Clerk of the House

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The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives is responsible for much of the administrative business of the House. The clerk for the 110th Congress (2007-2008) is Lorraine Miller. Miller was named clerk by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on January 30, 2007. She replaced the clerk for the 109th Congress (2005-2006), Karen Lehman Haas, who replaced Jeff Trandahl on November 18, 2005. [1]

Selection

Similar to other House officers, the clerk is elected every 2 years when the chamber organizes for a new Congress. The majority and minority caucuses nominate candidates for the House officer positions following the election of the Speaker. Next, the full House adopts a resolution to elect the officers, who begin after taking an oath of office. [2]

Responsibilities

The duties of the Clerk of the House are detailed in House Rule II. They are: [3]

To prepare the roll of members-elect.
To call the members-elect to order at the commencement of each Congress; to call the roll of Members-elect, and, pending the election of the Speaker, to preserve order and decorum; and to decide all questions of order.
To prepare and distribute at the beginning of every session a list of reports required to be made to Congress.
To note all questions of order, and decisions thereon, and to print these as an appendix to the Journal of each session of the House.
To prepare and print the House Journal after each session of Congress, and to distribute the Journal to Members and to the executive and the legislature of each State.
To attest and affix the seal of the House to all writs, warrants, and subpoenas and formal documents issued by the House.
To certify the passage by the House of all bills and joint resolutions.
To receive messages from the President and the Senate when the House is not in session.
To prepare and deliver messages to the Senate and otherwise as requested by the House.
To retain, in the official library, a permanent set of the books and documents generated by the House.
To manage the office and supervise the staff of any deceased, resigned, or expelled Member until a successor is elected.
To act as custodian of all non-current records of the House, pursuant to House Rule VII.
To be responsible, under the supervision and direction of the U.S. House of Representatives Fine Arts Board, for the administration, maintenance, and display of the works of fine art and other similar property of the Congress for display or for other use in the House wing of the Capitol, the House Office Buildings, or any other location under the control of the House. In addition, pursuant to the rules of the United States Preservation Commission, the Clerk may be asked to provide staff support and assistance to the Commission. [4]

Offices

There are nine offices which fall under the jurisdiction of the clerk. They are:

Capitol Service Groups

The Capitol Service Groups provide support services to the maintenance of the Republican and Democratic Cloakrooms, the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room, the Members and Family Committee Room, and the Capitol Prayer Room. [5]

House Page Program

Pages are high school students who serve as support staff for the U.S. House of Representatives, either for a full school year or for one of two summer sessions. [6]

Legislative Computer Systems (LCS)

This office provides technical support for offices under the Clerk and maintains the electronic voting system on the House floor. [7]

Legislative Resource Center (LRC)

The Legislative Resource Center (LRC) provides information services to the House and the public through its four divisions: Public Information (House documents, public access to statutory filings, legislative information), Records and Registration (point of entry for statutory filings), Library Services (research and reference of the House Library), and Historical Services (House history, archival and curatorial services). [8]

Office of History and Preservation (OHP)

This office collects, preserves, and interprets the heritage of the House. It provides a variety of services concerning historical publications, the House Collection, and the records of the House. Historical publications include maintaining the House entries of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress along with other publications mandated by the House. OHP curates the House Collection, activities which include acquisition and care of collection objects, processing of artifact loans, and services to Members and staff. This office also processes the records of the House, oversees their eventual safe transfer to the National Archives, and provides advice to Committee staff and Member office staff on records management. [9]

Office of House Employment Counsel (OHEC)

This office provides advice about employment practices and acts as legal representation for all employing authorities in the House. [10]

Office of Legislative Operations

This office coordinates the services of the Bill and Enrolling Clerks, the Journal Clerks, the Tally Clerks, the Daily Digests, and the Floor Action Reporting. [11]

Office of Publication Services (OPS)

This office processes official print orders, such as those for letterhead and envelopes, for the House and produces official House publications, including the Official List of Members, the Capitol Directory Card, and the House Telephone Directory. This office also develops and maintains the Clerk’s official Web site and the Kids in the House Web site. [12]

Official Reporters

This office transcribes House proceedings verbatim for publication in the Congressional Record and provides stenographic support to committees for all hearings, meetings, and mark-up sessions. [13]

Articles and Resources

Contact details

U.S. Capitol
Room H154
Washington, DC 20515-6601

Phone: 202-225-7000

Personal tools

Clerk of the House - OpenCongress Wiki

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