Officers and Organizations of the House

Rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building

In addition to the members and their staffs, there are many other individuals working for the House of Representatives. The staff of the officers, officials and other organization all work to support the legislative work of the member and committee offices.

 

Learn About:

Elected at the beginning of each Congress, House Officers include the Chaplain, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Clerk of the House, and the Sergeant at Arms. Previous officers included an elected Doorkeeper and Postmaster, which the House folded into the Chief Administrative Officer's position in 1995.

Learn more about the elected House officers from the Office of the Historian.

Appointed officials include a General Counsel, Historian, Inspector General, and Parliamentarian. Their duties are prescribed both by law and Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

The Parliamentarian of the House is the authoritative source on legislative proceedings in the House. An appointed officer who serves as a nonpartisan adviser to members, the Parliamentarian's chief duty is to rule on procedure and to advise the House chamber's presiding officer.

Members of Congress and their staffs depend on various organizations to help them do their jobs. These organizations provide a range of services, from guidance on law and legislative proceedings to relations with foreign governments.

The Office of Congressional Ethics conducts internal investigations and transmits information to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

The Office of Interparliamentary Affairs coordinates official visits to the House by foreign parliamentarians or foreign legislative bodies and officials visits to foreign nations by House members.

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel prepares and publishes the United States Code, which is a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.

The Office of Legislative Counsel assists, on an impartial and confidential basis, committees and members of the House of Representatives, when requested by them, in the drafting of proposed legislation.