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Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais

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Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais

November 10, 2014 (98-396)
The
Guide to Individuals Seated on the House 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 unassignedbench-style (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. 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 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 memberMember 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’ 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. 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.” Congressional Research Service 1 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 clerkClerk 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 Middle Tier The middle level of the dais is occupied by employees of the Clerk of the House. The Clerk’s '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 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 House Journal. Tally Clerk Between the journal clerk and 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 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.) Congressional Research Service 2 Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais Reading Clerk 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 Lower Tier The lower tier is also occupied by employees of the Clerk of the House. Bill Clerk 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”"hopper" is located, 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. The bill clerk also keeps any active discharge petitions here for Members who wish to sign them. Enrolling Clerk 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 copy of all House-passed measures (for messaging to the Senate, when applicable) and the official enrolled copy of all House-originated measures (for transmittal to the White House for presidential action, when applicable). 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 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. Congressional Research Service 3 Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais Official Reporters of Debate Official Reporters 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 RecordCongressional 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) 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. 2 Author Contact Information Valerie Heitshusen Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process vheitshusen@crs.loc.gov, 7-8635 Acknowledgments chamber.2

Acknowledgments

This report was originally written by Mildred Amer, former Specialist[author name scrubbed], 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’

Footnotes

1. A more direct view of the rostrum can be found in the House Rostrum "Fact Sheet"; a PDF of this document (which also includes information about certain items in the House chamber) is available at http://history.house.gov/Education/Fact-Sheets/Education-Fact-Sheets/. 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. Congressional Research Service 4