[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 6. Officers, Officials, and Employees]
[C. House Officers]
[§ 20. Duties of the Doorkeeper]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[Page 606-612]
CHAPTER 6
Officers, Officials, and Employees
C. HOUSE OFFICERS
Sec. 20. Duties of the Doorkeeper
Under Rule V clause 1, of the House Houses and
Manual,(10) the Doorkeeper enforces rules(11)
relating to privileges of the Hall of the House. Under Rule V clause
[[Page 607]]
2,(12) he allows no person to enter the Hall of the House
during sessions, and clears the floor of all persons not privileged to
remain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. See 1 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 260 for the origin of Rule V clause 1.
11. These rules include Rule XXXI House Rules and Manual Sec. 918
(1973) relating to the Hall of the House; and Rule XXXII
clauses 1, 2, House Rules and Manual Sec. 919-921 (1973),
relating to admission to the floor.
12. See 5 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 7295 for the origin of clause 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before the 92d Congress, the Doorkeeper was responsible for making
an inventory of all furniture, books, and other public property in
committee rooms and other spaces.(13) However, the provision
containing this directive, former Rule V clause 2, was deleted in the
general revision of the rules effected by the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1970(14) because the duty of taking
inventories and accounting for custody of furniture and other office
equipment was placed in the Clerk by the House Office Building
Commission.(15)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. See 1 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 261.
14. 84 Stat. 1140.
15. 34 Stat. 1365.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the Sergeant at Arms, the Doorkeeper enforces the
rule(16) relating to behavior of Members on the floor.
Although Jefferson's Manual,(17) states that porters or the
Sergeant at Arms keeps the doors, this duty is executed by the
Doorkeeper and his assistants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Rule XIV clause 7, House Rules and Manual Sec. 763 (1973).
17. House Rules and Manual Sec. 380 (1973).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Speaker in executing his own responsibilities under the rules
imposes on the Doorkeeper duties in addition to those mentioned above.
Thus, pursuant to his authority to exercise general control of the Hall
of the House and corridors thereof under Rule I clause 3, the Speaker
has directed the Doorkeeper to remove a placard posted by a Member in
the lobby of the House,(18) or to clear(19) and
close the galleries.(20)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 262.
19. See Sec. 20.2, 20.3, infra.
20. See Sec. 20.4, infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statutes also impose duties on the Doorkeeper. For example, he
certifies his payroll each month,(1) and he reports position
descriptions of all employee positions under the House Radio and
Television Correspondents' Gallery and the House Periodical Press
Gallery to the Committee on House Administration.(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 2 USC Sec. 89. A violation of this duty is deemed to be a cause for
removal from office (see 2 USC Sec. 90).
2. 2 USC Sec. 294(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Doorkeeper performs supervisory responsibilities, which include
appointing the superintendent of the Document Room(3) and
the superintendent of the Publications Distribution Service (folding
room).(4) The Doorkeeper oversees operations of
[[Page 608]]
a special as assistant,(5) telephone clerks,(6)
doormen, and the pages that serve the House.(7)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. 44 USC Sec. 739.
4. 44 USC Sec. 740.
5. 2 USC Sec. 76a.
6. 2 USC Sec. 76b.
The chief telephone clerk is chosen by the majority; the
assistant chief telephone clerk is chosen by the minority.
7. See annotation to Rule V clause 1, House Rules and Manual Sec. 652
(1973).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, and
Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, the Doorkeeper (a) sells wastepaper and
useless documents that accumulate in his department,(8) and
(b) invoices public documents stored in and about the Capitol at the
convening of each regular session.(9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. 2 USC Sec. 117.
9. 44 USC Sec. 741.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the absence of the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms, certain duties
devolve upon the Doorkeeper including (a) calling the House to order
before election of a Speaker,(10) (b) sending to Governors
certificates of the number of Representatives to which each state is
entitled after each decennial census,(11) and (c) making a
roll of Representatives-elect before the meeting of each
Congress.(12)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Rule III clause 1, House Rules and Manual Sec. 639 (1973). See
Sec. 20.8, infra, in which the Doorkeeper presided at the
commencement of the 80th Congress.
