Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Support Offices in the House of

Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Updated August 30, 2024

Congressional Research Service

https://crsreports.congress.gov

RL33220

SUMMARY

Support Offices in the House of

Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Article I of the Constitution, in Sections 2 and 3, authorizes the House of Representatives and

Senate to choose their own officers. The number of such congressional support personnel, as well

as their specific responsibilities, is left to the discretion of the chambers. Over time, both

chambers have authorized a number of offices that assist them, collectively or individually, in

their work.

RL33220

August 30, 2024

Ida A. Brudnick

Specialist on the Congress

In the House, these offices include the Clerk of the House, Chief Administrative Officer, Sergeant at Arms, Office of the

Legislative Counsel, Office of the Parliamentarian, Office of the Law Revision Counsel, Office of Congressional Ethics,

House Communications Standards Commission, Office of the Inspector General, Office of General Counsel, House Chaplain,

Historian of the House, Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds, Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, House Democracy

Partnership, and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. These offices perform legislative, administrative, financial, and

ceremonial functions. They also ensure the protection of Congress and preserve its institutional memory.

The roles of House support offices have been established by House Rules, statute, and custom. They are also shaped by the

congressional authorities with policy, oversight, and funding responsibilities for the offices. These include the House

Administration Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, the House Office Building Commission, and the Office of

the Speaker.

Four of the officers—the Clerk of the House, Chief Administrative Officer, Sergeant at Arms, and Chaplain—are elected by

the House. The Speaker appoints the leadership of some of the other House support offices, while others have other

appointment mechanisms detailed throughout this report.

This report provides an overview of the different roles performed and the organizational authorities that govern the “daily

operations” offices in the House of Representatives. Certain entities that assist both the House and Senate, like the Architect

of the Capitol, Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Office of the

Attending Physician, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and Congressional

Research Service (CRS), are included in this report, although the focus here is on their services to the House.

The report is organized by function, with sections on offices supporting legislative duties; offices with administrative,

operational, financial, and interparliamentary coordination responsibilities; legal and regulatory offices; ceremonial and

historical offices; and security offices. Offices with responsibilities in more than one area are addressed in successive

sections. More detailed information on select offices is also available in additional CRS products identified throughout.

Congressional Research Service

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Offices Assisting Legislative Duties................................................................................................ 1

Legislative Branch Agencies: CRS, CBO, and GAO ................................................................ 2

Clerk of the House .................................................................................................................... 3

Office of the Legislative Counsel.............................................................................................. 3

Office of the Parliamentarian .................................................................................................... 4

Office of the Law Revision Counsel ......................................................................................... 5

Offices with Administrative, Operational, Financial, and Interparliamentary Coordination

Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................ 5

Clerk of the House .................................................................................................................... 6

Chief Administrative Officer ..................................................................................................... 7

Sergeant at Arms ....................................................................................................................... 8

Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds ....................................................................................... 8

House Communications Standards Commission ...................................................................... 9

House Office Building Commission ......................................................................................... 9

Architect of the Capitol, the Superintendent of House Office Buildings, Electricians,

and Engineers ....................................................................................................................... 10

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services ...................................................................... 10

Office of Interparliamentary Affairs........................................................................................ 10

House Democracy Partnership (HDP) .....................................................................................11

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission .................................................................................11

Legal and Regulatory Offices ........................................................................................................ 12

Inspector General .................................................................................................................... 12

Office of Congressional Ethics ............................................................................................... 13

Office of Congressional Workplace Rights ............................................................................. 13

Office of General Counsel....................................................................................................... 14

Offices Supporting Ceremonial Traditions and the Preservation of Institutional Memory ........... 15

Clerk of the House .................................................................................................................. 15

Sergeant at Arms ..................................................................................................................... 17

House Chaplain ....................................................................................................................... 17

Historian of the House ............................................................................................................ 18

Offices Assisting in Security and the Maintenance of Order ........................................................ 18

Sergeant at Arms ..................................................................................................................... 18

Office of the Attending Physician ........................................................................................... 19

Recent Changes and Former Offices ............................................................................................. 20

Office of Diversity and Inclusion ............................................................................................ 20

Contacts

Author Information........................................................................................................................ 20

Congressional Research Service

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Introduction

Article I of the Constitution, in Sections 2 and 3, authorizes the House of Representatives and

Senate to choose their own officers. The number of such congressional support personnel, as well

as their specific responsibilities, is left to the discretion of each chamber. Over time, both

chambers have authorized a number of offices to assist them, collectively or individually, in their

work. These offices perform legislative, administrative, financial, ceremonial, and

interparliamentary coordination functions. They also ensure the protection of Congress and

preserve its institutional memory.

The roles of House support offices have been established by House Rules, statute, and custom.

They may also be shaped by congressional authorities with oversight, funding, or appointing

responsibility for the offices.

The House Administration Committee, for example, has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to

services to the House.1 The committee is also charged with providing policy direction and

oversight for the Chief Administrative Officer and Inspector General and oversight of the Clerk

and Sergeant at Arms.2 The committee may approve a reorganization of these offices. It also

frequently distributes “Dear Colleague” letters to communicate its response to internal

operational issues relating to these and other support offices. The House Appropriations

Committee, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, through its consideration of the annual

spending measure for the legislative branch, also shapes the chamber’s internal operations.

Guidance from the committee may be found in hearings, the House report accompanying the

legislative branch appropriations bill, the bill text, and the conference committee report. The

Speaker, as the appointing authority for some of these offices and as a member of the House

Office Building Commission, also has influence over their work.

This report is an overview of the relationships among, and different roles and functions

performed by, the “daily operations” offices in the U.S. House of Representatives. The

organizational authorities are also addressed. Certain entities shared with the Senate, like the

legislative support agencies, are included in this report, although it focuses whenever possible on

their service to the House. Offices with responsibilities in more than one area are addressed in

successive sections. More detailed information on select offices is available in additional

Congressional Research Service products identified throughout.

Offices Assisting Legislative Duties

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their staff have numerous avenues for

assistance in legislative matters. Support offices are available to participate in all stages of the

legislative process, from background research on public policy issues, to the drafting of potential

bills, through the submission, consideration, and evaluation of proposed legislation. The three

legislative branch agencies, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Congressional Budget

Office (CBO), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), serve both chambers. Other

legislative support offices are dedicated mainly to serving the House of Representatives.

1 House Rule X, clause 1(k), H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

2 House Rule X, clause 4, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

Congressional Research Service

1

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Legislative Branch Agencies: CRS, CBO, and GAO

Three agencies are dedicated to serving the legislative branch in legislative, representational, and

oversight matters: the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Congressional Budget Office

(CBO), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). These agencies each assist

committees, Members of both chambers, and their staff by providing nonpartisan research and

analysis.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the public policy research arm of Congress. It

provides nonpartisan, confidential analysis exclusively for Members of Congress. CRS staff

conduct briefings on specific policy issues, arrange regular educational seminars on a variety of

legislative topics, produce reports on current legislative issues, deliver expert testimony before

congressional committees, and prepare customized written analyses in response to specific

inquiries. Originally established as the Legislative Reference Service in 1914, the Congressional

Research Service was renamed and given expanded research and analytic duties with the passage

of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970.3 The Librarian of Congress, after consultation with

the Joint Committee on the Library, appoints the director of CRS.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides estimates of the costs of bills, joint resolutions,

and amendments. These estimates are required for any measure reported by a regular or

conference committee that may vary revenues or expenditures, although estimates may be issued

at other stages of the legislative process upon request.4 CBO issues the projected effect of the

measure for the current and four ensuing fiscal years. Since passage of the Unfunded Mandates

