    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress]
    [119th Congress]
    [House Document 118-187]
    [House And Congressional Offices]
    [Pages 1055-1065]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                         HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES

                                   __________

    Sec. 1113. House Communications Standards
    Commission.

      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 Communications
    Standards Commission, composed of six Members, provides advice in
    connection with franking privileges (sec. 5, P.L. 93-191). This
    Commission was formerly known as the House Commission on Congressional
    Mailing Standards.

    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 1056]]

    Sec. 1116. Office of Congressional Workplace
    Rights.

      The Office  of Congressional Workplace Rights (formerly 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 1057]]

    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, Precedents
    (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 18.1, 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

    Sec. 1123. Speaker's Office for Legislative Floor
    Activities.

      In the 104th  Congress the House established an office to assist the
    Speaker in the management of legislative activity on the floor (sec.
    223(b), H. Res. 6, 104th Cong., Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469, enacted into law
    by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996 (sec. 103, P.L. 104-
    53; 2 U.S.C. 5123)).

    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. 5582).

    Sec. 1125. House Recording Studio.

      The House  Recording
    Studio was established by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,
    1957 (2 U.S.C. 4131) and provides Members with audio and video recording
    services. The studio, operated by the Chief Administrative Officer, is
    under the direction and control of a committee consisting of three
    Members appointed by the Speaker (2 U.S.C. 4131(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 1058]]

    the Attorney General to notify the General Counsel of various decisions
    and policies (2 U.S.C. 5571(b)).

    Sec. 1125b. Office of General Counsel.

      The Office  of General
    Counsel, established by 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. 5571(a)). Furthermore, the law
    requires

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

      This office  , responsible for mitigation and
    preparedness operations, crisis management and response, resource
    services, and recovery operations (sec. 905, P.L. 107-117), was
    established in the 107th Congress and abolished in the 112th Congress,
    when its functions were transferred to the Sergeant-at-Arms (sec. 105,
    P.L. 112-74).

    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, visiting dignitaries,
    and tourists (Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and
    Authorities, CRS, June 23, 2020).

    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. 9), 112th
    (which first changed its name from the House Democracy Assistance
    Commission) (sec. 4(a), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. 80), 113th (sec.
    4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p. 28), 114th (sec. 4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan.
    6, 2015, p. 37), 115th (sec. 4(a), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. 40),
    116th (sec. 104(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _), 117th (sec. 4(a), H.
    Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _), 118th (sec. 4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 9, 2023,
    p. _), and 119th (sec. 4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2025, p. _) Congresses,
    the partnership provides advice and consultation to selected countries.
    The partnership consists of 20 Members appointed by the Speaker and
    Minority Leader.

    [[Page 1059]]

    rights. Any Member may join the commission, which is led by co-chairs
    appointed by the Speaker and Minority Leader, respectively.

    Sec. 1125g. Tom Lantos Human Rights
    Commission.

      Established  for the 110th Congress (H. Res. 1451, Sept. 24, 2008, p.
    20250), and the 111th through 119th Congresses with modifications to its
    authority (sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 9; sec. 4(b), H. Res.
    5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. 80; sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p. 28; sec.
    4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2015, p. 37; sec. 4(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3,
    2017, p. 40; sec. 104(b), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _; sec. 4(b), H.
    Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _; sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 9, 2023, p. _;
    sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2025, p. _), the commission promotes
    internationally recognized human

    [[Page 1061]]

    Sec. 1125h. Office of Congressional Conduct.

      This office  was
    established in the 110th Congress as the Office of Congressional Ethics
    (H. Res. 895, Mar. 11, 2008, p. 3741), the 111th and 112th Congresses
    with a modification of its authority to engage consultants (sec. 4(d),
    H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 9; sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p.
    80), the 113th Congress with a further modification to the term limits
    of the governing board (sec. 4(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p. 28), the
    114th Congress with further modifications regarding representation by
    counsel and prohibiting any action that would deny any person a
    constitutional right (sec. 4(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2015, p. 37), the
    115th through 117th Congresses with further modifications regarding the
    authority of the Speaker and Minority Leader to appoint the governing
    board and the term limits of the governing board (sec. 4(c), H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 3, 2017, p. 40; sec. 104(c), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _; sec.
    4(c), H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _), the 118th Congress with further
    modifications reinstituting initial term limits of the governing board,
    removing any board members serving in excess of such term limits, and
    addressing administrative matters regarding staff (sec. 4(d), H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 9, 2023, p. _), and the 119th Congress with a revision to the staff
    administrative matters added in the previous Congress and a change to
    the name of the office (sec. 4(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2025, p. _).

                         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 1062]]

    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 1063]]

    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;
    Precedents (Wickham), ch. 3, Sec. Sec. 2.1, 2.2).

                                 [2 U.S.C. 5343]

      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 1064]]

    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 Committee on House
    Administration for the orientation of new

      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). 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. 5344]

      Payments and reimbursements for certain House staff expenses

      (a) Payments and reimbursements to staff persons under section 5343 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.

    [[Page 1065]]

      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). 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.) end segment .014  deg. segment .015
    -- budget  deg.