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109th Congress, 2nd Session
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November 14, 2006 |
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| Home > Historical Highlights > Congressional History > Parliamentarians |
(1857 to Present)
The Parliamentarian of the
House is the authoritative source on legislative proceeding in the House of
Representatives. Often referred to by the press as Congress' "coach,"
the Parliamentarian is an appointed officer who serves as a nonpartisan adviser
to Members. Positioned next to the Speaker's rostrum on the floor, the Parliamentarian's
chief duty is to rule on procedure and to advise the presiding officer.
Persons who performed various aspects of the Parliamentarian's duties held a series of titles throughout congressional history, including “Messenger to the Speaker," "Clerk to the Speaker," and "Clerk at the Speaker's Table." Beginning in the 70th Congress (1927-1929) the title became "Parliamentarian."
Asher Hinds, Clarence Cannon, and Lewis Deschler each compiled House precedents which remain as invaluable records of proceedings in the chamber. The modern Parliamentarian’s Office is responsible for the publishing of the House Rules each Congress. Since 1857, 19 individuals have served as Parliamentarians.
Three Parliamentarians later went on to serve as U.S. Representatives (indicated by asterisks). By clicking on their names, viewers will be linked to their individual biographies in the Online Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, http://bioguide.congress.gov.
|
Congress (Years) |
Messenger to the Speaker 1 |
Date Elected2
|
| 34th (1855-57) | Thaddeus Morrice |
1857 |
| 35th (1857-59) | Thaddeus Morrice |
-- |
| 36th (1859-61) | Thaddeus Morrice |
-- |
| 37th (1861-63) | Thaddeus Morrice |
-- |
| 38th (1863-65) | Thaddeus
Morrice3 William D. Todd |
-- 1865 |
| 39th (1865-67) | William D. Todd |
-- |
| 40th (1867-69) | William D. Todd |
-- |
|
Congress (Years) |
Clerk at the Speaker's Table |
Date Elected |
| 41st (1869-71) | John M. Barclay |
1869 |
| 42nd (1871-73) | John M. Barclay |
-- |
43rd (1873-75) |
John M. Barclay |
-- |
| 44th (1875-77) | William H. Scudder |
1875 |
| 45th (1877-79) | William
H. Scudder J. Randolph Tucker, Jr. |
-- 1877 |
| 46th (1879-81) | J. Randolph
Tucker, Jr. George P. Miller Michael Sullivan |
-- 1879 1880 |
| 47th (1881-83) | J. Guilford
White Michael Sullivan |
1881 1882 |
| 48th (1883-85) | Nathaniel T. Crutchfield |
1883 |
| 49th (1885-87) | Nathaniel T. Crutchfield |
-- |
| 50th (1887-89) | Nathaniel T. Crutchfield |
-- |
| 51st (1889-91) | Nathaniel
T. Crutchfield Edward F. Goodwin |
-- 1890 |
| 52nd (1891-93) | Charles R. Crisp* |
1891 |
| 53rd (1893-95) | Charles R. Crisp |
-- |
| 54th (1895-97) | Asher C. Hinds * |
1895 |
| 55th (1897-99) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 56th (1899-1901) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 57th (1901-03) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 58th (1903-05) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 59th (1905-07) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 60th (1907-09) | Asher C. Hinds |
-- |
| 61st (1909-11) | Asher C. Hinds4 |
-- |
| 62nd (1911-13) | Charles R. Crisp |
1911 |
| 63rd (1913-15) | Bennett C. Clark |
1913 |
| 64th (1915-17) | Bennett C. Clark |
-- |
| 65th (1917-19) | Bennett
C. Clark Clarence A. Cannon5* |
-- 1917 |
| 66th (1919-21) | Clarence
A. Cannon Lehr Fess |
-- 1919 |
| 67th (1921-23) | Lehr Fess |
-- |
| 68th (1923-25) | Lehr Fess |
-- |
| 69th (1925-27) | Lehr Fess |
-- |
| 70th (1927-29) | Lehr Fess6 |
-- |
|
Congress (Years) |
Parliamentarian |
Date Elected |
| 70th (1927-29) | Lewis Deschler7 |
1928 |
| 71st (1929-31) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 72nd (1931-33) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 73rd (1933-35) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 74th (1935-37) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 75th (1937-39) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 76th (1939-41) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 77th (1941-43) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 78th (1943-45) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 79th (1945-47) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 80th (1947-49) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 81st (1949-51) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 82nd (1951-53) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 83rd (1953-55) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 84th (1955-57) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 85th (1957-59) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 86th (1959-61) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 87th (1961-63) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 88th (1963-65) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 89th (1965-67) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 90th (1967-69) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 91st (1969-71) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 92nd (1971-73) | Lewis Deschler |
-- |
| 93rd (1973-75) | Lewis
Deschler8 William Holmes Brown |
-- June 27, 19749 |
| 94th (1975-77) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 95th (1977-79) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 96th (1979-81) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 97th (1981-83) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 98th (1983-85) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 99th (1985-87) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 100th (1987-89) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 101st (1989-91) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 102nd (1991-93) | William Holmes Brown |
-- |
| 103rd (1993-95) | William
Holmes Brown Charles W. Johnson |
-- Sept. 20, 199410 |
| 104th (1995-97) | Charles W. Johnson |
-- |
| 105th (1997-99) | Charles W. Johnson |
-- |
| 106th (1999-2001) | Charles W. Johnson |
-- |
| 107th (2001-03) | Charles W. Johnson |
-- |
| 108th (2003-05) | Charles
W. Johnson John V. Sullivan |
-- May 31, 200411 |
| 109th (2005-07) | John V. Sullivan |
-- |
Source:Congressional Record, various editions; Donald Bacon et. al., The Encyclopedia of the United States Congress, vol. 3 (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995): 1522-1523; "The Office of the Parliamentarian of the House and Senate," Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report, 25 July 2003.
1. In the 40th Congress, the office title briefly changed from "Messenger to the Speaker" to "Clerk to the Speaker." At the start of the 41st Congress, the title changed again to "Clerk at the Speaker's Table."
2. A complete appointment date is provided when known.
3. Died 1864.
4. Resigned March 3, 1911 to become Member of the 62nd Congress. See, Washington Post, March 3, 1911: 4.
5. Appointed due to Clark's resignation to join the military.
6. Resigned February 1, 1927. See, Washington Post, February 1, 1927: 4.
7. Appointed due to Fess' retirement. See, Washington Post, February 1, 1927: 4.
8. Retired on June 27, 1974. Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1974: 2.
9. Appointed due to Deschler's retirement. Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1974: 2.
10. Appointed due to Brown's retirement. See, Congressional Record, 103rd Cong., 2nd sess., September 20, 1994: 9227.
11. Appointed due to Johnson's retirement. See, Congressional Record, 108th Cong., 2nd sess., May 20, 2004: 3394.
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January 25, 2006 |