Reform Act of 1995,5 CBO has also been charged with estimating the impact of these reported

measures on state and local governments for the same time period. CBO also provides estimates

of the nation’s spending and revenue over the next 10 years; an analysis of the President’s annual

budget proposal; Monthly Budget Reviews, which track the monthly status of outlays, receipts,

and the deficit or surplus throughout the year; studies requested by congressional committees and

subcommittees; and, resources permitting, requests from individual Members.6 Along with the

House and Senate Budget Committees, CBO was established as part of the Congressional Budget

and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.7 Its director is appointed by the Speaker of the House and

the President pro tempore of the Senate, acting jointly, after consideration of recommendations

made by the House and Senate Budget Committees.8

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), formerly known as the General Accounting

Office, was originally established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921.9 GAO is directed

by the Comptroller General of the United States, who is appointed for a 15-year term by the

President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. GAO assists in congressional oversight by

3 P.L. 63-127, ch. 141, July 16, 1914; P.L. 79-601, ch. 753, title II, §203, August 2, 1946, 60 Stat. 836; P.L. 91-510,

title III, §321(a), October 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1181; 2 U.S.C. §166.

4 The Congressional Budget Office is required to use estimates provided by the Joint Committee on Taxation for all

revenue legislation (Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, P.L. 99-177, §273, December 12,

1985, 99 Stat.1098; 2 U.S.C. §§621 et seq.).

5 P.L. 104-4, §2, March 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 48; 2 U.S.C. §1501.

6 See also “Major Recurring Reports,” Congressional Budget Office, https://www.cbo.gov/about/products/majorrecurring-reports.

7 P.L. 93-344, §201, July 12, 1974, 88 Stat. 302; 2 U.S.C. §658.

8 For more information, see CRS Report RL31880, Congressional Budget Office: Appointment and Tenure of the

Director and Deputy Director.

9 Originally created as the General Accounting Office (Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, June 10, 1921, 42 Stat. 23,

31 U.S.C. §702(a)). Renamed by the GAO Human Capital Reform Act of 2004, P.L. 108-271, 118 Stat. 811.

Congressional Research Service

2

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

evaluating the performance of government policies and programs. GAO also conducts financial

and management audits and makes recommendations for corrective legislation and actions. Its

Office of Special Investigations examines allegations of fraud, misconduct, and waste. Some

GAO work is prescribed in mandates, including statutes, congressional resolutions, conference

reports, and committee reports. Requests also come from the congressional leadership, committee

chairs and ranking minority Members, and only in rare instances, individual Members, with

priority in those cases going to Members on a committee of jurisdiction.10 GAO may also initiate

its own work.11

Clerk of the House

The Clerk of the House is an elected officer of the House who performs legislative,

administrative, educational, and preservation duties. A Clerk has been elected at the start of each

Congress since 1789. The Committee on House Administration provides oversight for this

office.12 Two offices within the Clerk’s office are directly involved in the daily legislative

operations of the House.

The first, the Office of Legislative Operations, assists the Clerk in fulfilling duties related to the

handling of House documents. These include a mandate that the Clerk “attest and affix the seal of

the House to all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the House and certify the

passage of all bills and joint resolutions,” and present House-originated bills and Joint

Resolutions to the President.13

Within this office are five clerks: bill clerks receive introduced bills and amendments; enrolling

clerks prepare the official engrossed copy of House-passed bills, transmit messages to the Senate

regarding approved legislation, and prepare the official enrolled copy of any House-originated

bill or resolution; journal clerks compile the minutes of proceedings in the House, fulfilling the

requirement in Article I, Section V of the Constitution that “each House shall keep a Journal of its

Proceedings”; reading clerks read all of the bills, resolutions, and amendments before the House;

and the tally clerks operate the electronic roll call voting system.

The Clerk is also tasked, along with other House officers and officials and the Committee on

House Administration, with broadening the availability of legislative documents and improving

the committee electronic document repository (H.Res. 5, Section 3(l) and 3(m)).

Another legislative function under the Clerk’s direction is the production of the Congressional

Record and supervision of the official reporters, who have provided verbatim transcripts of

congressional debate for this publication since 1873.

Office of the Legislative Counsel

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel provides impartial and confidential drafting services

to all Members and committee offices. The office is charged with assisting clients “in the

achievement of a clear, faithful, and coherent expression of legislative policies” and is prohibited

10 GAO’s guidelines for responding to congressional requests, releasing related reports, and testifying before

committees and subcommittees are contained in U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO’s Congressional

Protocols, GAO-17-767G (Washington, DC: GAO, 2017), https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/685901.pdf.

11

P.L. 97-258, September 13, 1982; 96 Stat. 893; 31 U.S.C. §717.

12 House Rule X, clause 4, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

13 House Rule II, clause 2(d), H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

Congressional Research Service

3

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

from advocating any position.14 With the exception of amendments made in order by the Rules

Committee under special rules, there is no general requirement that Members utilize this service

for their drafting needs.15

The office may be involved in several stages of the legislative process. It may assist conference

committee managers in the drafting of a bill or the accompanying explanatory statement. It also

aids House committees and subcommittees in drafting bills. Finally, the office may assist

individual Members in drafting bills and amendments, subject to time constraints.

Originally established as the Legislative Drafting Service with the Revenue Act of 1918,16 the

office currently operates under provisions set forth in the Legislative Reorganization Act of

1970.17 The office is headed by the Legislative Counsel of the House, who is appointed by the

Speaker.18

Office of the Parliamentarian

The Office of the Parliamentarian provides advice on the interpretation of House Rules and

precedents. A parliamentarian has been appointed by the Speaker each Congress since 1927. The

position has remained strictly nonpartisan, as evidenced by the long tenures of the occupants:

Lewis Deschler, the first parliamentarian, served from 1928-1974; William Holmes Brown, 19741994; Charles W. Johnson, III, 1994-2004; John V. Sullivan, 2004-2012; Thomas J. Wickham Jr.,

2012-2020; and Jason Smith (2020-present).19

The Speaker, or other designated presiding officer, is responsible for ruling on questions of order

in the House. The parliamentarian or an assistant is always present when the House or Committee

of the Whole is in session, ready to assist in determining appropriate rulings and responses. The

parliamentarian sits on the top tier of the House dais, located to the presiding officer’s right. The

Rules of the House are not self-enforcing, and any Member alleging a violation must rise to make

a point of order and insist upon enforcement. Although no requirement exists that the House

follows the advice of the parliamentarian, and Members may appeal certain types of rulings, in

most cases the parliamentarian’s advice is considered definitive.20

14 Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, P.L. 91-510, Title V, §501, October 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1201; 2 U.S.C. §281.

15 This requirement is often stated in the “Dear Colleague” letters that announce the Rules Committee may meet to

grant a Special Rule. For example, in a January 29, 2020, “Dear Colleague,” Members were informed that any

amendments to H.R. 5687, should be submitted by February 3, 2020. The letter stipulated that “Members should use

the Office of Legislative Counsel to ensure that their amendments are drafted in the most appropriate format. Members

should also check with the Congressional Budget Office for a preliminary assessment of their amendments’ budgetary

effects. Finally, Members should check with the Office of the Parliamentarian and the Committee on the Budget to be

certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House and the Congressional Budget Act.”

