Parliamentarian

Two of the most powerful employees of Congress are the Senate and House parliamentarians. These officials are the arbiters of legislative practice in each chamber. Their interpretations of the body's rules and precedents can have a profound impact on the shape of legislation and the course of floor action. The parliamentarian or an assistant is always on the floor during House and Senate sessions, whispering advice to the presiding officer.

The parliamentarians do not officially make rulings. But presiding officers rarely ignore their advice, especially in the Senate, where freshman senators traditionally take the chair. The parliamentarians can often anticipate the points of order and parliamentary inquiries likely to be raised. When they cannot do so, they must be able to offer authoritative on-the-spot advice to the presiding officers. (See Point of Order.)

Parliamentarians also play an important role behind the scenes. As masters of the procedural and technical skills that are the backbone of successful legislating, they are consulted by members of both parties and their staffs. They are acknowledged experts in suggesting ways to route legislation to a sympathetic committee, prepare it for floor debate, and protect it from opposition attacks. The parliamentarians customarily are responsible for referring bills to the committees with appropriate jurisdiction. They also prepare and maintain compilations of the precedents in each chamber.

House parliamentarians build on the work of two House members, Asher Hinds, a Maine Republican who served from 1911 to 1917, and Clarence A. cannon, a Missouri Democrat who served from 1923 to 1964. Senate precedents were compiled by Floyd M. Riddick, Senate parliamentarian from 1965 to 1974.

Parliamentarians are chosen by the leadership of the House and Senate. In the House the parliamentarian is the Speaker's right hand. Lewis Deschler, parliamentarian from 1928 to 1974, was a member of the “Board of Education,” a group of House friends of Speaker Sam Rayburn who met with the Texas Democrat at [Page p333]sundown for drinks and strategy talks. In the Senate, where power is more diffused, parliamentarians have occupied a less central position.