Jonah Patel
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress and is the lower house, with the Senate being the upper house. The chief officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is elected by the members of the House and is responsible for presiding over the House's activities and enforcing its rules. The Speaker is supported by several other officials, including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), who is responsible for the day-to-day administrative functions of the House, and the Sergeant at Arms, who is the chief law enforcement officer and maintains order and security on House premises.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chief Officer | Speaker of the House |
| Presiding Officer | Elected by the House |
| Other Floor Leaders | Chosen by the Democratic Caucus or Republican Conference |
| Chief Administrative Officer | Carries out administrative functions for the House |
| Human resources | |
| Information resources | |
| Payroll | |
| Finance | |
| Procurement | |
| Other business services | |
| Elected every two years | |
| First CAO | Scot Faulkner of West Virginia |
| Current CAO | Catherine Szpindor |
| Deputy Chief Administrative Officer | John Clocker |
| Chief Law Enforcement Officer | Sergeant at Arms |
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What You'll Learn
- The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is elected every two years
- The CAO's duties include payroll, finance, human resources, and procurement
- The Speaker of the House is the chief officer
- The Sergeant at Arms is the House's chief law enforcement officer
- The Clerk maintains public records and presides over the House before the election of a Speaker
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is elected every two years
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the second-highest-ranking non-member official in the House of Representatives, after the Clerk. The CAO is responsible for the day-to-day administrative support of the House, including human resources, information resources, payroll, finance, procurement, and other business services. The position was created by the 104th Congress following the 1994 mid-term elections, replacing the positions of Doorkeeper and Director of Non-Legislative and Financial Services. The CAO also assumed some of the responsibilities of the House Information Services, which were previously controlled by the Committee on House Administration.
The position of CAO is elected every two years when the House organises for a new Congress. The majority and minority party conferences nominate candidates for the House officer positions after the election of the Speaker of the House. The full House then adopts a resolution to elect the officers, who will begin serving the membership after they have taken the oath of office. The Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker, is elected by the House. The Speaker is the chief officer of the House of Representatives.
The current CAO, Catherine Szpindor, took office on January 3, 2021. John Clocker is the deputy chief administrative officer. The Sergeant at Arms is the House's chief law enforcement officer and is responsible for maintaining order and security on House premises. The Sergeant at Arms serves as the Chairman of the Capitol Police Board in even-numbered years and is responsible for routine police work. The Sergeant at Arms also has ceremonial and protocol duties, including arranging the inauguration of the President of the United States, Joint Sessions of Congress, visits to the House by heads of state, and funerals of Members of Congress.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives is another important officer who maintains public records, prepares documents, and oversees junior officials. The Clerk also presides over the House at the beginning of each new Congress pending the election of a Speaker. Members of Congress and their staffs depend on various organisations to help them do their jobs, and these organisations provide a range of services, from guidance on law and legislative proceedings to relations with foreign governments.
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The CAO's duties include payroll, finance, human resources, and procurement
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the United States House of Representatives is responsible for carrying out the administrative functions of the House. The CAO position was created by the 104th Congress following the 1994 mid-term elections, replacing the positions of Doorkeeper and Director of Non-Legislative and Financial Services. The CAO's duties include payroll, finance, human resources, and procurement, as well as other business services.
The CAO is responsible for the day-to-day administrative support of the House of Representatives. This includes everything from payroll to food service. The CAO also assumed some of the responsibilities of the House Information Services, previously controlled by the Committee on House Administration.
The duties of the CAO are wide-ranging and cover a variety of essential services. They are responsible for the efficient and effective management of the House's administrative functions, including the critical tasks of payroll and finance. The CAO ensures that employees are paid accurately and on time, and they also oversee the financial operations of the House, maintaining transparency and accountability.
Human resources is another key area of responsibility for the CAO. They are in charge of recruiting, training, and managing the House's staff, ensuring that the workforce is competent and well-equipped to support the legislative process. The CAO also handles procurement, which involves acquiring goods and services necessary for the House's operations, such as office supplies, technology, and facilities management.
