Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
Encyclopedia
The Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives reads bills, motions, and other papers before the House
and keeps track of changes to legislation made on the floor. During the vote for Speaker
at the beginning of each Congress
, or when the electronic voting system fails, the clerk calls the roll of members for a recorded vote
.
Traditionally, the reading clerks are appointed by the leaders of the majority and minority parties. For instance, Paul Hays was appointed by the then-Minority Leader Robert H. Michel
, for the Republican party. Beyond this procedure for appointment, the party status has no significance.
Reading clerks work for the Office of Legislative Operations, one of nine offices that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and keeps track of changes to legislation made on the floor. During the vote for Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
at the beginning of each Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, or when the electronic voting system fails, the clerk calls the roll of members for a recorded vote
Recorded vote
A recorded vote is a vote in which the names of those voting for and against a motion may be recorded.In many deliberative bodies , questions may be decided by voice vote, but the voice vote does not allow one to determine at a later date which members voted for and against the motion...
.
Traditionally, the reading clerks are appointed by the leaders of the majority and minority parties. For instance, Paul Hays was appointed by the then-Minority Leader Robert H. Michel
Robert H. Michel
Robert Henry "Bob" Michel is an American Republican Party politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for 38 years. He represented central Illinois' 18th congressional district, and was the GOP leader in Congress, serving as Minority Leader for 14 years during an era...
, for the Republican party. Beyond this procedure for appointment, the party status has no significance.
Reading clerks work for the Office of Legislative Operations, one of nine offices that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
The Clerk of the United States House of Representatives is an officer of the United States House of Representatives, whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the House....
.
Democratic
| Reading Clerk | Term |
|---|---|
| Meg Goetz Meg Goetz Meg Goetz was the first woman to be appointed as a Reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives, a face familiar to viewers of C-SPAN, the network which covers House proceedings.... |
1981–1998 |
| Mary Kevin Niland Mary Kevin Niland Mary Kevin Niland is a former Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, a face familiar to viewers of C-SPAN, the network which covers House proceedings... |
1998–2008 |
| Jaime Zapata Jaime Zapata Jaime Zapata is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor.He was the Reading Clerk of the U.S. House of Representative during the period July 2008 – June 2009, and the first ever Hispanic in this position. he has also worked as a spokesman for NABE and the... |
2008–2009 |
| Joe Novotny | 2010–present |
Republican
| Reading Clerk | Term |
|---|---|
| Paul Hays Paul Hays Paul Hays was one of two reading clerks of the United States House of Representatives, a face familiar to viewers of C-SPAN, the network which covers House proceedings. The reading clerk reads bills, motions, and other papers before the House and keeps track of changes to legislation made on the... |
1988–2007 |
| Susan Cole | 2007–present |