Clerk (legislature)

The clerk, chief clerk, or secretary of a legislative chamber is the senior administrative officer responsible for ensuring that its business runs smoothly. This may encompass keeping custody of documents lain before the house, received, or produced; making records of proceedings; allocating office space; enrolling of members, and administering an oath of office. During the first sitting of a newly elected legislature, or when the current presiding officer steps down, they may act as the presiding officer in the election of a new presiding officer such as the speaker or president. The clerk in some cases has a ceremonial role. A clerk may also advise the speaker or members on parliamentary procedure, acting in American parlance as a "parliamentarian".

In the Westminster system, the clerk is usually an apolitical civil servant, and typically attains the position through promotion and retains it until retirement.

In the United States, while clerks are usually nonpartisan, they are often elected by the assembly members at the beginning of each term. At the federal level, and typically at state level, the lower house has a "(chief) clerk" while the upper house has a "secretary".

LegislatureClerk of sole or lower houseClerk of upper houseNotes
Parliament of AustraliaClerkClerk
Parliament of CanadaClerkClerk
Legislative Council of Hong KongClerkN/AUnicameral
Parliament of the United KingdomClerkClerk of the Parliaments
—National Assembly for WalesChief Executive and ClerkN/AUnicameral
—Tynwald (Isle of Man)ClerkN/AUnicameral
United States CongressClerkSecretaryElected every two years.
—California State LegislatureChief ClerkSecretaryElected every two years.
KnessetSecretaryN/AUnicameral

See also
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