The CAO plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the House of Representatives by managing the administrative aspects of the legislative body. By overseeing payroll, finance, human resources, and procurement, the CAO provides the necessary support for the House to carry out its legislative duties effectively.
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The Speaker of the House is the chief officer
The Speaker plays a crucial role in the legislative process, as they control the flow of legislation and can influence which bills are considered and voted on. They also have the power to appoint members to committees and assign bills to specific committees for consideration. The Speaker's role is particularly important when the House is controlled by the opposing political party of the President, as they can block or delay the consideration of bills that are not supported by their party.
In addition to their legislative duties, the Speaker of the House has a number of administrative and procedural responsibilities. They are responsible for overseeing the House's budget and staff, as well as managing the House's schedule and calendar. The Speaker also has the power to create select committees and joint committees with the Senate, and to appoint members to conference committees that resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.
The Speaker of the House also has a ceremonial role, representing the House of Representatives at official functions and events. They may also be called upon to deliver speeches or make public statements on behalf of the House. The Speaker is also responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the House, which includes enforcing rules and standards of conduct for members.
Finally, the Speaker of the House has a role in the impeachment process. While impeachment proceedings are initiated by the House of Representatives as a whole, the Speaker plays a key role in overseeing the process and ensuring that it follows the proper procedures. This was notably seen during the impeachment proceedings against President Trump, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi played a central role in managing the process and coordinating with the Senate.
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The Sergeant at Arms is the House's chief law enforcement officer
The Sergeant at Arms is the chief law enforcement officer of the House of Representatives. They maintain order and security on House premises and serve as the keeper of the Mace. The Sergeant at Arms is directed by the Speaker of the House and is a member of the US Capitol Police Board, which is supervised by the Capitol Police Board. The Sergeant at Arms serves as the Board Chairman in even-numbered years.
The Sergeant at Arms' duties include arranging the inauguration of the President of the United States, Joint Sessions of Congress, visits to the House by heads of state, and funerals of Members of Congress. They are also responsible for enforcing the rules relating to the privileges of the Hall of the House, including admission to the galleries, garage and parking security, and the distribution of all House staff identification cards.
The Sergeant at Arms is just one of several officials who serve the House but are not members. The chief officer is the clerk, who maintains public records, prepares documents, and oversees junior officials. Another important officer is the chief administrative officer (CAO), who is responsible for the day-to-day administrative support of the House, including human resources, information resources, payroll, and finance. The CAO is elected every two years when the House organises for a new Congress.
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker directs the Sergeant at Arms and presides over the House from a rostrum at one end of the chamber.
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The Clerk maintains public records and presides over the House before the election of a Speaker
The Clerk is the chief officer of the House of Representatives. They are responsible for maintaining public records, preparing documents, and overseeing junior officials. The Clerk also presides over the House at the beginning of each new Congress, until a Speaker is elected.
The Clerk's role in maintaining public records involves keeping track of the proceedings and debates of the House of Representatives. This ensures that the activities of the House are transparent and accessible to the public. The Clerk's office serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking information about the House's activities, committee assignments, committee meetings, historical context, procedures, rules, and more.
In addition to record-keeping, the Clerk also has administrative responsibilities. They oversee junior officials and pages (until the discontinuation of House pages in 2011). This includes ensuring that the House's activities run smoothly and that the necessary resources are provided to support the legislative process.
The Clerk's role as the presiding officer of the House is temporary, until a Speaker is elected. This means that the Clerk plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of the House's operations at the start of each new Congress. They facilitate the transition process, allowing for a seamless continuation of the House's activities until the election of a Speaker, who will then assume the role of presiding officer.
The Clerk's role, therefore, is multifaceted and vital to the efficient functioning of the House of Representatives. By maintaining records, overseeing administrative tasks, and temporarily presiding over the House, the Clerk ensures the smooth conduct of legislative business and promotes transparency in the House's proceedings.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chief Officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. The current CAO, or Chief Administrative Officer, is Catherine Szpindor, who took office on January 3, 2021.
The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for the day-to-day administrative support of the House of Representatives. This includes human resources, information resources, payroll, finance, procurement, and other business services.
The Chief Administrative Officer is elected every two years when the House organises for a new Congress.
