Kids in the House

Pages have been serving in the House of Representatives for over two hundred years. While serving in the House, Pages live at the Page Residence Hall, a few blocks from the Capitol. During the academic year, Pages attend classes at the House Page School. Pages must be sponsored by a Member of Congress and must be at least 16 years old when they begin their term.

History of the Page Program

The earliest known instance of boys being employed as messengers and errand runners was during the 20th Congress (1827–1829). The boys, many of whom were destitute or orphaned, were sponsored by Members, who took a paternal interest in them. In 1842, the House capped the number of Pages at eight; each was paid $2 per day. However, as new states entered the Union and more Members entered the House, the number of Pages increased. Modern Congresses employ approximately 70 House Pages.

Current Page Program

Modern day Pages work as a team to assist Members with their legislative duties, deliver correspondence and small packages within the congressional complex, answer phones in the Member cloakrooms, and prepare the House Floor for sessions. They are employed for one term—fall, spring, or summer. While serving, Pages attend the Page School, located in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and live in the Page Residence Hall. Their days are very busy—check out “A Day in the Life of a Page” to see just how much they squeeze in!

Interested in Being a Page?

Pages are selected through the House majority and minority leadership. Because of the limited number of Page positions available, not all Members can sponsor Pages at the same time, however another Member from within the same state can sponsor Pages from other districts. Interested students should contact their Member of Congress to begin the application process. You can contact your Member through the Write Your Representative feature.