance of the base in the district and advocate against its closure. Sponsoring a bill or filibustering may not be effective as they may not have enough support, and engaging in logrolling may not be ethical. Supporting the president on all his legislation may also not be an effective strategy as the president may not have the power to prevent base closures.

Imagine You Are a Newly Elected Member of the House