Rules and Practices Governing the Selection of House Officers

Publication Date: February 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

House procedures to elect an officer during a Congress differ from those followed at the start of a Congress. A resolution to elect a replacement officer to fill a vacancy during a Congress is privileged and debatable under the hour rule. By statute, the Speaker has authority to appoint a temporary replacement officer, and in some cases, temporary appointments have continued in effect for the remainder of a Congress. This report discusses these and other parliamentary issues concerning the selection of officers during the course of a Congress. The consultative procedure used in the selection of the current House Chaplain is provided as an example. This report will be updated as necessary.