Clerk of the House of Representatives

The House elected its first Clerk on April 1, 1789, the same day it chose its first Speaker, and the office has existed without interruption since. The Clerk is elected by the full House at the start of each Congress, usually on a party-line vote that follows the majority's nomination, and is one of the chamber's officers along with the Sergeant at Arms and the Chief Administrative Officer. Unlike members, the Clerk carries over between Congresses until a successor is chosen.

The Clerk's office receives bills and resolutions, keeps the House Journal, prints and certifies legislation, enrolls bills passed by both chambers, and operates the electronic voting system used since 1973. It handles official messages to the Senate and the President, keeps the roll of members, and receives lobbying registrations and reports, financial disclosure statements, and foreign travel reports, making them available to the public. When a member dies or resigns, the Clerk manages the vacant office and its staff until a successor is sworn in.

The Clerk's most visible moment comes at the opening of each Congress, when the Clerk presides over the House until a Speaker is elected, since there are no sworn members and no rules yet in effect. That role drew attention in January 2023, when the House needed 15 ballots over four days to choose a Speaker and the Clerk presided throughout. Supporters of the arrangement say a neutral officer provides continuity between Congresses, while some members have argued that the Clerk's limited authority during a long Speaker fight leaves the House unable to act.