Duties of the Clerk

As stated in Rule II of the House Rules, the Clerk is required to:

• Prepare the roll of Members-elect

• Call the Members-elect to order at the commencement of each Congress; call the roll of Members-elect, and pending the election of the Speaker, preserve order and decorum; and decide all questions of order

• At the beginning of every session, prepare and distribute a list of reports required to be made to Congress

• Note all questions of order and decisions thereon, and print these as an appendix to the Journal of each session of the House

• Prepare and print the House Journal after each session of Congress, and distribute the Journal to Members and to the executive and legislature of each state

• Attest and affix the seal of the House to all writs, warrants, subpoenas, and formal documents issued by the House

• Certify the passage by the House of all bills and joint resolutions

• Receive messages from the President of the United States and the U.S. Senate when the House is not in session

• Prepare and deliver messages to the Senate and otherwise as requested by the House

• In the official House Library, retain a permanent set of the books and documents generated by the House

• Manage the office and supervise the staff of any deceased, resigned, or expelled Member until a successor is elected

In addition, the Clerk:

• Acts as custodian of all noncurrent records of the House, pursuant to Rule VII in the House Rules

• Is responsible, under the supervision and direction of the U.S. House of Representatives Fine Arts Board, for the administration, maintenance, and display of the works of fine art and other similar property of the Congress for display or for other use in the House wing of the Capitol, the House Office Buildings, or any other location under House control (P.L. 100-696)

• In addition, pursuant to the rules of the United States Preservation Commission, the Clerk may be asked to provide staff support and assistance to the Commission