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House History

Parliamentarians of the House

(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.

Four Parliamentarians served as Members of the U.S. House of 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.


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 Forrest 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
1927
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
--
110th (2007-09) John V. Sullivan
--
111th (2009-11) John V. Sullivan
--


Sources: Congressional Record, various editions; House Journal, various editions.

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.
9. Appointed due to Deschler's retirement. See, 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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