A congressional page is responsible for transporting documents, distributing the daily Congressional Record, assisting in the chambers and cloakrooms, sitting in on Congressional Sessions, and raising and lowering the flag on the capitol’s roof. Although not all congressional pages will perform all of these tasks, they are among the responsibilities of congressional pages. Being a congressional page allows a high school junior to earn money while working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, right in the heart of the United States government.
For more than 150 years, the position of congressional page has existed in the United States government. Senator Daniel Webster appointed the first page in 1829. In 1842, the first house pages were appointed. A woman was not appointed as a congressional page until 1971. The number of pages for the majority party can be double that of the minority party.
The Daniel Webster Page Residence, located near the Hart Senate Office Building, is home to Senate pages. House pages live in the House Page Dormitory, which is conveniently located near the Capitol. The Senate Page School is for congressional pages serving in the Senate for a semester session, while the House Page School is for congressional pages serving in the House for a semester session. Both schools are accredited junior year and college preparatory schools that provide extracurricular activities as well as learning opportunities in Washington, D.C.
Pages are paid on an annual basis, with the cost of living deducted. All evening meals and some breakfasts are included in the residence hall fee. Pages are responsible for purchasing their own uniforms. A congressional page occasionally attends free concerts and shows.
A congressional page must be at least sixteen years old and a high school junior. A congressional page must be sponsored and appointed a member of Congress for either an academic semester or a non-academic semester during the summer. The main criterion for selecting a congressional page is academic standing. A prospective congressional page should have a good memory because delivering documents from the Senate and House, as well as between committees, the Library of Congress, and member’s offices, necessitates recognizing all of their party members.
All congressional pages must apply to be a congressional page, so prospective pages must contact a Representative or Senator for an application. If members of Congress in the area refuse to accept applications, the prospective congressional page can contact a Representative or Senator from another state. Although most congressional pages are affiliated with the same political party as their Member of Congress sponsor, this is not required to become a congressional page.