16 40 Stat. 1141. The office was renamed with the passage of the Revenue Act of 1924 (43 Stat. 353).

17 P.L. 91-510, October 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1201; 2 U.S.C. §281.

18 For more information, see the Office of the Legislative Counsel website at http://legcoun.house.gov.

19 Congressional Record, May 20, 2004, p. H3394; February 28, 2012, p. H974; and September 16, 2020, p. H4437;

and “Parliamentarians of the House,” History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, http://history.house.gov/

People/Office/Parliamentarians/.

20 For additional information on the practices governing appeals, see U.S. Congress, House, Constitution, Jefferson’s

Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, H.Doc.

116-177, 116th Cong., 2nd sess., [compiled by] Jason A. Smith, Parliamentarian (Washington: GPO, 2021), §629; or

CRS Report 98-307, Points of Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the House of Representatives, by Valerie Heitshusen.

Appeals may not be made, for example, in response to parliamentary inquiries, decisions concerning recognition, the

dilatoriness of motions, the chair’s count of the number rising to demand a roll call vote, or the determination that a

Member’s time in debate has expired.

Congressional Research Service

4

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

In addition to procedural interpretations during debate, the office advises the Speaker on referring

proposed legislation to the appropriate committees, based on the House Rules and precedents.

Individual Members may also make an inquiry with the Office of the Parliamentarian. These

inquiries may concern, for example, questions of jurisdiction before a bill is introduced. The

parliamentarian may also assist offices in understanding the meaning and application of specific

procedural tools.

The office also oversees the revision of the House Rules and Manual, officially titled

Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual and Rules of the House of Representatives, which is usually

authorized by resolution each Congress.21 This manual is a compilation of source material on

parliamentary procedure.22

Office of the Law Revision Counsel

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel revises, prepares, and publishes the United States Code,

which is an arrangement by subject matter of all general and permanent U.S. laws.23 Most of the

work of the office is subsequent to the legislative process. Its main legislative duty consists of

submitting to the Committee on the Judiciary one title of the Code at a time, reflecting a complete

compilation and revision of the law, including any amendments. It may also submit to the

committee recommendations for the repeal of obsolete provisions and for technical or clarifying

corrections. The Committee on the Judiciary may then consider incorporating the submissions of

the office into a bill to report to the House.24

The office was first authorized by the Committee Reform Amendments of 1974 (H.Res. 988),

which was enacted into permanent law by P.L. 93-554.25 It is led by the Law Revision Counsel,

who is appointed by the Speaker.26

Offices with Administrative, Operational, Financial,

and Interparliamentary Coordination

Responsibilities

With five House Office Buildings, approximately 10,000 employees, and visits from dignitaries

and tourists alike, the U.S. House of Representatives has over time developed a means of

ensuring the institution’s smooth operation. The administrative support offices address various

needs of Members and staff, ensure the proper maintenance of the House facilities, and facilitate

the exchange of information both within the Capitol and beyond.

21 For example, see H.Res. 1507, 117th Cong., agreed to on December 2, 2022.

22 For more information on procedure, see CRS Report RS20544, The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and

Senate, by Valerie Heitshusen; and CRS Report 98-175, House Committee Jurisdiction and Referral: Rules and

Practice.

23 2 U.S.C. §§285 et seq.

24 Examples of bills to codify titles of the U.S. Code include H.R. 3237, 111th Cong. (which became P.L. 111-314)

concerning Title 51, “National and Commercial Space Programs”; H.R. 1442, 109th Cong. (which became P.L. 109304) concerning Title 46, “Shipping”; and H.R. 2068, 107th Cong., (which became P.L. 107-217) concerning Title 40,

“Public Buildings, Property, and Works.” For information on “current and recently completed positive law codification

projects,” see https://uscode.house.gov/codification/legislation.shtml#current_plaw.

25 December 27, 1974, 88 Stat. 1777; 2 U.S.C. §§285 et seq.

26 For more information, see the Office of the Law Revision Counsel website at http://uscode.house.gov/.

Congressional Research Service

5

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Clerk of the House

In addition to certain legislative, ceremonial, and preservation duties, the Clerk of the House

performs various administrative functions. These are carried out under the oversight of the

Committee on House Administration.

At the commencement of every session of Congress, the Clerk is charged with compiling and

delivering to all Members “a list of the reports that any officer or Department is required to make

to Congress,” citing the relevant authority.27 The Clerk is also responsible for distributing the

House Calendars28 each legislative day and, after the close of a session, a copy of the Journal to

each Member, the President, and state legislatures, as requested. Upon the death, resignation, or

expulsion of any Member, the Clerk is responsible for managing that Member’s office until a

successor is elected.29 The Clerk also prepares semiannual reports on the operations and finances

of this office, subject to the review of the Committee on House Administration.

Various offices under the Clerk perform numerous administrative functions, including supporting

the Republican and Democratic Cloakrooms and certain other Members’ areas; maintaining the

electronic voting system; providing information and printed records both to the House and the

general public through the Legislative Resource Center (LRC); and maintaining public disclosure

documents, including financial and travel forms, as well as the registration of lobbyists.30 The

Office of House Employment Counsel also provides legal advice on employment practices within

the chamber to the employing offices. The House Employment Counsel was established by the

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of FY2002 in response to the Congressional

Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA).31 The CAA applied certain labor, civil rights, and workplace

laws to legislative branch employees and established the Office of Congressional Workplace

Rights (formerly Office of Compliance) to administer and enforce its implementation and mediate

disputes. The House Employment Counsel provides legal assistance to employing offices in the

House and may review personnel policies and decisions. The counsel may also provide legal

representation for these offices. Like the House General Counsel, who provides legal

representation concerning other aspects of the official duties of Members, officers, and

employees, the House Employment Counsel may appear before any court of the United States,

with the exception of the Supreme Court, “without compliance with any requirements for

admission to practice before such court.”32

27 House Rule II, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023. See also CRS Report R46357, Congressionally

Mandated Reports: Overview and Considerations for Congress, by William T. Egar; and “Congressionally Mandated

Reports,” U.S. Government Publishing Office, https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/congressionallymandated-reports.

28 For additional information, see CRS Report 98-437, Calendars of the House of Representatives, by Christopher M.

Davis; and “Congressional Calendars,” GovInfo, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/CCAL.

29 For additional information on this role, see CRS Report RL34347, Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic

and Current Practices, by R. Eric Petersen and Jennifer E. Manning.

30 The Committee on House Administrative may approve reorganizations within the Office of the Clerk. For example,

the creation of the LRC was approved by the Committee on House Oversight (now Administration) in May 1995 (U.S.

Congress, House Committee on House Oversight, Report on the Activities of the Committee on House Oversight of the

House of Representatives, committee print, 104th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2003) p. 82).

31 P.L. 107-68, §119, November 12, 2001, 115 Stat.573; in response to P.L. 104-1, January 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 4; 2

U.S.C. §§1301 et seq.

32 2 U.S.C. §1408 (provisions relating to the House Employment Counsel); 2 U.S.C. §130f (provisions relating to the

General Counsel).

Congressional Research Service

6

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Chief Administrative Officer

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer was established at the beginning of the 104th

Congress to assume the duties of the Director of Non-legislative and Financial Services.33 The

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) executes both administrative and financial duties. Elected by

the House, the CAO is subject to the policy direction and oversight of the Committee on House

Administration.34

The CAO’s office operates the First Call Customer Solutions Center, which is the initial point of

contact for House offices requiring the assistance of the Office of the Chief Administrative

Officer. First Call handles services such as the ordering of recordings of proceedings on the

House Floor, the filing of “Dear Colleague” letters, the administration of the mass transit benefit

program, reservation and arrangement of rooms for special events, and other general information

requests.

