Congressional Housing Lottery

Unlike while vying for committee placement, all new, incoming lawmakers have to enter a lottery to determine which remaining office they can occupy for the upcoming term. Yahoo Political News details the procedure of occupying newly emptied legislator offices and unlike all other aspects of election, it relies really nothing on merit, campaigning, or even fund raising - it's all decided by luck of the draw. Contrary to both Mueller and Weingast & Moran's analysis of the Congressional committee and sub-committee effectiveness, Congressional office lottery is neither truly hampered by bureaucracy, nor does it in any way work to exercise systematic control over bureaucracy. It's really funny to note that the worst office selections are considered so due to a lack of amenities in cases, and otherwise due to oddities - such as the office at 128 Cannon, which has a women's public bathroom cut into it. Unluckily for him, Republic elect Robert Hurt from Virginia drew lottery number 85/85 and was forced to occupy an office in between a bathroom and a stairwell. Regardless of the terrible location, it's interesting to note that his office is still 842 square feet - considerably larger than many studio apartments. Before you start feeling bad for the incoming lawmakers that drew late numbers, realize that illustrious employees across the world would gladly trade anything for an 842 square foot office. Additionally, Rep. Gary Peters makes everyone feel no sympathy or pity for the rookie legislators by saying, "They spend very little time actually in the office." Judging by the upcoming predicted gridlock on the floor, due to highly diversified party representation, the legislators won't spend very much time making laws either.