Congressional parliamentarians

In both the House and Senate, a parliamentarian is appointed to provide members of Congress and their staffs with expertise regarding the intricacies of the legislative processs. The Senate Parliamentarian serves at the pleasure of the Senate Majority Leader, and functions under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate as a non-partisan employee of the Senate. The House Parliamentarian serves with the consent of the Speaker of the House, also in a non-partisan capacity. Alan Frumin was named the Senate Parliamentarian for the 110th Congress. He has served in the position since 2001. John V. Sullivan was named the House Parliamentarian, a position he first began serving in 2004. 

History
The Speaker began naming a parliamentarian in 1927; the Senate first recognized its parliamentarian in 1935. The statutory charter of the Office of Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives may found in the United States Code at title 2, section 287 et seq.

Duties
The parliamentarians in both chambers provide expert, nonpartisan advice and assistance on questions relating to the meaning and application of the respective body’s legislative rules, precedents, and practices. In the House, the parliamentarian is assisted by a deputy parliamentarian, four assistant parliamentarians, and three clerks. In the Senate, the parliamentarian is aided by two senior assistant parliamentarians, the assistant parliamentarian, and the parliamentary assistant. With the help of these aides, the parliamentarians make their knowledge available to all members on the floor during plenary sessions, and from their offices at all other times. 

The most visible service provided by parliamentarians is advising the member presiding over the House or Senate as to the appropriate procedures to be followed, the appropriate ways in which to phrase statements the chair must make, and the appropriate responses by the chair to inquiries made by other members. Whenever the House or Senate is in session, the parliamentarian or one of his/her deputies/assistants is present on the floor. 

For routine situations that can be anticipated in advance, the parliamentarian’s office may prepare written guidance for the members who are presiding to inform them as to what they are expected to say or do to implement the applicable procedures of the House. 

On the basis of rules and precedents, as well as committee juridictions, the parliamentarians recommend the referral of most measures to committee, acting on behalf of the Speaker and Majority leader. The office of the parliamentarian is also responsible for maintaining, compiling, and publishing the rules and precedents of its chamber. The publications for which the Senate office is responsible include the Standing Rules of the Senate and Riddick’s Senate Procedure, a one-volume collection of precedents last published in 1992. The House parliamentarian prepares the biennial editions of the House Rules and Manual, additional volumes in the multi-volume compilation of Deschler-Brown Precedents, and a one-volume House Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House. 

Jurisdiction
As unelected staff officials, the parliamentarians are not empowered to make decisions that are binding on the House or Senate. Rather, they and their deputies/assistants can only offer advice that the presiding representatives may accept or reject; individual members may appeal rulings. 

Resources

 * CRS Report: The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and Senate
 * C-Span description of the House parliamentarian's duties
 * CRS Report - Parliamentary Reference Sources: House of Representatives
 * U.S. House of Representatives - Rules
 * U.S. Senate - Rules