The CAO’s office houses the Administrative Counsel, who provides legal research and advice for

offices under the CAO. The counsel also examines district office and long-term automobile leases

to ensure compliance with House Rules and the regulations set forth by the Committee on House

Administration, which publishes these requirements. A Member is personally liable for payments

for any lease not in compliance, and guidelines in the Members’ Handbook stipulate that

The House will not authorize disbursement of funds to make payments under the terms of

the lease agreement until the CAO Office of Administrative Counsel has reviewed the lease

agreement and has signed the attachment. Similarly, the CAO Office of Administrative

Counsel must review any proposed substantive amendment and sign the attachment for the

amendment before the House will authorize any payment pursuant to such an amendment.

Any amendment to a lease agreement must be in writing.35

The CAO’s office also performs various functions related to employee assistance and

management. These include, for example, operating the resume referral and outplacement service,

administering the House child care center,36 and offering various employee development and

training programs.

Another responsibility of the CAO is the provision of information technology (IT) and

telecommunication support for Members, committees, officers, and staff. The office oversees

information security issues, offers training sessions through the Congressional Staff Academy,

and assists offices in establishing and maintaining their websites.

The CAO also oversees additional House support services, including the three press galleries (the

periodical press gallery, the [daily] press gallery, and the radio/TV correspondents’ gallery); the

recording studio; the photography office; the furniture support service office; the supply store;

and the gift shop.

The CAO is responsible for the financial and budgetary operations of the House, including

disbursing monthly pay and benefits for Members and staff.37 Financial counselors in the CAO’s

office advise Members, committees, officers, and other offices of the House on the use of their

33 This position had been created with the House Administrative Reform Resolution of 1992, H.Res. 423, 102nd Cong.

34 House Rule X, clause 4, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023. For more information, see the Chief

Administrative Officer’s website at http://cao.house.gov/.

35 Committee on House Administration, Member’s Congressional Handbook, adopted April 30, 2024,

https://cha.house.gov/members-congressional-handbook.

36 2 U.S.C. §2062.

37 2 U.S.C. §§5301 et seq. and 2 U.S.C. §4551.

Congressional Research Service

7

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

official expenses. Additional staff within the CAO’s office assist in the maintenance of the

systems necessary to process the financial operations of the House and prepare the CAO’s

appropriations requests.

The CAO’s financial duties also require that the office maintain records of all financial operations

of the House, including receipts and disbursement data pertaining to House funds, and assist in

the preparation of the quarterly Statement of Disbursements of the House.38 The CAO must

submit this report within 60 days after the last day of each quarter. The report contains detailed,

itemized information on each disbursement of the House of Representatives.39

Sergeant at Arms

The House Sergeant at Arms is an elected officer who performs administrative, ceremonial, and

protective roles. The House Sergeant at Arms is subject to the oversight of the Committee on

House Administration, and serves as a member of the Congressional Accessibility Services Board

(see “Office of Congressional Accessibility Services”).

Other administrative duties of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms include the issuance of

identification badges and pins. The Garage and Parking Security division administers the parking

program and enforces the rules of the House Garages, under the guidance of the Committee on

House Administration.40

Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds

A new Office of the Whistleblower Ombudsman was established for the 116th Congress.41 The

office was incorporated into the House Rules for the 117th Congress (Rule II, clause 10) and

renamed the Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds.42

Duties of the office include promulgating best practices for the intake of whistleblower

information and providing training for House offices.

The office is led by a Whistleblower Ombuds, who is appointed by the Speaker in consultation

with the chairs and ranking minority members of the Committee on House Administration and the

Committee on Oversight and Reform (renamed the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

in the 118th Congress).

38 Statements of Disbursements of the House are available at https://www.house.gov/the-house-explained/open-

government/statement-of-disbursements.

39 A conforming amendment in the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act

transferred this duty from the Clerk of the House to the Chief Administrative Officer (P.L. 104-186 §106, August 20,

1996, 110 Stat. 1722; 2 U.S.C. §4108 and 5535).

40 For more information on the security role of the Sergeant at Arms, see “Offices Assisting in Security and the

Maintenance of Order” in this report; also the Sergeant at Arms website, available to House Members and staff, at

http://sgtatarms.house.gov.

41 H.Res. 6, §104(e), 116th Cong., adopted January 9, 2019. Section 104 includes “Committees, Commissions, and

House Offices.” For more information, see the office’s website at https://whistleblower.house.gov/.

42 H.Res. 8, 117th Cong., adopted January 4, 2021.

Congressional Research Service

8

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

House Communications Standards Commission

The House Communications Standards Commission was formerly known as the House

Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (or, alternatively, as the Franking Commission),

and it was originally established in 1973.43

The Commission was renamed by the Communications Outreach Media and Mail Standards

(COMMS) Act, which passed the House on July 30, 2020, by unanimous consent, and was then

included in the FY2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-260, enacted December 27,

2020).

The Commission issues regulations on official communications, provides guidance and advice

through advisory opinions (AOs), and hears formal complaints against Members who have

allegedly violated franking laws or regulations. House Members are required to seek an advisory

opinion before sending a mass communication. Further, the mass communication must include a

disclaimer. Options are provided by the Commission in the Communications Standards Manual.

In addition to renaming the commission, the 2020 act contained language to “expand the

authority of the Commission to regulate, provide guidance to authorized users, and hear

complaints related to the use of official communications, to revise required disclaimers, and to

revise restrictions on postal mail content and communication distribution periods” (H.Rept. 116707). References to the commission name in clause 5 of House Rule XXIV were updated in the

House Rules adopted for the 117th Congress (H.Res. 8).

The commission is composed of six members appointed by the Speaker, with membership evenly

split among the parties. Oversight is provided by the Committee on House Administration.44

House Office Building Commission

The section of the U.S. Code governing the operations and maintenance of the Capitol complex

states that

the House of Representatives Office Building ... shall be under the control and supervision

of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the approval and direction of a commission

consisting of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two other Representatives

in Congress, to be appointed by the Speaker.45

In the past, the two other appointed seats have traditionally been occupied by the majority and

minority leaders. The House Office Building Commission was first authorized by an act approved

on March 4, 1907. This was soon followed by a joint resolution governing the room assignment

process in the House, approved on May 28, 1908. This resolution placed room assignments under

the control of the Superintendent of House Office Buildings, subject to the approval and direction

of the commission.

The commission may issue rules and regulations that govern the use and occupancy of all rooms

in the House Office Buildings. These regulations include, for example, a prohibition on smoking

in certain areas, soliciting political contributions in any House facility, and placing certain items

in hallways. Along with the Committee on House Administration and the Architect of the Capitol,

the House Office Building Commission has assisted in the consideration of parking issues.

43 P.L. 93-191, 87 Stat. 737, Dec. 18, 1973; 2 U.S.C. §501.

44 For further information, see the commission’s web page at https://cha.house.gov/communications-standards-

commission.

45 2 U.S.C. §2001.

