Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-102
§26 Roll of Representatives-elect
Title 2 › CHAPTER 2 — ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS › § 26
Summary
Before the first meeting of each Congress, the Clerk of the previous House must make a list of the Representatives-elect and put on it only people whose official papers show they were lawfully elected under state or U.S. law. If the Clerk's job is vacant or the Clerk cannot do it, the Sergeant at Arms of the previous House must do the work.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §26
The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Before the first meeting of each Congress the Clerk of the next preceding House of Representatives shall make a roll of the Representatives-elect, and place thereon the names of those persons, and of such persons only, whose credentials show that they were regularly elected in accordance with the laws of their States respectively, or the laws of the United States. In case of a vacancy in the office of Clerk of the House of Representatives, or of the absence or inability of the Clerk to discharge the duties imposed on him by law or custom relative to the preparation of the roll of Representatives or the organization of the House, those duties shall devolve on the Sergeant at Arms of the next preceding House of Representatives.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 31 derived from acts Feb. 21, 1867, ch. 56, § 1, 14 Stat. 397 and Mar. 3, 1863, ch. 108, 12 Stat. 804. R.S. §§ 32 and 33 derived from act Feb. 21, 1867, ch. 56, § 2, 14 Stat. 397. R.S. § 31 constitutes first sentence; R.S. § 32 constitutes second sentence; and R.S. § 33 constituted the third sentence, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–186. See 1996 Amendment note below.
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–186 struck out third sentence which read as follows: “In case of vacancies in the offices of both the Clerk and the Sergeant at Arms, or of the absence or inability of both to act, the duties of the Clerk relative to the preparation of the roll of the House of Representatives or the organization of the House shall be performed by the Doorkeeper of the next preceding House of Representatives.” See Codification note above.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 26
Title 2, The Congress
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102