Final answer:
Casework is the term used to describe the activities of members of Congress that assist individual constituents by helping them navigate bureaucratic red tape. It includes securing benefits, responding to concerns, and obtaining federal funds for local projects, and is a key strategy for Congress members to maintain a positive relationship with their constituents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The activities of members of Congress that help individual constituents, especially by navigating bureaucratic red tape, are referred to as casework. Casework involves assisting constituents with problems they may have with the federal bureaucracy and its agencies. Members of Congress often intervene on behalf of their constituents to help them deal with government red tape, securing benefits, or responding to other concerns. This is a part of the broader practice of credit claiming, which includes efforts like procuring federal funds for the district or state, securing government contracts, and promoting local projects, often labeled as pork barrel spending.
These activities are part of the representative function of a legislator and are used to foster a positive relationship with constituents which, in turn, is often beneficial during reelection campaigns as highlighted by political scientist David Mayhew. By engaging in casework, members of Congress aim to appear responsive and dedicated to their constituents' needs. Furthermore, these practices, along with others like logrolling, wherein legislators support each other's unrelated bills to ensure mutual benefits, are strategies members of Congress use to both provide for their districts and secure their political future.