Congressional Research Service

9

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

The commission also has authority over the approval of the acquisition or leasing of new

buildings and facilities.46

Architect of the Capitol, the Superintendent of House Office

Buildings, Electricians, and Engineers

The Architect of the Capitol operates and maintains the buildings and grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

The office contains the Capitol Guide Service, and the Architect is also a member of the

Congressional Accessibility Services Board.47

The Architect is authorized to employ a Superintendent of the House Office Buildings. The

Superintendent is responsible for the maintenance of the Ford, O’Neill, Rayburn, Longworth, and

Cannon House Office Buildings, as well as the former Page Dormitory. The Superintendent

supervises the biennial office lottery and moves, coordinates the House recycling program, and

oversees the general maintenance of the House buildings. The electricians and engineers in the

House of Representatives are responsible for the lighting, heating, and ventilation of the House

side of the Capitol. They are “subject exclusively to the orders, and in all respects under the

direction, of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the control of the Speaker; and no removal or

appointment shall be made except with [the Architect’s] approval.”48

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

The Capitol Visitor Center opened to the public on December 2, 2008. In anticipation of its

opening, the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 was enacted to provide for its administration.49

The act also reorganized the management of offices related to the visitor experience. It placed the

Capitol Guide Service under the Architect of the Capitol and established the Office of

Congressional Accessibility Services. The office coordinates services and information for

individuals with disabilities, including Members, staff, and visitors, within the Capitol Complex.

The office is subject to the direction of a board, which consists of the Senate Sergeant at Arms,

the Secretary of the Senate, the House Sergeant at Arms, the Clerk of the House, and the Architect

of the Capitol. The board appoints the Director of Accessibility Services.

Office of Interparliamentary Affairs

The House of Representatives Office of Interparliamentary Affairs was established with the

passage of the FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act.50 Its duties include facilitating

official visits from foreign parliamentarians to the House of Representatives and, along with the

Sergeant at Arms and the Clerk of the House, assisting delegations of Members of the House to

46 Pursuant to the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Architect of the Capitol must notify and receive

approval from both the House Office Building Commission and the House Committee on Appropriations to use

appropriated funds for the leasing of space for the House of Representatives (P.L. 110-161, December 26, 2007, 121

Stat. 2243, 2 U.S.C. §1822).

47 The Capitol Guide Service was transferred to the Architect’s Office of the Capitol Visitor Center pursuant to P.L.

110-437 (October 20, 2008, 122 Stat. 4990), which also established the “Office of Congressional Accessibility

Service”; 2 U.S.C. §2241 and 130e. For more information on the Architect of the Capitol, see CRS Report R41074,

Architect of the Capitol Appointment Procedure: Evolution and Recent Changes, by Ida A. Brudnick, and the Architect

of the Capitol website at http://www.aoc.gov/.

48

19 Stat. 348, March 3, 1877; 2 U.S.C. §1833.

49 P.L. 110-437, October 20, 2008, 122 Stat. 4990.

50 P.L. 108-83, §103, September 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 1016; 2 U.S.C. §5582.

Congressional Research Service

10

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

foreign nations. The office is also charged with coordinating the participation of the House of

Representatives in other interparliamentary exchanges and organizations. The office is led by a

director who is appointed by the Speaker.

House Democracy Partnership (HDP)

The House Democracy Partnership is authorized within Section 4 of H.Res. 5, 118th Congress

(“Committees, Commissions, and House Offices”).

It was originally established as the House Democracy Assistance Commission in the 109th

Congress (H.Res. 135, agreed to on March 14, 2005).51 It was reestablished for the 110th Congress

pursuant to H.Res. 24, which was agreed to on January 30, 2007. The program was continued in

the 111th Congress (H.Res. 5) and renamed the House Democracy Partnership in the 112th

Congress (H.Res. 5). It was continued in the same section in the resolutions adopted for the 113th

(H.Res. 5), 114th (H.Res. 5), 115th (H.Res. 5), 116th (H.Res. 6), 117th (H.Res. 8), and 118th (H.Res.

5) Congresses.

Pursuant to the 110th Congress resolution, and continued in subsequent resolutions, membership

of HDP includes “20 Members of the House of Representatives, of whom 11 shall represent the

majority party and be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 9 shall

represent the minority party and be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of

Representatives,” with the Speaker of the House designating the Chair.

Duties include (1) enabling Members, officers, and staff of the House and congressional support

agencies “to provide expert advice and consultation to members and staff of the legislatures of

partner countries”; (2) enabling “members and staff of legislatures of partner countries to study

the operations of the House of Representatives and its support agencies”; and (3) providing

“recommendations to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International

Development regarding the provision of material assistance, such as modern automation and

office systems, information technology, and library supplies, as the Commission determines to be

needed by a legislature of a partner country in order to improve the efficiency and transparency of

its work, and to oversee the provision of such assistance” (Section 3, H.Res. 24, 110th Congress).

These duties are carried out “using the staff and resources of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

including the use of consultants or temporary employees, such as individuals with expertise in

development of democratic parliaments, legislative systems management, legislative research,

parliamentary procedure, related legislative matters, and technology systems management, as

appropriate,” and, upon request, with the assistance of legislative branch employees (Section 4,

H.Res. 24, 110th Congress).

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission was established in the 110th Congress (H.Res. 1451,

agreed to September 24, 2008) to “promote and advocate in a nonpartisan manner, both within

and outside of Congress, internationally recognized human rights norms as enshrined in the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international human rights

instruments.”52

51 The establishment was “inspired by the Frost-Solomon taskforce that supported emerging European legislatures from

1990-1996” (“The House Democracy Partnership,” https://housedemocracypartnership.house.gov/about).

52 Prior to the adoption of H.Res. 1451 in the 110th Congress, a Congressional Member Organization (CMO) named the

(continued...)

Congressional Research Service

11

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

The commission was continued in Section 4 (“Committees, Commissions, and House Offices”) in

the resolutions rules adopted for the 111th (H.Res. 5), 112th (H.Res. 5), 113th (H.Res. 5), 114th

(H.Res. 5), 115th (H.Res. 5), 116th (H.Res. 6), 117th (H.Res. 8), and 118th (H.Res. 5) Congresses.

Section 4 of H.Res. 5 (118th Congress) states:

(c) T O M L A N T O S H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N .—Sections 1 through 7 of House

Resolution 1451, One Hundred Tenth Congress, shall apply in the One Hundred Eighteenth

Congress in the same manner as such provisions applied in the One Hundred Tenth

Congress, except that—

(1) the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission may, in addition to collaborating

closely with other professional staff members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

collaborate closely with professional staff members of other relevant committees;

(2) the resources of the Committee on Foreign Affairs which the Commission may use

shall include all resources which the Committee is authorized to obtain from other offices

of the House of Representatives; and

(3) any amounts authorized to provide full-time professional staff and resources to the

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission shall be in addition to and separate from the

amounts authorized for salaries and expenses of the Committee on Foreign Affairs as

provided by resolution of the House, shall be administered by the Committee on Foreign

Affairs, and shall be distributed equally between the co-chairs of the Commission.

Legal and Regulatory Offices

Four support offices, including the Inspector General, the Office of Congressional Ethics, the

Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, and the Office of General Counsel, work to ensure

that the House of Representatives maintains proper oversight over its internal activities and

complies with legal requirements regarding employment and other practices.

Inspector General

The House of Representatives employs an Inspector General (IG), who, pursuant to Rule II, is

charged with providing “audit, investigative, and advisory services to the House and joint entities

in a manner consistent with government-wide standards.”53 House Rule II also states that the IG

may suggest remedial actions following audits, and that the IG reports to the Committee on Ethics

information involving possible violations of House Rules or applicable laws related to the

performance of official duties.