11. 2 USC Sec. 2a(b).
12. 2 USC Sec. 26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the office of the Doorkeeper is declared vacant because of
misconduct of an incumbent, the duties of the Doorkeeper devolve upon
the Sergeant at Arms.(13)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. 1 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 288, 289.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Doorkeeper with the aid of his appointees performs services not
enumerated in the rules or statutes such as furnishing Members with
printed copies of bills, reports, and other documents; conveying
messages from Members; and keeping the Hall, galleries, and committee
rooms in order(14)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. 1 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 262, note
9. -------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Controlling Access to Galleries
Sec. 20.1 The distribution of tickets for seats in the gallery during
special occasions is the responsibility of the Doorkeeper of the
House.
On Feb. 28, 1945,(15) a Member raised an inquiry
concerning distribution of gallery tickets to minority members:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. 91 Cong. Rec. 1594, 79th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. [Clare E.] Hoffman [of Michigan]: Mr. Speaker, I would like
to make an inquiry of the Chair, although
[[Page 609]]
I do not know that it is a parliamentary inquiry. Heretofore, when
tickets have been distributed, there were a certain number of step
tickets. Does the minority get any of those, or do they all go to
the majority?
The Speaker Pro Tempore: (16) That is a double-edged
question. . . . The Chair does not undertake to answer the
question, because no matter how it is answered, it is put in such
manner as would make it appear that tickets have been distributed
in the past contrary to the understanding of the Chair. That matter
is left with the Doorkeeper. who is an officer of the House. . . .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 20.2 The Doorkeeper executes the Speaker's directive to clear the
galleries issued in response to a Member's point of order.
On Jan. 18, 1972,(17) the Speaker, Carl Albert, of
Oklahoma, during a speech by a Member, Bella S. Abzug, of New York,
discussing her resolution to censure the President's conduct of the war
in Indochina, twice admonished spectators that expressions of approval
were not permitted under the rules. When all persons in one gallery
stood and displayed signs indicating approval of proceedings on the
floor, the Speaker ordered the galleries cleared.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. 118 Cong. Rec. 9, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Speaker: The Chair reminds our guests in the galleries that
the Chair must enforce the rules of the House and that
demonstrations from the galleries will not be permitted. . . .
Point of Order
Mr. [Durward G.] Hall, [of Missouri]: Mr. Speaker, I demand
that the gallery be cleared.
The Speaker: The Chair will not tolerate demonstrations of
approval or disapproval in the galleries.
Mr. Hall: Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that our guests
and those in the galleries are not in order. I request that the
gallery be cleared.
The Speaker: The gentleman's point is well taken. The galleries
will be cleared.
Parliamentarian's Note: The Doorkeeper cleared the gallery pursuant
to the Speaker's directive. See 2 Hinds' Precedents Sec. 1352 for an
instance in 1836 wherein the Speaker had ordered the galleries cleared.
Sec. 20.3 The Doorkeeper executed the Speaker's order to clear certain
spectator galleries but not others, as announced at the
commencement of the day's sitting.
On May 9, 1972,(18) the Speaker, Carl Albert, of
Oklahoma, ordered some spectator galleries to be cleared.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. 118 Cong. Rec. 16287, 92d Cong. 2d Sess
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Speaker: The Chair desires to make the announcement that
the
[[Page 610]]
Chair did not order the clearing of the galleries except those on
the Chair's left, where there was disorder.
Parliamentarian's Note: This order was given because some persons
protesting the President's announcement on May 8, 1972, to mine the
North Vietnamese harbor caused disorder in the galleries.
Sec. 20.4 The Doorkeeper executes the Speaker's order to close the
galleries in anticipation of disturbances.
On May 10, 1972,(19) the Speaker, Carl Albert, of
Oklahoma, ordered the galleries to be closed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. 118 Cong. Rec. 16576, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Speaker: The Chair desires to make a statement.
