What term best describes an effort to gain support from constituents through personal aid?

The term that best describes an effort to gain support from constituents through personal aid is casework. Casework involves the assistance that members of Congress provide to constituents who may be facing challenges with government services or agencies. This personal aid can include helping individuals navigate social security, veterans' benefits, immigration issues, and more. By addressing the specific needs of their constituents, legislators build stronger relationships and establish trust, which can enhance their support during elections.

In contrast, while the other terms relate to the roles and functions of representatives, they do not specifically denote personal aid. The delegate model focuses on representatives acting strictly in accordance with their constituents' wishes. The trustee model reflects a representative who makes decisions based on their own judgment, rather than direct input from constituents. Pork-barrel refers to the practice of legislators funding projects that benefit their own districts, but it does not emphasize the personal assistance aspect of casework. Thus, casework is the most accurate term for the provision of personal aid to constituents.