Complacency: Members become comfortable and complacent

Why? Many become protected incumbents and therefore complacent. They enjoy the benefits of being a congressperson.

Why do they become protected, complacent, and comfortable?
They often can become protected incumbents due to safe seats. They enjoy the benefits of power, prestige, glamour, perquisites, and largess from lobbyists; the result is that they no longer can relate to the average citizen. Congress itself has the power to set its salaries and grant many valuable perquisites including retirement plans, medical programs, life insurance, dining rooms, parking places, and exemptions from laws that the rest of us must obey. It is not surprising that living in this environment a number of years insulates a congressperson from the reality of life across America. The root causes are careerism, safe seats, and campaign money from lobbyists.

Why? Members become so wrapped up in the politics of congress, committee assignments, chairmanships, political parties, and competition for leadership roles that they lose interest in the reasons for legislation and the importance of it.

Why do they become interested in internal and party politics more than in legislation?
Primarily, careerism is the reason why a congressperson becomes more interested in the mechanics of the job and increasing his power than in the legislative interests of his constituents and the country.