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
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
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
T 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.
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
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.
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
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 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.)
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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, 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
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
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)
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
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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