The Chair has received intelligence from the police force and
other responsible authorities that there will be disturbances in
the gallery today. On the basis of this information and their
recommendation the Chair has ordered that the galleries be closed
to the public for the time being.
Parliamentarian's Note: This decision, made after consultation with
the Majority and Minority Leaders and the Parliamentarian, was based on
reports from the Capitol Police that certain persons would demonstrate
in the gallery against the Indochina war. The galleries were closed by
the Doorkeeper from the commencement of business at 12:00 meridian
until 2:52 p.m. when they were reopened.
Sec. 20.5 The Doorkeeper confiscated the film of a visitor who was
ordered to leave the gallery for photographing the Members while in
session.
On Feb. 22, 1942,(20) a visitor was ordered to remove
himself or his camera because he was taking pictures from the gallery.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. 88 Cong. Rec. 2152, 77th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Speaker [Sam Rayburn, of Texas]: The Chair understands
there is a camera in the gallery. Whoever has that camera will
remove the camera or remove themselves and the camera immediately.
That is a violation of the rules of the House.
The film in the camera of the person taking the pictures was
confiscated by the Doorkeeper.
Closing or Locking Doors
Sec. 20.6 Upon a personal instruction by the Speaker during a call of
the House under former Rule XV clause 2, the Doorkeeper locked all
exits from the House Chamber and removed doorknobs from cloakroom
doors to prevent Members from leaving during a call of the House.
[[Page 611]]
On Oct. 8, 1968,(1) the Speaker ordered the doors to the
Chamber closed and locked during a call of the House under former Rule
XV clause 2, and instructed the Doorkeeper to enforce the rule and let
no Members leave the Hall.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 114 Cong. Rec. 30093, 90th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chair personally instructed the Doorkeepers to lock all exits
from the House Chamber and to prohibit Members from leaving during the
call of the House. Doors leading from the Chamber to the Speaker's
lobby, as well as those opening from the cloakrooms to the north
corridor in the House wing were locked. Doorknobs were removed in the
cloakrooms to prevent doors being opened.
The Speaker [John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts]: The
Doorkeeper will close the doors, the Sergeant at Arms will notify
absent Members, and the Clerk will call the roll.
Mr. [John H.] Dent [of Pennsylvania]: Mr. Speaker, a point of
order, which relates to the call of the roll. . . .
. . . The point of order is the doors were ordered closed, and
the doors to the outside of the Chamber are open in the cloakrooms.
The Speaker: The Chair has given instructions to close all
doors and allow no Members out.
Parliamentarian's Note: The Speaker's order to lock the doors was
permitted under former Rule XV clause 2; the rule in its present form
refers merely to the doors being ``closed'' when so ordered by the
Speaker. Rule XV clause 2(b).
Sec. 20.7 When proceedings under a call of the House pursuant to Rule
XV clause 2 are dispensed with, doors to the Chamber are reopened
by the Doorkeeper without further instructions from the Chair.
On Oct. 8, 1968,(2) a Member raised a parliamentary
inquiry concerning doors locked during a call of the House:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. 114 Cong. Rec. 30093, 90th Cong. 2d Sess
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. [Craig] Hosmer [of California]: Mr. Speaker, I have a
parliamentary inquiry.
The Speaker [John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts]: The
gentleman will state it.
Mr. Hosmer: Mr. Speaker, a point of order having been made of
no quorum, a quorum having been called, and a quorum having been
found present, and the further proceedings under the call having
been dispensed with, does that mean that the doors of the House are
now unlocked?
The Speaker: The gentleman is correct.
Doorkeeper as Presiding Officer
Sec. 20.8 In the absence of the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms,
[[Page 612]]
the Doorkeeper calls the House to order when a Congress convenes
and presides until a Speaker is elected and takes the chair.
On Jan. 3, 1947,(3) the Doorkeeper, Ralph R. Roberts,
called the House to order at the commencement of the 80th Congress and
presided until a Speaker was elected because the Clerk of the 79th
Congress had died and the Sergeant at Arms was absent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. 93 Cong Rec. 33-35, 80th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------