    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 109th Congress]
    [109th Congress]
    [House Document 108-241]
    [House And Congressional Offices]
    [Pages 965-973]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 965]]

                         HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES

                                   __________

    Sec. 1113. House Commission on Congressional
    Mailing Standards.

      Members may  send through the mails, under their frank, certain
    documents and materials as provided by 39 U.S.C. 3210, subject to the
    limitations prescribed in rule XXIV, supra. The House Commission on
    Congressional Mailing Standards, composed of six Members of the House,
    provides advice in connection with the mailing of franked mail (sec. 5,
    P.L. 93-191).

    Sec. 1114. House Office Building
    Commission.

      Rooms in the  House Office Buildings are assigned to Members pursuant to
    the law of May 28, 1908 (2 U.S.C. 2004) and pursuant to regulations of
    the House Office Building Commission (see regulations promulgated Oct.
    7, 1996). The commission also issues regulations governing the House
    Office Buildings, House garages, and the Capitol Power Plant (see
    regulations promulgated December, 1995). The commission is composed of
    the Speaker and two Members of the House (traditionally the Majority and
    Minority Leaders) (2 U.S.C. 2001).

    Sec. 1115. Government Accountability
    Office.

      The preparation,  utilization, and distribution (to committees and Members) of
    reports by the Government Accountability Office, and its authority to
    assign its employees to duty with congressional committees, are
    regulated by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, Sec. Sec. 231-
    236 (84 Stat. 1140; 31 U.S.C. 711-720). This office was formerly known
    as the General Accounting Office (31 U.S.C. 702 note).

    [[Page 966]]

    Sec. 1116. Office of Compliance.

      The Office  of Compliance
    was established by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2
    U.S.C. 1381). The office is composed of five individuals appointed
    jointly by the Speaker, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the
    Minority Leaders of the House and the Senate. The office has regulatory,
    enforcement, and educational responsibilities under the Act. The office
    replaced the Review Panel of the Office of Fair Employment Practices at
    the beginning of the 105th Congress (see Sec. 1101, supra). However, the
    review panel was reconstituted in the same form as at the end of the
    104th Congress to provide for the completion of ongoing proceedings in
    the 105th Congress (Feb. 25, 1997, p. 2439). Section 1382 provides for a
    General Counsel to be appointed by the Chair of the Compliance Board to
    exercise the authorities of the Office of Compliance.

    Sec. 1117. Congressional Research
    Service.

      The organization  of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of
    Congress and its responsibilities to assist Members and committees were
    provided in the Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970 (60
    Stat. 836; 84 Stat. 1140; 2 U.S.C. 166).

    Sec. 1118. Legislative Counsel.

      The Office of  the
    Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives evolved from a
    single Legislative Drafting Service established for the Congress by the
    Act of February 24, 1919 (40 Stat. 1057, 1141). The currently applicable
    provisions of law setting forth the purpose and functions of the Office
    and providing for its administration are contained in title V of the
    Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-510; 2 U.S.C. 281) as
    amended by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1972 (P.L. 92-51).
    As stated in section 502 of such title V, the purpose of the Office is
    to advise and assist the House of Representatives, and its committees
    and Members, in the achievement of a clear, faithful, and coherent
    expression of legislative policies.

    Sec. 1119. Congressional Budget
    Office.

      The Congressional  Budget Office was established by the Congressional Budget Act
    of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 601). The office is headed by a director, who is
    appointed by the Speaker and the President pro tempore. Section 202 of
    the Act (2 U.S.C. 602) outlines the functions of the office, which
    include providing assistance to the House and Senate Committees on the
    Budget and Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance in the
    discharge of matters within their jurisdiction and to other committees
    to assist them in complying with the provisions of the Act.

    Sec. 1120. Law Revision Counsel.

      The Office  of the Law
    Revision Counsel, to develop a codification of the laws of the United
    States, was authorized in the 93d Congress by the Committee Reform
    Amendments of 1974 (sec. 205, H. Res. 988, Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470, made
    permanent law by P.L. 93-544 (2 U.S.C. 285)).

    Sec. 1121. Technology Assessment.

      The Office  of Technology
    Assessment, to assist the Congress in indicating the beneficial and
    adverse impacts of the application of technology, was authorized by the
    Technology Assessment Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 472). The office received
    funding for 1996 to conduct an orderly shutdown (tit. I, P.L. 104-53)
    and has not received any funding since then.

    [[Page 967]]

    tion of the precedents of the House of Representatives were authorized
    in the 93d Congress by the Committee Reform Amendments of 1974 (sec.
    208, H. Res. 988, Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470, made permanent law by P.L. 93-
    554, 2 U.S.C. 28a), and the printing and distribution of the precedents
    were authorized by Public Law 94-551 (2 U.S.C. 28b-e). See also 2 U.S.C.
    28, 29.

