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1 1 (December 5, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejre0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the Iegitive debate since 1914 Updated December 5, 2022 Administration of the House of Representatives: Actions Taken During a New Congress and Following a Majority Change As seen in Table 1, majority party control in the House of Representatives has switched 11 times since 1910, most recently in 2019 (beginning of the 116th Congress). The results of the November 2022 elections have created another anticipated switch in the majority party in the House for the 118th Congress beginning in January 2023. Table I. Changes in Majority Party Control in the House of Representatives, 1 910-2022 Congress (Years) New Majority 116th (2019-2020) Democratic 112th (2011-2012) Republican II 0th (2007-2008) Democratic 104th (1995-1996) Republican 84th (1955-1956) Democratic 83rd (1953-1954) Republican 81st (1949-1950) Democratic 80th (1947-1948) Republican 72nd (1931-1933) Democratica 66th (1919-1921) Republican 62nd (1911-1913) Democratic Source: U.S. Congress, joint Committee on Printing, Political Divisions of the Senate and House from 1855 to 2020, Official Congressional Directory, I 16th Cong., 2nd sess., S.Pub. 116-4 (Washington: GPO, 2020), p. 570. See also https://history.house.gov/ Institution/Party-Divisions/Party-Divisions/. a. A Republican majority was elected to the 72nd Congress. Prior to the convening of Congress, several Representatives-elect died, leaving a Democratic majority to organize the House. During the period between the November elections and when the new Congress convenes (at noon on January 3, unless a different day is designated by law during the preceding Congress, pursuant to the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution), a new incoming House majority lacks official institutional authority to implement any changes beyond procedures governing the activities of its conference or caucus. Matters relating to chamber rules, officers, staff, office space, and administrative practices remain under the direction of the outgoing majority. While a new incoming majority may lack formal authority to undertake administration of the House prior to the formal convening of the chamber, discussions related to a transition may need to occur prior to the formal assumption of majority status. Decisions about the transition may be made at various times, from the first meetings on early organization of the chamber soon after the general election through the first several weeks of a new Congress. Finally, on the first day of a new Congress, many activities and decisions are required and occur routinely, regardless of whether there was a change in party control. Adoption of Rules Affecting Admirnistrative Issues The majority party routinely takes up adoption of the rules of the House for the new Congress as one of its first actions. Typically, the package of rules the House adopts is similar to the rules adopted in the previous Congress, with certain amendments to previous practices and procedures. In addition to rules related to floor and committee procedures, recent rules changes have also addressed more administrative or operational changes-for example, related to access or use of the Hall of the House, Member records, access to the floor by staff and former Members, use of electronic devices on the floor, public availability of certain documents, and employment policies. Election of Officers and App.ntment of Officials A change in majority party control may result in a change in some of the officers and other officials of the House, who are elected or appointed in accordance with House Rule II. Officers elected by the House currently include the Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chaplain. These officers are elected at the beginning of each Congress to serve until their successors are chosen. In recent practice, the election process has entailed the offering of one resolution containing the majority slate of officers. A member of the minority party often then offers an amendment to the resolution offering a separate slate of candidates for positions other than the Chaplain. The Parliamentarian, General Counsel, Legislative Counsel, Law Revision Counsel, head of the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, and Historian are each appointed by the Speaker. New offices established following the last change in majority party control- including the Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion-are also appointed by the Speaker, in consultation with other specified Members. The Inspector General is jointly appointed by the Speaker and majority and minority leaders. Although some of these positions have been characterized by the lengthy tenure of the incumbents, others have experienced more frequent turnover; but they all serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority. Following some prior transitions, the House has also added or eliminated offices and considered changes to existing office names, organization, structure, or duties.

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