The office was first established by H.Res. 423, adopted April 9, 1992, and later incorporated into

the Rules of the House of Representatives adopted for the 103rd Congress, on January 5, 1993. In

the 104th Congress, the IG gained the authority to conduct additional audits that had previously

been the responsibility of the Government Accountability Office (then General Accounting

Office).54 The requirement for the submission of audits was amended in the 113th Congress to

Congressional Human Rights Caucus existed. According to one account from 2007, the caucus was founded in 1983

and “remained one of the largest and most active caucuses in the House of Representatives with anywhere from 150 to

200 members in each Congress” (James M. McCormick and Neil J. Mitchell, “Commitments, Transnational Interests,

and Congress: Who Joins the Congressional Human Rights Caucus?” Political Research Quarterly, vol. 60, no. 4

[December 2007], p. 580.)

53 House Rule II, clause 6, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

54 House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act, P.L. 104-186, §204, August 20, 1996,

110 Stat. 1733.

Congressional Research Service

12

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

include the House Appropriations Committee in the list of recipients.55 The IG is jointly

appointed by the Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority leader. The Committee on House

Administration provides oversight and policy direction.56

Office of Congressional Ethics

The House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) was established on March 11, 2008, with the

passage of H.Res. 895 (110th Congress). It has been reauthorized in resolutions adopting the rules

for subsequent Congresses.57 The OCE’s primary responsibility is to conduct investigations

regarding allegations of misconduct against Members, officers, and staff of the House and to refer

matters, when appropriate, to the Committee on Ethics.58

The OCE is governed by a board. Three board members and an alternate are appointed by the

Speaker, after consultation with the minority leader. The minority leader appoints three board

members and an alternate, after consultation with the Speaker.

Office of Congressional Workplace Rights

Formerly the Office of Compliance, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights was renamed

by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (P.L. 115-397). The office was

originally established to enforce and administer the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995

(CAA).59 The act, as amended, applies certain labor, civil rights, and workplace laws60 to

legislative branch employees.61 The CAA covers employees working in district or state offices as

well as those in Washington, DC. Certain entities may be exempt from specific provisions.

55 House Rule II, clause 6, H.Res. 5, 113th Cong., adopted January 3, 2013.

56 House Rule II, clause 6, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023. For further information, see “Inspector

General of the House,” The House Explained, U.S. House of Representatives, https://www.house.gov/the-houseexplained/officers-and-organizations/inspector-general.

57 For information on ethics, see CRS Report 98-15, House Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and

Jurisdiction, by Jacob R. Straus: and CRS Report R40760, House Office of Congressional Ethics: History, Authority,

and Procedures, by Jacob R. Straus.

58 House Rule XI, clause 3, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

59 P.L. 104-1, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 4; 2 U.S.C. §§1301 et seq.

60 The laws applied by the CAA include the following:

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (P.L. 90-202, 29 U.S.C. §§621 et seq.);

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq.);

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352, 42 U.S.C. §§2000e et seq.);

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-347, 29 U.S.C. §§2001 et seq.);

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. §§201 et seq.);

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-3, 29 U.S.C. §§2611 et seq.);

Chapter 71 (relating to Federal service labor-management relations) of Title 5 of the U.S. Code;

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596, 29 U.S.C. §§651 et seq.);

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112, 29 U.S.C. §§701 et seq.);

Chapter 43 (relating to veterans’ employment and reemployment) of Title 38 of the U.S. Code;

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (P.L. 100-379, 29 U.S.C. §§2101 et seq.).

The CAA was amended in 1998 to include select provisions of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (P.L. 105339; 2 U.S.C. §1316a).

61 This definition includes employees of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Office of the Architect of the

Capitol, the Capitol Guide Service, the Capitol Police, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the Attending

Physician, and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. Certain provisions may apply to the Government

Accountability Office and the Library of Congress.

Congressional Research Service

13

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Under the Congressional Accountability Act, employing offices retain discretion over certain

workplace policies, including, for example, work schedules, salaries, and vacation. Employing

offices may also be subject to additional standards set by the House of Representatives, Senate,

civil service, or other internal authorities, as applicable.

The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights provides a means of dispute resolution for

employees who allege violations of the CAA.62

Separately, the House has also adopted related workplace employment requirements through

resolution:

•

•

•

•

H.Res. 630 (115th Congress), agreed to November 29, 2017, required each

Member, officer, and employee of the House to complete a program of training in

workplace rights and responsibilities each session of each Congress

(subsequently H.Res. 30, 116th Congress; H.Res. 257, 117th Congress; H.Res.

435, 118th Congress).

H.Res. 724 (115th Congress), agreed to February 6, 2018, required each

employing office of the House to adopt an antiharassment and antidiscrimination

policy for the office’s workplace and established the House Office of Employee

Advocacy.

H.Res. 6 (116th Congress), agreed to January 9, 2019, contained four sections

related to workplace rights and remedies, including (1) limitations on

nondisclosure agreements, (2) requiring Members to reimburse the Treasury for

discrimination settlements, (3) continuing mandatory antiharassment and

antidiscrimination policies for House offices, and (4) requiring the display in

each House employing office of a statement of rights and protections provided to

House employees pursuant to the Congressional Accountability Act and

information on procedures for adjudicating violations.

Rules packages for subsequent Congresses continuing the requirements in H.Res.

6 (H.Res. 8, §103, 117th Congress; H.Res. 5, §103, 118th Congress).

A board of directors, composed of five individuals appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the minority leaders in both chambers,

oversees the office. The office is subject to the oversight of the Committee on House

Administration and by the Senate’s Committees on Rules and Administration and on Homeland

Security and Governmental Affairs.63

Office of General Counsel

House Rule II, clause 8 provides authorization for the Office of General Counsel. Led by the

General Counsel, this office provides legal assistance and representation to Members,

committees, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives on matters pertaining to

their official duties. These may include advising offices on confidentiality issues, release of

constituent information, requests from executive branch agencies, and the issuance and response

to subpoenas. The services of the office are provided without regard to political affiliation.

Assistance to offices with employment and labor issues, however, falls within the jurisdiction of

the Office of House Employment Counsel in the Office of the Clerk. Similarly, routine leasing

62 “Request Assistance,” Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, https://www.ocwr.gov/rights-protections/how-get-

help.

63 For additional information, see the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights website at https://www.ocwr.gov/.

Congressional Research Service

14

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

agreements for automobiles and district offices are reviewed by the Administrative Counsel

within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.

The assistance of the office in responding to subpoenas received by Members or employees is

governed by House Rule VIII, which requires the recipient to notify the Speaker and

subsequently the House of any such action. The office may also assist in the preparation of

committee subpoenas.64

The General Counsel is authorized to appear before any court of the United States, with the

exception of the Supreme Court, “without compliance with any requirements for admission to

practice before such court.”65 The House may authorize the General Counsel to represent the

House or a House committee or take other action in a judicial proceeding (e.g., to represent the

House in connection with the filing of any amicus curiae brief).66 House Rule II, clause 8 was

amended in the 115th Congress to include language regarding the continuation of litigation

authorities from prior Congresses.67 The Attorney General is required to notify the General

Counsel of a determination not to appeal a court decision affecting the constitutionality of an

act.68

The office was first established by H.Res. 423, adopted April 9, 1992, and later incorporated into

the Rules of the House of Representatives adopted for the 103rd Congress, on January 5, 1993.69

The Speaker, with the consultation of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, directs the office and

appoints its staff.70

Offices Supporting Ceremonial Traditions and the

Preservation of Institutional Memory

A number of offices share responsibility for maintaining the ceremonial traditions of the U.S.