    Sec. 1122. Office of the
    Parliamentarian.

      A Parliamentarian  has been appointed by the Speaker in every Congress
    since 1927. Before 1927 the ``Clerk at the Speaker's Table'' performed
    the function of the Parliamentarian. In the 95th Congress the House
    formally and permanently established an Office of the Parliamentarian to
    be managed, supervised, and administered by a nonpartisan
    Parliamentarian appointed by the Speaker (H. Res. 502, Apr. 20, 1977, p.
    11415, made permanent law by sec. 115 of P.L. 95-94; see 2 U.S.C. 287).
    The compilation and prepara

    Sec. 1123. Office of Floor
    Assistants.

      At its organization  the 104th Congress established an office to assist the
    Speaker in the management of legislative activity on the floor of the
    House (Sec. 223(b), H. Res. 6, 104th Cong., Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469,
    enacted into permanent law by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,
    1996 (sec. 103, P.L. 104-53)).

    Sec. 1124. Office of Interparliamentary
    Affairs.

      This Office  is responsible for responding to inquiries from, and
    coordinating visits with, foreign legislative bodies; providing
    assistance to delegations of Members on official visits to foreign
    nations; coordinating the activities and responsibilities of the House
    in connection with participation in various interparliamentary exchanges
    and organizations; and enabling the House to host meetings with senior
    government officials and other dignitaries in order to discuss matters
    relevant to United States relations with other nations (2 U.S.C. 130-2).

    Sec. 1125. House Recording Studio.

      The House  Recording
    Studio was established by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,
    1957 (2 U.S.C. 123b) and provides Members with audio and video recording
    services. The studio is under the direction and control of the Committee
    on the House Recording Studio, which consists of three members appointed
    by the Speaker (2 U.S.C. 123b(c)).

    [[Page 968]]

    Sec. 1125a. United States Capitol Preservation
    Commission.

      The United  States Capitol Preservation Commission was established in
    1988 (2 U.S.C. 2081) to provide improvements in, preservation of, and
    acquisitions for the Capitol and to provide works of fine art and other
    property for display in the Capitol. In the 106th Congress the
    Commission was given responsibility for the planning, engineering,
    design, and construction of the Capitol Visitor Center (sec. 310,
    Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2000). Membership on the
    Commission consists of the Speaker, the President pro tempore (co-
    chairmen), the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Committee on the
    Library, the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Committee on
    Rules and Administration and the Committee on House Administration, the
    Majority and Minority Leaders of the House and Senate, the chairmen of
    the Commission on the Bicentennial of the Senate and the Commission of
    the House of Representatives Bicentenary, two Members of the Senate, and
    two Members of the House.

    Sec. 1125b. Office of General Counsel.

      The General  Counsel
    appointed under clause 8 of rule II is authorized by law to appear in
    any proceeding before a State or Federal court (except the United States
    Supreme Court) without compliance with admission requirements of such
    court (2 U.S.C. 130f(a)). Furthermore, the law requires the Attorney
    General to notify the General Counsel of its determination not to appeal
    a court decision affecting the constitutionality of an Act (2 U.S.C
    130f(b)).

    Sec. 1125c. Office of Emergency Planning,
    Preparedness, and Operations.

      This Office  is responsible for mitigation and
    preparedness operations, crisis management and response, resource
    services, and recovery operations (2 U.S.C. 130i). The Speaker, in
    consultation with the Minority Leader, provides policy direction for,
    and oversight of, the Office. The Speaker may request the head of any
    Federal department or agency to detail to the Office, on a reimbursable
    basis, any of the personnel of the department or agency. The day-to-day
    operations of the Office are carried out by the Director, under the
    supervision of a Board, known as the House of Representatives Continuity
    of Operations Board, comprising the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the
    Chief Administrative Officer. The Clerk is the Chairman of the Board.

    Sec. 1125d. Office of Attending Physician.

      This Office  was
    established in the 70th Congress when the House requested the Secretary
    of the Navy to detail a medical officer to be in attendance at the Hall
    of the House during sessions of the House (H. Res. 253, Dec. 5, 1928, p.
    ----). Currently, the Office provides primary care and emergency,
    environmental, and occupational health services in direct support of
    Members of Congress and the Supreme Court, staff, pages, visiting
    dignitaries, and tourists (Office of Attending Physician in the U.S.
    Congress, CRS, Dec. 12, 2001).

    [[Page 969]]

    Sec. 1125e. Office of Architect of the
    Capitol.

      This Office  , which dates from 1793, operates and maintains the buildings
    and grounds of the Capitol complex. For a detailed explanation of the
    current duties and statutory evolution of the office, see Architect of
    the Capitol: Appointment, Duties, and Operations, CRS, March 17, 2005.

