If you've watched C-SPAN, you've probably seen a number of people other than Senators on the floor. In addition to the senators, a variety of Senate staff may be seen within the chamber at any given time. Who are they?
At the desk immediately in front of the presiding officer sit the parliamentarian, the legislative clerk, the journal clerk, and often the executive clerk and bill clerk. The parliamentarian advises the presiding officer and the Senate as a whole on rules and precedents. The legislative clerk reads the bills and resolutions, and calls the roll of the senators for voting and quorum calls. The others receive and process materials relating to legislation, nominations, and treaties, for publication in official journals.
In addition, reporters of debates can be seen recording everything spoken on the Senate floor to be transcribed and published in the next day's Congressional Record. Seats near the rostrum are also reserved for the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms. Similarly, the majority and minority party secretaries will be on the floor, along with staff members of the senators participating in the debate. The young people sitting on either side of the presiding officer's desk are the Pages, high school students who run errands for the senators and staff.
C-SPAN's "Capitol Questions" - host Ilona Nickles answers questions about the Senate and the Congress from young people around the world.
Extra Credit View a recent edition of the Congressional Record (This link will take you to Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress. You will need to click your BACK button to return to this page.)
