The House op Representatives

The membership of the House is 435. By the Constitution each State is entitled to at least one representative and all beyond this minimum number are apportioned among the states according to population. The only constitutional limitation is that the number must not exceed one representative to each 30,000 of population, and within this limit, Congress has the say as to the size of the House.

The members of the House do not have individual seats, any member may sit where he chooses. Democrats occupy the east side of the chamber — on the Speaker's right, Republicans sit across-the main aisle on the Speaker's left.

The officers of the House include Speaker, Chaplain, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper and Postmaster. Each of these elective officers appoints any employees provided by law for his department.

The Speaker of the House is nominated at a party caucus and chosen by the members of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the House presides over the House, appoints the chairman to preside over the Committee of the Whole, appoints all special or select committees, appoints Conference Commit­tees, has the power of recognition of members, makes many impor­tant rulings and decisions in the House. The Speaker may vote, but usually does not, except in case of tie. The Speaker and the majority leader determine the administration policies in the House, often confer with the President, and are regarded as spokesmen for the Administration if they and the President belong to the same political party.

The sergeant-at-arms has a special symbol of office, the mace.

During sessions, the flag is raised over the House wing of the Capitol. The mace is on its pedestal. At night, if either House is in session, a light is burning in the dome.

The sergeant-at-arms has the mace properly placed on its pedestal to the Speaker's right; it remains there while the House is in session except when it is being borne by the sergeant-at-­arms to enforce order on the floor. The mace is a symbol, not an implement, and its solemn exhibition is sufficient.

The whips (of the majority and minority parties) keep track of all important political legislation and endeavor to have all members of their parties present when important measures are to be voted upon. When the vote is likely to be close they check up, find out who is out of the city, and advise absentees by wire of the important measures coming up.

When the House meets, the Speaker calls the members to order and the sergeant-at-arms places, the mace on the pedestal at the right of the Speaker's platform. It is the symbol of author­ity of the House. Then the chaplain offers prayers. Next the clerk reads the Journal of the preceding day's activities. Members of the committees make reports-of bills and then the House is ready to consider the bill left unfinished the day before or take up a new bill on the calendar, if there be no unfinished business.

When any Member means to speak, he is to stand up in his place and to address himself, not to the House or any particular member, but to the Speaker.

The length of time depends upon the matter before the House or the circumstances bringing it up, but in no event is a member of the House allowed to proceed longer than one hour without unanimous consent.

In the House of Representatives a quorum is a majority of the membership. When there are no vacancies in the membership a quorum is 218. There are usually a few vacancies - members who have died or have resigned and their places are yet unfilled. So an actual quorum is usually a little under that figure. Much business is transacted without a quorum. But no business of any character, except to adjourn, can be transacted without a quorum present if any member objects. A majority of the mem­bership also constitutes a quorum to do business in the Senate.

Votes are taken in the House in four different ways. Usually the Speaker puts the question in this form: "As many as are in favor (of the motion) say “Aye" and then, "As many as are opposed say “No" In most instances the vote taken is de­cisive enough to satisfy. But if the Speaker or any member is in doubt, or if it sounds close, any member may ask for a divi­sion. In this case the Speaker asks those in favor to stand up and be counted; then those opposed to the proposition to stand up and be counted. The Speaker does the counting and announces the result. But if there is still doubt, or if a demand is made by one-fifth of a quorum - that is, twenty in the Committee of the Whole or forty-four in the House - tellers are appointed to make the count. The two tellers take their place at the head of the center aisle. All members favoring the proposition walk be­tween the tellers and are counted. Then those opposed walk between and are counted. This vote settles most questions.

If a roll call is ordered, the clerk reads (he names of the whole membership, and as his or her name is called the member answers "Aye" or "No". The names of those not voting the first time are read a second time, so that all members in corridors, cloakrooms, committee rooms or offices, who have been notified of a roll call by signal bells, may come in and vote.

The standing committees of the House of Representatives are as follows: Agriculture; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking and Financial Services, Budget; Commerce; Education and Workforce; Government Reform and Oversight; House Admin­istration; International Relations; Judiciary; Resources; Rules; Science; Small Business; Standards of Official Conduct; Transportation and Infrastructure; Veterans’ Affairs; Ways and Means.