House of Representatives and the preservation of its institutional memory.

Clerk of the House

The Clerk of the House has a ceremonial role at the commencement of the first session of each

Congress. At this meeting, the Clerk examines credentials, calls the roll, and records the presence

64 For additional information, see CRS Report R45653, Congressional Subpoenas: Enforcing Executive Branch

Compliance, by Todd Garvey.

65 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act FY2000, P.L. 106-57, §101, September 29, 1999, 113 Stat.414; 2 U.S.C.

§5571.

66 See authorizations in, for example, H.Res. 661 (116th Cong.); H.Res. 639 (114th Cong.); H.Res. 676 (113th Cong.);

H.Res. 706 (112th Cong.); H.Res. 980 (110th Cong.); and in resolutions adopting rules for the House (e.g., H.Res. 5,

113th Cong., and H.Res. 6, 116th Cong.)

67 See, for example, H.Res. 5, §3(f), 114th Cong., and H.Res. 5, §2(h), 115th Cong. See also H.Res. 6, 116th Cong.,

§103(n), §103(o), and §302(b).

68 2 U.S.C. §5571(b). See also 28 U.S.C. §530D.

69 Prior to the adoption of these resolutions, an Office of the General Counsel was located in the Office of the Clerk of

the House. See also “Prior General Counsels,” Office of General Counsel, https://ogc.house.gov/about/prior-generalcounsels.

70 Pursuant to House Rule II, clause 8(b), the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group is “composed of the Speaker and the

majority and minority leaderships. Unless otherwise provided by the House, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group

speaks for, and articulates the institutional position of, the House in all litigation matters.” Recent changes to this Rule

were included in Section 4(a)(1) of H.Res. 5, 113th Cong., adopted January 3, 2013; and in Section 2(b) of H.Res. 5,

114th Cong., adopted January 6, 2015.

Congressional Research Service

15

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

of all Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner. Pending the election of a Speaker,

the Clerk must also “preserve order and decorum and decide all questions of order, subject to

appeal.”71

The Clerk also has various curatorial duties concerning House artwork and artifacts, records

management, and historical publications.72

Under the direction of the House Fine Arts Board, the Clerk is “responsible for the

administration, maintenance, and display of the works of fine art and other property” of the

House of Representatives.73 The curatorial services division assists in this duty by recommending

acquisitions, maintaining artwork, and researching the collection.

The Clerk is also responsible for administering the archiving of records of the House of

Representatives and is a member of the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress.74 The

Clerk’s office is available to consult with Members and committees on records management

practices. The purpose of these consultations is both to assist an office in its daily operations and

to help preserve historically relevant documents. While the files generated by a Member’s

personal office are the property of the Member, committees are required to archive their official

records.75

Committee records requiring archiving include those relating to bills and resolutions, oversight,

administrative matters, and file copies of reference materials, such as hearings and reports. House

Rule VII directs the Clerk to receive noncurrent records of each House committee at the end of

each Congress. More recent records remain onsite, and older records are transferred to the

Archivist of the United States. These records are preserved in the Center for Legislative Archives

at the National Archives and Records Administration but remain the property of the House. The

Clerk authorizes the archivist to release documents for public examination according to the

guidelines established in the Rule. The Clerk has the authority to determine that release of a

record would be detrimental to the public interest or inconsistent with the rights and privileges of

the House. Although rare, if such a determination is made, the Clerk must notify in writing the

chairman and ranking minority Member of the Committee on House Administration, and the

decision is subject to subsequent House and committee orders. Committee chairs may submit a

list of staff members who are authorized to retrieve retired committee records.

71 House Rule II, clause 2, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

72 These functions were reorganized a few times in recent decades. For example, the Committee on House

Administration approved a reorganization on May 31, 2011, effective June 1, 2011, for an Office of Art and Archives

and Office of the Historian (U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration, Report on the Activities of the

Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, H.Rept. 112-137, 112th Cong., 2nd sess.

(Washington: GPO, 2011), p. 7).

73 The House Fine Arts Board is comprised of the House of Representatives members of the Joint Committee on the

Library and is chaired by the chairman of the Committee on House Administration. P.L. 100-696, title X, §1001,

November 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4611; 2 U.S.C. §2121 and §2122.

74 The Advisory Committee was created by the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act,

FY1991 (P.L. 101-509, November 5, 1009, 44 U.S.C. §2701). For additional information, see

https://www.archives.gov/legislative/cla/advisory-committee. See also “Congressional Papers Section,” Society of

American Archivists, https://www2.archivists.org/groups/congressional-papers-section.

75 The rules governing the eventual transfer of noncurrent committee records to the National Archives and Records

Administration were established in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, P.L. 79-601, §140; and the Federal

Records Act of 1950, P.L. 81-754, title V; 44 U.S.C. §2118 and 44 U.S.C. §2107.

Congressional Research Service

16

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Members may choose to transfer their personal records to a repository at the end of their service

in the House.76 In a records management guideline for Members, the Clerk has outlined factors to

consider when preparing a deed of gift and placing restrictions on access to materials. The Chief

Administrative Officer, under the direction of the Committee on House Administration, may

arrange for the transportation of these personal materials back to the Member’s district.77

The office also maintains the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. This source

allows users to search Members from the Continental Congress through the present based on

criteria such as name, state, position, party, or time of service. The source also lists research

collections of the Member’s personal papers, if applicable. An online version is available at

https://bioguide.congress.gov/search. Other historical publications, including Women in Congress,

Black Americans in Congress, Hispanic Americans in Congress, and Asian and Pacific Islander

Americans in Congress, are also produced by this office.

Sergeant at Arms

The House Sergeant at Arms is charged with maintaining the decorum of the chamber. The

Sergeant at Arms is the guardian of the Mace, an artifact that symbolizes the office. The Mace is

carried to a pedestal on the Speaker’s right at the beginning of each day. It remains there while the

House is in session and is lowered when the House resolves itself into the Committee of the

Whole. The Mace may be wielded by the Sergeant at Arms to maintain order and decorum in the

chamber.78

The Sergeant at Arms also assists in preparation for ceremonial occasions, including presidential

inaugurations, joint sessions and meetings of Congress, and visits of foreign dignitaries. When

necessary, the Sergeant at Arms assists in supervising funeral arrangements for Members of

Congress.

House Chaplain

With the exception of a period in the late 1850s, the House of Representatives has had an elected

chaplain since 1789. The House Chaplain offers a prayer to begin each day’s session, which is

followed by the approval of the Journal and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.79 In

addition to offering prayers, the chaplain coordinates the visits of guest chaplains. These guests

are recommended to the House Chaplain by individual House Members. Prayers before the House

are printed in the Congressional Record.80

76 The distinction between records that are personal property and those that are transferred to the National Archives was

reiterated in language added by H.Res. 5 (114th Cong.). See also H.Con.Res. 307 (110th Cong.).

77 H.Res. 1297, 95th Cong.; made permanent by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY1983, P.L. 98-51,

§111, July 14, 1983; 2 U.S.C. §5346.

78 For more information, see “A Proper Symbol of Office,” Whereas: Stories from the People’s House (blog), History,

Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, https://history.house.gov/Blog/Detail/15032450168.

79 The order and priority of business is governed by House Rule XIV, clause 1, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January

9, 2023. Approval of the Journal may be postponed under clause 8 of Rule XX.