                         EARLY ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE

     [from the committee reform amendments of 1974, made permanent law in 2
                                   __________

                                   u.s.c. 29a]

    Sec. 1126. December caucuses.

      (a)(1) The  majority leader or
    minority leader of the House of Representatives after consultation with
    the Speaker may at any time during any even-numbered year call a caucus
    or conference, to begin on or after the first day of December and
    conclude on or before the twentieth day of December in such year and to
    be attended by all incumbent Members of his or her political party who
    have been reelected to the ensuing Congress and all other Members-elect
    of such party, for the purpose of taking all steps necessary to achieve
    the prompt organization of the Members and Members-elect of such party
    for the ensuing Congress.

      (2) If the majority leader or minority leader calls an organizational
    caucus or conference under paragraph (1), he or she shall file with the
    Clerk of the House a written notice designating the date upon which the
    caucus or conference is to convene. As soon as possible after the
    election of Members to the ensuing Congress, the Clerk shall furnish
    each Member-elect of the party involved with appropriate written
    notification of the caucus or conference.

      (3) If a vacancy occurs in the office of majority leader or minority
    leader during any even-numbered year (and has not been filled), the
    chairman of the caucus or conference of the party involved for the
    current Congress may call an organizational caucus or conference under
    paragraph (1) by filing written notice thereof as provided by paragraph
    (2).

    [[Page 970]]

    of residence in the district which he or she represents and Washington,
    District of Columbia, for the purpose of attending such caucus or
    conference. Payment shall be made through the issuance of a
    transportation request form to each such Member-elect or incumbent
    Member by the Finance Office of the House before such caucus or
    conference.

      (b)(1)(A) Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected
    to the ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under
    subsection (a), and each incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing
    Congress who attends any such caucus or conference convening after the
    adjournment sine die of the Congress in the year involved, shall be paid
    for one round trip between his or her place

      (B) Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the
    ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under
    subsection (a) shall in addition be reimbursed on a per diem or other
    basis for expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at
    such caucus or conference for a period not to exceed the shorter of the
    following--

              (i) the period beginning with the day before the designated

            date upon which such caucus or conference is to convene and

            ending with the day after the date of the final adjournment of

            such caucus or conference; or

              (ii) fourteen days.

      (2) Payments and reimbursements to Members-elect under paragraph (1)
    shall be made as provided (with respect to Members) in the regulations
    prescribed by the Committee on House Administration with respect to
    travel and other expenses of committees and Members. Reimbursements
    shall be paid on special voucher forms prescribed by the Committee on
    House Administration.

      (c) The contingent fund of the House is made available to carry out
    the purposes of this section.

      [from h. res. 10, 94th congress, made permanent law in 2 u.s.c. 29a]

    [[Page 971]]

      Resolved, That (a) each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member
    reelected to the ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference
    called under section 202(a) of House Resolution 988, 93d Congress, and
    each incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing Congress who attends any
    such caucus or conference convening after the adjournment sine die of
    the Congress in the year involved, shall be entitled to designate one
    staff person to be paid for one round trip between that person's place
    of residence, provided such place of residence is in the district which
    the Member-elect or incumbent Member represents, and Washington,
    District of Columbia, for the purpose of accompanying that Member-elect
    or incumbent Member to such caucus or conference.

      (b) Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the
    ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under such
    section 202(a) shall be entitled to designate one staff person who shall
    in addition be reimbursed on a per diem or other basis for expenses
    incurred in accompanying the Member-elect at the time of such caucus or
    conference for a period not to exceed the shorter of the following--

              (i) the period beginning with the day before the designated

            date upon which such caucus or conference is to convene and

            ending with the day after the date of the final adjournment of

            such caucus or conference; or

              (ii) fourteen days.

      Sec. 2. (a) Payments and reimbursements to staff persons under the
    first section of this resolution shall be made as provided (with respect
    to staff) in the regulations prescribed by the Committee on House
    Administration with respect to travel and other expenses of staff.
    Reimbursements shall be paid on special voucher forms prescribed by the
    Committee on House Administration.

      (b) Additional funds, if any, for staff allowances and office space
    for use by Members-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to
    the ensuing Congress) shall be authorized by the Committee on House
    Administration.

    [[Page 973]]
      In recent practice, the House has adopted resolutions providing for
    the convening of an organizational caucus or conference in November
    (e.g., H. Res. 666, 106th Cong., Nov. 3, 2000, p. 25993; H. Res. 590,
    107th Cong., Oct. 16, 2002, p. ----; H. Res. 824, 108th Cong., Oct. 6,
    2004, p. ----).