Final answer:
Members of Congress continue to get paid during government shutdowns, because their salaries are considered mandatory spending, protected by the Constitution. Shutdowns often result from budget disagreements, but Congressional pay is not affected.
Step-by-step explanation:
During times when the U.S. federal government shuts down, such as the instances in October 2013 and December 2018, many federal employees are furloughed and federal services are halted. However, members of Congress continue to receive their paychecks. This is because their salaries are provided for by the Constitution and are considered mandatory spending, which is not halted during a shutdown. Alongside Congressional pay, other forms of mandatory spending include entitlement programs and various long-term obligations.
In the confrontations within the Capitol, disputes over spending often cause these shutdowns. For example, in the 2013 shutdown, Republicans in the House of Representatives were opposed to funding bills that did not address changes to the Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Debates on spending priorities, such as these, and issues like the national debt ceiling can escalate to the point where the government comes close to defaulting on its debt. Even with the shutdowns in the '90s and the rising tension between the President and Congress, members of Congress were still paid.