Order Code 98-396 GOV
Updated April 24, 2008
Guide to Individuals Seated on
the House Dais
Mildred Amer
Specialist in American Government
Government and Finance Division
The House of Representatives meets in the Capitol in the House chamber. In the
front of the
Dais
Valerie Heitshusen
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
November 10, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
98-396
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
T
he House of Representatives meets in the House chamber of the Capitol. In the front of the
chamber is a three-tiered, elevated dais. Seated or standing at a sizable lectern
(the height
of which is adjustable) on the top level of the dais is the presiding officer.
Members of the
House sit in one of 448 unassigned seats arranged in a semicircle facing
the presiding officer.
Facing the dais, Republicans traditionally sit to the right of the
center aisle, Democrats to the left.
Top Tier
Speaker of the House. center aisle, Democrats to the left.
A photograph of the House dais can be found on the Internet at http://www.clerk.house.gov by
placing a cursor on the “Legislative Activities” button on the top navigation bar, which will cause
a color photograph of the Speaker’s dais to appear.1
Top Tier
Speaker of the House
The only seat at the top tier of the dais is that of the
Speaker, who is the presiding officer when
the House is meeting as the House. When not
presiding, the Speaker appoints a Speaker pro
tempore to perform the duties of the
presiding officer. When the House is meeting in the
Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union (the Committee of the Whole), the
chairman (a majority-party
member named by the Speaker) occupies this seat. During a joint
session or meeting of
the House and Senate, a second seat is added for the Vice President to occupy.
Parliamentarian.
occupy.
Parliamentarian
Usually observed standing to the left of and slightly below the
presiding officer (viewed from the
rear of the chamber) is the House Parliamentarian or
an assistant Parliamentarian. In this role, the
Parliamentarian counsels the Speaker or
chairman of the Committee of the Whole on rules and
precedents and attends the
presiding officer in performing his or her duties.
Sergeant at Arms.
Off the dais on the left, the Sergeant at Arms, (or a deputy,) is
seated at a separate table. During
legislative proceedings, an assistant Parliamentarian
often sits at this table or stands near it.
Elected by the House, the Sergeant at Arms is
custodian of the mace, the symbol of parliamentary
power and authority. When the House
is meeting as the House, the mace is on a pedestal to the
Speaker’s left (viewed from the
rear of the chamber). When the House is meeting as the
Committee of the Whole, the
Sergeant at Arms moves the mace to a lower pedestal.
Speaker’s Page.
Seated beside the Sergeant at Arms is the Speaker’s page, who
assists the presiding officer during
each day’s session.
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Clerk of the House.
1
Additional views of the House chamber may be found by clicking the “Art and History” button on the top navigation
bar. In the “Art and History” section, these views can be found by clicking on “Art, Artifacts, and Architecture” on the
top menu bar and going to the “The House Chamber” link in the section on “The Capitol Today.”
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Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
Clerk of the House
The Clerk of the House is seated to the right of and slightly
below the presiding officer (as
viewed from the rear of the chamber). Elected by the
House, the Clerk is the chamber’s chief
legislative official. The Clerk’s duties include
certifying the passage of bills, delivering messages
to the Senate, and affixing the seal of
the House on all formal documents. The Clerk also presides
over a new session of
Congress until a Speaker is elected. Except for ceremonial occasions such
as joint
meetings and sessions, the clerk spends little time seated on the dais.
Timekeeper.
Timekeeper
The area near the Clerk’s seat might be occupied by a timekeeper,
who is on the staff of the
Parliamentarian. The timekeeper keeps the time used during
House debate and other proceedings
and provides that information to the presiding
officer.
Documentarian Pages.
Further to the right and off of the dais are two
documentarian pages who operate the legislative
lights and bells that signal votes, quorum
calls, or adjournment. These and other House pages,
seen working throughout the
chamber, also provide Members with copies of all documents (such
as bills and reports)
that are needed during a day’s session of the House.
Middle Tier
The middle level of the dais is occupied by employees of the Clerk of the House. The
Clerk’s
lectern is also on this level. It is from this lectern that the House Chaplain or guest
chaplain offers
prayers, the President delivers the State of the Union address or other
addresses to Congress,
invited dignitaries address joint meetings of Congress, and a clerk
reads bills and other business
to the House.