80 For more information, see CRS Report R41807, House and Senate Chaplains: An Overview, by Ida A. Brudnick, and

the House Chaplain’s website at http://chaplain.house.gov.

Congressional Research Service

17

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Historian of the House

House Rule II provides for the establishment of an Office of the Historian. The Historian and

other employees of the office are appointed by the Speaker.

A rule providing for the Historian was originally adopted during the 101st Congress.81 It had been

preceded by the Office of the Bicentennial, which coordinated the planning for the 200th

anniversary of the House.82

The Librarian of Congress was authorized by the History of the House Awareness and

Preservation Act of 1999 to arrange for a new history of the chamber, in consultation with the

Committee on House Administration.83 In 2002, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington

announced the appointment of Robert V. Remini as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of American

History in the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress in order to undertake this

project.84 After a long vacancy in the position of House Historian, Dr. Remini was appointed by

the Speaker in 2005 to fill this role. Dr. Remini retired and Dr. Matthew Wasniewski was

announced as the new historian on October 20, 2010.85

Offices Assisting in Security and the Maintenance

of Order

The Capitol Police, under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, has been delegated primary

responsibility for security on Capitol Hill.86 The House and Senate Appropriations Committees

provide oversight of funding, administration, operations, and policies, with the Committee on

House Administration and the Speaker providing additional oversight on matters pertaining to the

House. Two other offices, including the House Sergeant at Arms and the Office of the Attending

Physician, work with the police to ensure the safety and comfort of Members, their staff, and

visitors.

Sergeant at Arms

Along with the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and

the Chief of the Capitol Police (acting in an ex-officio, nonvoting capacity), the House Sergeant

at Arms provides guidance for security measures and policy across the Capitol by serving as a

member of the Capitol Police Board. The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY2003

redefined the board, stating that its purpose “is to oversee and support the Capitol Police in its

mission and to advance coordination between the Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms of the

81 This was found in the former clause 10 of Rule I (H.Res. 5, January 3, 1989).

82 This office was first authorized by H.Res. 621, 97th Cong., December 17, 1982. The Congressional Operations

Appropriation Act, FY1985, P.L. 98-367, established the office in law until it ceased to exist, which was mandated to

be no later than September 30, 1989. This historian also is a member of the Advisory Committee on the Records of

Congress.

83 P.L. 106-99, November 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1330; 2 U.S.C. §183.

84 “Robert V. Remini to Write History of the House of Representatives,” News from the Library of Congress, Public

Affairs Office, September 23, 2002, http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2002/02-124.html. See also Robert V. Remini, The

House: The History of the House of Representatives (New York: Smithsonian Books in association with HarperCollins,

2006).

85 For more information, see https://history.house.gov/.

86 60 Stat. 719, July 31, 1946; 2 U.S.C. §1961.

Congressional Research Service

18

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

House of Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, in their law

enforcement capacities, and the Congress.”87

The Office of the Sergeant at Arms coordinates daily security needs with the Capitol Police.

Duties include arranging for protective details for House leadership, requesting security

clearances for appropriate staff, coordinating a security presence at hearings upon request, and

supervising logistics for major events involving Members. The Sergeant at Arms also works with

Law Enforcement Coordinators (LECs) from each office.

The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives is also required to “attend the House

during its sittings and maintain order under the direction of the Speaker or other presiding

officer.”88 This is a duty the Sergeant at Arms has executed since 1789. The Sergeant at Arms is

also charged with enforcing the rules of access to the Hall of the House as well as the room above

it. Relatedly, the Sergeant at Arms “is authorized and directed to impose a fine against a Member,

Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for the use of an electronic device for still photography

or for audio or visual recording or broadcasting in contravention of clause 5 of rule XVII and any

applicable Speaker’s announced policy on electronic devices.”89

Office of the Attending Physician

The Office of the Attending Physician provides emergency medical assistance for Members of

Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, congressional staff, and visitors.90 Care may range from

performing minor first aid services to administering treatment until a patient may be transported

to a local hospital. The Office of the Attending Physician offers CPR and first aid courses and

arranges educational health fairs for congressional staff. The office also provides travel

immunization advice for official congressional travel.

The office also participates in the planning for, and response to, disasters that could affect the

congressional community.91 After the anthrax attacks in 2001, for example, the office coordinated

the testing and care of affected staffers.92 More recently, the Attending Physician provided

information to the congressional community regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Members of Congress may also obtain additional services for an annual fee.93 Services include

routine exams, consultations, and certain diagnostic tests. The office does not provide vision or

dental care, and prescriptions may be written but not dispensed.

The office is led by a physician detailed from the U.S. Navy, a tradition begun in 1928.94

Expenses are provided for as a joint expense of the House and Senate in the annual Legislative

87 P.L. 108-7, Division H, Legislative Branch Appropriations, §1014, February 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 361; 2 U.S.C.

§1901.

88 House Rule II, clause 3, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023.

89 House Rule II, clause 3, H.Res. 5, 118th Cong., adopted January 9, 2023. This clause was added to the Rules of the

House pursuant to H.Res. 5, 115th Cong., adopted January 3, 2017.

90 For more information, see CRS Insight IN11390, Office of the Attending Physician, U.S. Congress: Background

Information and Response to Public Health Emergencies, by Ida A. Brudnick.

91 P.L. 108-199; 2 U.S.C. §4123.

92 H.Res. 536, 107th Cong., commended the Office of the Attending Physician, the Capitol Police, and others for their

efforts during the anthrax attack.

93 For House Members, authority for establishing fees was contained in the House Administrative Reform Resolution

of 1992 (H.Res. 423, 102nd Cong.). For Senators, this authority was contained in S.Res. 286 (102nd Cong.). See also 2

U.S.C. §4122 and §6515.

94 H.Res. 253, 70th Cong.

Congressional Research Service

19

Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities

Branch Appropriations Acts. The FY2024 appropriations act specified varying allowances for the

Attending Physician, a Senior Medical Officer, three medical officers, and up to 13 additional

assistants. While these personnel remain on the payroll of the Navy, the annual legislative branch

bills include a “reimbursement to the Department of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and

equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending Physician,” a practice that began in 1975.95

Recent Changes and Former Offices

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

The House Office of Diversity and Inclusion was initially established for the 116th Congress.96

The office was incorporated into the House Rules for the 117th Congress (Rule II, clause 9).97 The

office was tasked with submitting a diversity plan to the Committee on House Administration,

developing a diversity survey, and compiling a diversity report each Congress. The office was led

by a director appointed by the Speaker, in consultation with the minority leader, from

recommendations provided by the chair of the Committee on House Administration in

consultation with the ranking minority member. The FY2024 Legislative Branch Appropriations

Act (P.L. 118-47, enacted March 23, 2024) did not provide funding for the office. Some of the

functions were transferred to the CAO’s Office of Talent and Development.98

Author Information

Ida A. Brudnick

Specialist on the Congress

Disclaimer

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan

shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and

under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other

than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in

connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not

subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in

its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or

material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to

copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

95 P.L. 94-32, June 12, 1975, 89 Stat. 185.

96 H.Res. 6, §104(d), 116th Cong., adopted January 9, 2019.

97 H.Res. 8, 117th Cong., adopted January 4, 2021.

98 See CAO, Semiannual Report: January - June 2024, https://cao.house.gov/sites/evo-

subsites/cao.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2024-CAOSeminnual-final-digital.pdf.

Congressional Research Service

RL33220 · VERSION 11 · UPDATED

20