Congressional Research Service Careers

CRS is well-known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, timely, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has access to the nation's best thinking. This website provides information about our organization, career opportunities, and our services to Congress. With public policy issues growing more complex, the need for insightful and comprehensive analysis has become vital. Congress relies on CRS to marshal interdisciplinary resources, encourage critical thinking, and create innovative frameworks to help legislators form sound policies and reach decisions on a host of difficult issues. These decisions will guide and shape the nation today and for generations to come. **History and Mission** CRS's statutory mission is to serve Congress with the highest quality of research, analysis, information, and confidential consultation to support the exercise of its legislative, representational, and oversight duties in its role as a coequal branch of government. Created in the early 20th century, the mission of CRS is to provide objective and nonpartisan research and analysis, ensuring that Congress has the best thinking on critical legislative issues. The Service's sole client is the U.S. Congress, and all Members and committees can rely on the authoritativeness and confidentiality of its work. CRS, originally called the Legislative Reference Service, was established within the Library of Congress in 1914 and consistent with its former name, the small staff provided reference information to assist Members in their legislative work. The growth of the government and the increasing complexity of the problems faced by the nation led to a transformation of the Service from a reference bureau to a research and analytical support arm for Members and committees. In the following decades an ever-growing need for expertise became apparent. In 1970, the Legislative Reorganization Act established the Congressional Research Service that was designed to equip Congress with the tools, both human and material, to provide the research and analysis required to legislate and oversee the activities of government. The growth of CRS has continued and the services provided today by CRS are a direct result of congressional directives and guidance. CRS's statutory mission is to serve Congress with the highest quality of research, analysis, information, and confidential consultation to support the exercise of its legislative, representation and oversight duties in its role as a coequal branch of government. **Values** CRS prides itself on providing timely research, analysis, and information on the policy and procedural issues that are important to Congress. The service's experts evaluate issues without bias and employ a multilayered robust review process to ensure that CRS products meet the highest standards for analytical rigor, objectivity, and authoritativeness in a timely and reliable manner. In so doing, CRS stays true to its core values. **Confidentiality** All queries and exchanges with Members of Congress and their staff are held in the strictest confidence. Legislators and congressional staff are free to access CRS experts and analysis, explore issues, dispute them, ask questions about them, or float an unusual idea - all without question, challenge, or disclosure. CRS employees do not discuss work undertaken for a Member or a committee with another congressional office or with anyone outside the organization. **Authoritative and Timely** All services and products are authoritative. Analysts demonstrate rigorous research methodologies, free of built-in bias. They present, explain and justify any critical assumptions; investigate and recheck data anomalies; use primary resources whenever available; double-check all statements of fact; and document and vet all sources. This assures Members, as they engage in debate, that the analysis they rely on is as accurate as it is current. CRS exists to serve Congress on whatever timetable is needed by Members and CRS staff follow the legislative agenda, striving to anticipate congressional needs. **Objectivity and Nonpartisanship** We maintain an outstanding reputation for objective and nonpartisan analysis. Our experts are vigilant in evaluating issues without bias. A multi-layered review process also helps ensure that CRS products present issues and analysis in a manner that is fair, considered, and reliable.