F. Official Residences

Congress must provide each Member with a uniform residence suitable for family habitation. The Member must use this residence when Congress is in session. It will include no fewer than three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living space. The government shall cover maintenance, furnishings, and utilities. These residences ensure Members can perform their duties in the Capital without undue hardship, while preserving their home district living arrangements. Congress may prescribe by law detailed regulations governing these residences.

This probably seems like an odd thing to include in constitutional text. And why so specific? This subsection is aimed at two problems.

First, our current system has no housing for members of Congress. This creates a significant barrier to service. Only those wealthy enough to maintain a residence in their home state or district and one in the capital can afford to serve in Congress. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with rich people serving in Congress, Congress must represent the people. Most of “the people” can’t afford two places of residence. The very concept of enough wealth to sustain that kind of life for two years seems dreamlike to them. We need people in Congress who can relate to that struggle. The only way to get them there is to make sure they have a place to live if they get elected.

The second problem is subtler, but at least as dangerous to our representation. Once upon a time, members of Congress lived in the capital with their families. They saw each other at dance recitals and barbecues, not just on the debate floor. Politics was vigorous, but they got to see each other as people – husbands, wives, parents. Over time, that practice gave way to fleeing the capital every weekend. Members rush to fundraising events and photo opportunities. Their families don’t live with them in Washington, D.C. In short, the only time they see political rivals is as, well, rivals. This subsection aims, in part, to restore that sense of amity. Fight tooth and nail in committee. But in the evening, go to your child’s scout meeting with the same person you argued with hours before, because their child is in scouts, too. It becomes tough to see your rival as an enemy when you spend time with them socially. This isn’t the whole solution to partisan rancor in Congress, but it will help. For it to work, though, there has to be housing, not only for the member, but for their family.