In its modern form House Rule II, which delineates the elected officers and appointed officials of the House, dates to 1999. A rule or clause governing these House positions has existed since 1789, and has undergone a number of revisions over the years, adding and replacing certain officers and officials and clarifying their responsibilities.
DownloadHouse Rule II (PDF).
House Rule II outlines the duties of seven officers and officials: theClerk of the House, theSergeant-at-Arms, and theChaplain, which all date to 1789, as well as theChief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of the Historian, and the Office of General Counsel, all of which were created during the twentieth century. The Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the CAO, and the Chaplain are elected by the Members, while the Speaker appoints the remaining three—the Inspector General, the Historian, and the General Counsel. Two other officials, the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Office of Law Revision Counsel, are also appointed by the Speaker, but their jurisdiction comes from federal statute rather than House Rules.
The General Counsel is a nonpartisan official whose office provides legal advice and assistance to Members, committees, officers, and employees of the House.
The Historian of the House is a nonpartisan official appointed by the Speaker to compile and disseminate information about the history of the House. The Historian’s Office serves as a source of institutional memory for Members and staff, and as a resource for the general public.
The Inspector General (IG) audits the financial records and administrative practices of the House’s Officers and joint congressional entities, providing periodic reports to House leadership.
The Office of Legislative Counsel provides nonpartisan and impartial technical advice to Members and committees in the drafting of bills, resolutions, and amendments at all stages of the legislative process.
The Office of Law Revision Counsel compiles, revises, and publishes the United States Code, which arranges all general and permanent U.S. laws by subject matter.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “Appointed Officials of the House,”https://history.house.gov/People/Appointed-Officials/Appointed-Officials/(February 13, 2026)
Office of the Historian
Office of Art and Archives
Attic, Thomas Jefferson Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 226-1300
