    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 112th Congress]
    [112nd Congress]
    [House Document 111-157]
    [House And Congressional Offices]
    [Pages 1009-1018]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1009]]

                         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, provides
    advice in connection with franking privileges (sec. 5, P.L. 93-191).

    Sec. 1114. House Office Building
    Commission.

      Rooms in the  House Office Buildings are assigned pursuant to the Act of
    May 28, 1908 (2 U.S.C. 2004-2011) 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 1010]]

    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).

    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
    Legislative Drafting Service established for the Congress by the Act of
    February 24, 1919 (40 Stat. 1057, 1141). The provisions of law setting
    forth the purpose and functions of the current 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, 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 funding since then.

    [[Page 1011]]

    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 preparation of the precedents of the House of
    Representatives were authorized

    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)).

    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-
    chairs), the chair and vice chair of the Joint Committee on the Library,
    the chairs 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, three Members of the
    Senate, and three Members of the House.

    [[Page 1012]]

    Attorney General to notify the General Counsel of various
    decisions and policies (2 U.S.C. 130f(b)).

    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

    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 House of Representatives Continuity of Operations
    Board, comprising the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chief
    Administrative Officer. The Clerk chairs 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.
    101). 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).

    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 further information on the
    office, see Architect of the Capitol: Appointment Process and Current
    Legislation, CRS, June 4, 2010. Section 6701 of Public Law 110-28
    established within the office a Chief Executive Officer for Visitor
    Services with responsibility for the operation and management of the
    Capitol Visitor Center.

    Sec. 1125f. House Democracy Partnership.

      Established  for the
    109th (H. Res. 135, Mar. 14, 2005, p. 4527), 110th (H. Res. 24, Jan. 30,
    2007, p. 2626), 111th (sec. 4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. _), and
    112th Congresses (which changed its name from the House Democracy
    Assistance Commission) (sec. 4(a), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. _), the
    partnership provides advice and consultation to selected countries. The
    partnership consists of 20 Members appointed by the Speaker and Minority
    Leader.

    [[Page 1013]

    Sec. 1125g. Tom Lantos Human Rights
    Commission.

      Established  for the 110th Congress (H. Res. 1451, Sept. 24, 2008, p.
    _), and the 111th and 112th Congresses with modifications to its
    authority (sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. _; sec. 4(b), H. Res.
    5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. _), the commission promotes internationally
    recognized human rights. Any Member may join the commission, which is
    led by co-chairs appointed by the Speaker and Minority Leader,
    respectively.

    [[Page 1015]

    Sec. 1125h. Office of Congressional
    Ethics.

      Established  for the 110th Congress (H. Res. 895, Mar. 11, 2008, p.
    _), and the 111th and 112th Congresses with a modification of its
    authority to engage consultants (sec. 4(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p.
    _; sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. _), the office investigates
    ``self-initiated'' alleged ethics violations and reports its
    recommendations to the Committee on Ethics.

                         EARLY ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE

                                   __________

                                 [2 u.s.c. 29a]

      (a) Caucus or conference for incumbent Members reelected to and
    Members-elect of ensuing Congress; time and procedure for calling

    Sec. 1126. Organizing caucuses.

      (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 of 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).

      (b) Payment and reimbursement for travel and per diem expenses for
    Members attending caucus or conference; exceptions; regulations
    governing payments and reimbursements; reimbursement vouchers

    [[Page 1016]]

    section, 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 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.
      (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) of this

      (B) Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the
    ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under
    subsection (a) of this section 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.

      (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) Availability of applicable accounts of House

      The applicable accounts of the House of Representatives are made
    available to carry out the purposes of this section.

      (d) Orientation programs for new Members

      With the approval of the majority leader (in the case of a Member or
    Member-elect of the majority party) or the minority leader (in the case
    of a Member or Member-elect of the minority party), subsections (b) and
    (c) of this section shall apply with respect to the attendance of a
    Member or Member-elect at a program conducted by the Committee on House
    Administration for the orientation of new Members in the same manner as
    such provisions apply to the attendance of the Member or Member-elect at
    the organizational caucus or conference.

    [[Page 1017]]

    to ``applicable accounts of the House.''
    Further amendments were effected at the end of the 108th Congress (to
    apply beginning in the One Hundred Tenth Congress) to permit
    organizational activity to be scheduled for any period after the general
    election and before the onset of the new Congress and to include
    orientation programs (sec. 107, div. G, P.L. 108-447, Dec. 8, 2004, 118
    Stat. 3176).
      These provisions were originated by a resolution of the 93d Congress
    (sec. 202, H. Res. 988, Oct. 8, 1974), which was enacted into permanent
    law (effective Jan. 2, 1975) shortly thereafter (P.L. 93-554, Dec. 27,
    1974, 88 Stat. 1777). Amendments were effected in the 104th Congress
    (sec. 202, P.L. 104-186, Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1725), when the House
    renamed the committee concerned and converted references to its
    ``contingent fund''

      Under the former form of the statute, contemplating organizational
    activity in the month of December, the House occasionally adopted
    resolutions allowing earlier convening of an organizational caucus or
    conference (e.g., H. Res. 666, 106th Cong., Nov. 3, 2000, p. 25993; H.
    Res. 590, 107th Cong., Oct. 16, 2002, p. 20812; H. Res. 824, 108th
    Cong., Oct. 6, 2004, pp. 21212, 21213).

                                [2 u.s.c. 43b-2]

      Staff expenses for House Members attending organizational caucus or
    conference

      (a) In general

      Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the
    ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under
    section 29a(a) of this title, 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) Per diem expenses of staff person

      Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the
    ensuing Congress) who attends a caucus or conference called under such
    section 29a(a) of this title 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.

      (c) Orientation programs for new Members

    [[Page 1018]]

    mittee on
    House Administration for the orientation of new Members in the same
    manner as such provisions apply to the attendance of the Member or
    Member-elect at the organizational caucus or conference.

      With the approval of the majority leader (in the case of a Member or
    Member-elect of the majority party) or the minority leader (in the case
    of a Member or Member-elect of the minority party), subsections (a) and
    (b) of this section shall apply with respect to the attendance of a
    Member or Member-elect at a program conducted by the Com

      These provisions were originated by a resolution of the 94th Congress
    (H. Res. 10, Jan. 14, 1975), which was then enacted into permanent law
    (sec. 201, P.L. 94-59, July 25, 1975, 89 Stat. 282). They are codified
    in section 43b-2 of title 2, United States Code. Amendments were
    effected at the end of the 108th Congress (to apply with respect to the
    One Hundred Tenth Congress and each succeeding Congress) to conform to
    the permissible scheduling of organizational activity for any period
    after the general election and before the onset of the new Congress and
    to include orientation programs (sec. 107, div. G, P.L. 108-447, Dec. 8,
    2004, 118 Stat. 3176).

                                [2 u.s.c. 43b-3]

      Payments and reimbursements for certain House staff expenses

      (a) Payments and reimbursements to staff persons under section 43b-2
    of this title 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.

      These provisions were originated by a resolution of the 94th Congress
    (H. Res. 10, Jan. 14, 1975), which was then enacted into permanent law
    (sec. 201, P.L. 94-59, July 25, 1975, 89 Stat. 282). They are codified
    in section 43b-3 of title 2, United States Code. Amendments were
    effected in the 104th Congress (sec. 202, P.L. 104-186, Aug. 20, 1996,
    110 Stat. 1725), when the House renamed the committee concerned as the
    Committee on House Oversight. (The committee has since been returned to
    its earlier name).