Journal Clerk.
To the far left of the Clerk’s lectern (viewed from the rear of the
chamber) is a journal clerk, who
compiles the House’s daily minutes. These minutes are
the official record required by the
Constitution and published as the House Journal.
Tally Clerk.
Between the journal clerk and next to the Clerk’s lectern is the tally
clerk, who operates the electronic
voting system, oversees the recording of votes on the
House floor, receives reports of committees,
and prepares the Calendars of the United
States House of Representatives and History of
Legislation. This tally clerk may be
referred to as the “seated tally clerk.” (See below for
information on a second tally clerk,
who stands during a vote.)
Reading Clerk.
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Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
Reading Clerk
To the right of the Clerk’s lectern is a reading clerk, who is
responsible for reading aloud
communications from the Senate and President, House bills,
amendments, Members’ vote
changes, and other business. During busy legislative
periods, there may be two reading clerks
present.
Lower Tier
The lower tier is also occupied by employees of the Clerk of the House.
Bill Clerk.
On the far left of the lower level of the dais (viewed from the rear of the
chamber) is a bill clerk.
This area is also where the “hopper” is located, in which
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a box into which Members place measures they
wish to introduce. The bill clerk receives and processes
bills and resolutions and receives lists of
cosponsors, texts of amendments, and
communications to the House.
Enrolling Clerk. The bill clerk also keeps
any active discharge petitions here for Members who wish to sign them.
Enrolling Clerk
A seat is reserved on the lower level of the dais (left of center)
for an enrolling clerk, who
prepares the official (engrossed)engrossed copy of all House-passed
measures (for messaging to the Senate,
when applicable) and the official (enrolled)enrolled copy of all HouseoriginatedHouse-originated measures (for transmittal
to the White House for presidential action, when applicable). The . The
enrolling clerk does not usually
sit on the dais during the course of the day since the clerk
is able to monitor televised floor
proceedings.
Tally Clerk.
During a vote, a tally clerk stands on the lower level of the dais directly
in front of the seated tally
clerk (see above) to take “well cards” (paper ballots) from
Members casting votes or changing
votes after the electronic voting stations are locked.
This tally clerk may be referred to as the
“standing tally clerk.” This clerk prepares the yea
and nay tally sheets for the presiding officer at
the end of each vote.
Daily Digest Clerk.
Another seat is reserved on the lower level of the dais (left of
center) for a Daily Digest clerk,
who prepares the information published in the Daily
Digest section of the Congressional Record.
The Daily Digest clerk does not usually sit
on the dais during the course of the day since the clerk
is able to monitor televised floor
proceedings.
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Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
Official Reporters of Debate.
In the center of the lower level of the dais are the
clerks to the official reporters of debate. They
are responsible for keeping track of floor
activity and receiving text for the Congressional
Record. Further to the right are seats for
official reporters awaiting their turn to work on the
House floor.
The official reporters who are transcribing sit at a table in the well of the House in
front of the
lower level of the dais. This table also holds a box containing the “well cards”
(paper ballots) used by Members
Members may use to cast or change votes. Two podiums, located on either
side of this table, are
used by Members to speak from the well of the House, thus facing
their colleagues in the House chamber.
An illustration of the House chamber and dais can be found on the Internet at
[http://www.clerk.house.gov]. At this site, a user should place a cursor on the Legislative
Activities button on the top navigation bar, which will cause a color photograph of the
Speaker’s dais to appear. Additional views of the House chamber may be found by
clicking the Art and History button on the top navigation bar.
chamber. 2
Author Contact Information
Valerie Heitshusen
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
vheitshusen@crs.loc.gov, 7-8635
Acknowledgments
This report was originally written by Mildred Amer, former Specialist on the Congress. The listed author
has updated the report and can respond to inquiries on the subject.
2
Under some circumstances, members speak not from the well, but from one of four party tables that sit among the
chamber’s permanent seats. The tables are used by the party leaders or by members of committees who are responsible
for coordinating floor consideration of legislation.
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