Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives

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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.

List

Democratic

Reading Clerk Term
Meg Goetz 1981–1998
Mary Kevin Niland 1998–2008
Jaime Zapata 2008–2009
Joe Novotny[1] 2010–present

Republican

Reading Clerk Term
Joe Bartlett 1955–1971
Bob Berry 1971–1988
Paul Hays 1988–2007
Susan Cole[2] 2007–present

References

  1. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/03/08/first-openly-gay-u-s-house-reading-clerk-relishes-role/
  2. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/03/01/susan-cole-to-give-commencement-address-at-apsu/

External links