They are vital to your success as a Member of Congress. Your staff will interact with constituents on a daily basis, brief you on important legislative issues, write your correspondence, develop newsletters on your main issues of concern, arrange tours for visiting constituents and perform countless other important tasks. Most people will judge you by the helpfulness and competence of your staff. Consequently, hiring and managing staff should be a top priority. A personnel plan details the staff resources you will need to implement your strategic plan much as a budget details how financial resources will be deployed to achieve your goals.
Senators are under no restrictions in the number of staff they can hire.
The average Senate office employs about 35 permanent staff, but there is wide variation depending on the population of the state being represented. Congressional offices generally have license in setting salaries but must observe some limits. You have hundreds of immediate decisions and arrangements to make which require experienced advice and an extra helping hand. If you have not involved your top aide in planning and hiring, you have shortchanged your access to good advice. You may have also weakened your CoS's commitment to the goals and the people he or she has not helped select.