{{Short description|Employee of the United States House of Representatives}}{{Infobox official post | post = Reading Clerks of the United States House of Representatives | body = | incumbentsince = | image = 200px <br> '''Republican'''<br>'''Susan Cole'''<br>since 2007<br>200px <br> '''Democratic'''<br>'''Tylease Alli'''<br>since 2021 | insignia = File:Seal of the United States House of Representatives.svg | department = United States House of Representatives<br> Office of Legislative Operations | inaugural = Edward W. Barber (Democratic) <br> William K. Mehaffey (Republican) }}
The '''reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives''' reads bills, motions, and other papers before the House and keeps track of changes to legislation made on the floor. During the vote for Speaker at the beginning of each Congress, or when the electronic voting system fails, the clerk calls the roll of members for a recorded vote.{{United States House of Representatives}}Traditionally, the reading clerks are appointed by the leaders of the majority and minority parties. For instance, Paul Hays was appointed by the then-Minority Leader Robert H. Michel, for the Republican party.
Reading clerks work for the Office of Legislative Operations, one of nine offices that fall under the jurisdiction of the clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
== List of reading clerks == <div style=display:inline-grid> === Democratic === {| class="wikitable" ! style="width:10em;" | Reading Clerk ! style="width:7em;" | Term |- | Edward W. Barber | 1863–1869 |- | Charles N. Clisbee | 1869–1875<br>1881–1883 |- | T. O. Walker | 1883–1885 |- | Thomas S. Pettit | 1875–1881<br>1885–1889<br>1893–1895 |- | John A. Reeve | 1889–1893 |- | Elbert L. Lampson | 1895–1911 |- | Patrick Joseph Haltigan | 1911–1937 |- | Roger M. Calloway | 1937–1943 |- | George J. Maurer | 1943–1965 |- | {{nowrap|Charles W. Hackney Jr.}} | 1965–1982 |- | Meg Goetz | 1982–1998 |- | Mary Kevin Niland | 1998–2008 |- | Jaime Zapata | 2008–2009 |- | Joe Novotny<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/03/08/first-openly-gay-u-s-house-reading-clerk-relishes-role/|title=First openly gay U.S. House reading clerk relishes role|website=Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights|date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> | 2010–2021 |- | Tylease Alli<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/blog/bowie-resident-appointed-as-u-s-house-reading-clerk/|title=Bowie Resident Appointed as U.S. House Reading Clerk|website=Maryland Matters|date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref> | 2021–''present'' |} </div> <div style=display:inline-grid>
=== Republican === {| class="wikitable" ! style="width:10em;" | Reading Clerk ! style="width:7em;" | Term |- | William K. Mehaffey | 1867–1875 |- | Neill S. Brown Jr. | 1875–1889<br>1893–1895 |- | John Snyders Kenyon | 1881–1883 |- | Azro J. Maxham | 1889–1891 |- | James C. Broadwell | 1891–1893 |- | R. S. Hatcher | 1895–1897 |- | Dennis E. Alward | 1897–1913 |- | H. Martin Williams | 1913–1919 |- | Alney E. Chaffee | 1919–1957 |- | Joe Bartlett | 1953–1978 |- | Bob Berry | 1978–1987 |- | Paul Hays | 1988–2007 |- | Susan Cole<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/03/01/susan-cole-to-give-commencement-address-at-apsu/|title=Susan Cole to give commencement address at APSU|date=2009-03-01|website=Clarksville, TN Online|access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref> | 2007–''present'' |} </div>
== References == <references />
== External links == * [http://clerk.house.gov/about/offices_legis.aspx Brief snippet about the role on the House's official site] * [https://books.google.com/books?id=AkTVAAAAMAAJ&dq=Edward+W.+Barber+reading+clerk&pg=PA212 Brief biography from Edward W. Barber. Use at later date to add information. Gives clarification about length of his tenure.]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reading Clerk Of The United States House Of Representatives}} Category:Employees of the United States House of Representatives