Why are Congresspeople allowed to discuss how they're going to vote

before they do? At the local level there's something called ex parte communication which is forbidden. Basically, one elected official can't discuss an issue before the board with another elected official except in a properly advertised public meeting. That also means that they shouldn't discuss how they're going to vote.

But there's an illegal way around this. A City Manager or City Attorney picks up the phone and calls a Commissioner, probably the one he has the best relationship to discuss the matter that's about to go before the board and they might determine what is in the best interest for the city; then he'll call Commissioner 2 and tell him how Commissioner 1 might vote; and then he calls Commissioner 3 and repeats the conversation, telling each Commissioner how the other will vote. Illegal as hell, but it happens in local government which is why some commission meetings in some cities take place with barely a question being asked by the Commissioners. Obviously, you can see how much power that City Manager or City Attorney can have by who he calls first, and what he choses to tell them.

So now I'm here asking, why doesn't ex parte rules apply to our Congress in Washington? Why is it that they know they don't have enough votes unless someone is communicating with them outside a public forum? And doesn't this undermine the democratic process, because it stops the process short of a vote?

to avoid manipulations of the vote. They have the freedom to say anything they want in open, public forum. What they don't have the right to do is conspire in the backroom where they may be buying each other's vote.

are suppose to be applied to our Congresspeople in Washington?

I would have told you that.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion.

campaign contributions.