One week after Republicans scored massive electoral victories in the House and Senate , the 58 wide-eyed and triumphant House lawmakers-to-be descended upon Washington -- a city many of them campaigned against -- for a crash course on how to be a member of Congress . The dizzying pace of the seven-day congressional freshman orientation has trappings of the first day of college : There 's apartment hunting , a picture day , field trips , an `` office fair , '' assemblies , briefings on how to stay out of trouble , an ID card check-in , welcome meetings with leadership and hugs and kisses from loved ones . Some of the members of the new class entered the Capitol for the first time Wednesday night , a structure obscured by rows of grey scaffolding as part of a massive years-long refurbishment project . For the next several days , many will spend time lost in the building 's underground labyrinth of poorly-marked hallways . The men and women of the 114th Congress come from diverse backgrounds : There 's one car salesman , a dentist , a forester , a 9-1-1 dispatcher , a former CIA officer , two Southern Baptist preachers , an economics professor , an electrician , an arms dealer and , as is tradition , a small army of attorneys . Amid the pageantry and high-minded lectures about the value of `` public service , '' the incoming lawmakers will spend much of their time dealing with the mundane , such as securing access to new government computers and telephones . They 'll be tasked with ensuring their new offices have copiers and fax machines . According to a copy of the orientation schedule acquired by CNN , members are encouraged to visit the `` New Member Office Fair '' where they can get help setting up their new website or choose a carpet-and-wall color scheme for their new office digs . In the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building , Capitol Hill techies will be on hand to demonstrate `` the newest computer and telecommunications equipment . '' Meanwhile , the House portrait studio will provide official congressional photos—the cost will be billed to their `` Members ' Representational Allowance '' —and delivered on compact disk . On Wednesday night , the members-elect began a dizzying schedule of briefings , starting with a `` sneak peek into Leadership , Steering and Being a Freshman '' for the Republican group on Wednesday night and a bi-partisan reception . After that , both parties retreated to their proper corners : Democrats joined Nancy Pelosi for a dinner in Statuary Hall while Republicans attended a forum down the hall . On Thursday morning , the newbies departed their security-heavy hotel on a brisk walk to the Capitol for a four-hour briefing on exciting subjects such as how to properly use their office budget to buy pens . The Friday schedule calls for an hour-long bipartisan breakfast panel entitled `` If I Knew Then What I Know Now '' hosted by longstanding members with wisdom to share , followed by tours of the Capitol 's hallowed halls . Freshman orientation comes with Saturday school , where the members-elect will get a whirlwind tour of the `` legislative process , '' a subject many seem to struggle to retain . The next week begins with a class photo on the Capitol steps followed by the most important meeting yet : Ethics training . After they 're scared straight at the ethics briefing , it will be time for an inspirational field trip—for Republicans only . The new GOP class will hop on a bus to the National Archives with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy , a California Republican , for a `` private document viewing '' of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution . The orientation marathon concludes next Wednesday with a lottery to determine who gets the first crack at office space . A race for the high-rise penthouse this is not : The best real estate on Capitol Hill is actually on the lower floors , which shortens travel between to the House floor for votes . Those unlucky souls assigned to the far corners of Congress ' little empire are reminded that yes , It Gets Better . `` John Kennedy was on the fifth floor , '' Michigan Republican Rep. Candice Miller , the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee reminded the freshman on their first day . `` We all start there . '' In the meantime , the members-elect will also have a chance to subscribe to their favorite political magazines and newspapers , free of charge . Fun fact : Since 1983 , all congressional offices automatically receive free deliveries of pornography , courtesy of a monthly shipment of Larry Flynt 's Hustler magazine . Once it 's all over , this gang of bewildered and bleary-eyed future lawmakers of America will say goodbye to their new friends and return home for the holidays . They 'll be back in January , when the real fun starts .
New lawmakers are on Capitol Hill . They 'll spend several days learning about Congress .