What is Dean of the United States House of Representatives?
[[File:Hal Rogers Official Photo 2010.JPG|thumb|right|200px|{{Center|[[Hal Rogers]], House Representative from [[Kentucky]] is the current Dean}}]] The '''Dean of the United States House of Representatives''' is the [[United States House of Representatives|representative]] that has been in office the longest. The current Dean is [[Hal Rogers]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] from [[Kentucky]].<ref name=Clerk>{{cite web |url=http://library.clerk.house.gov/documents/dean.pdf |title=Dean of the House |publisher=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905130043/http://library.clerk.house.gov/documents/dean.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has served in the House since January 3, 1981.<ref name=Clerk/> The Dean is a [[wikt:symbolic|symbolic]] job whose only customary duty is to [[swear in]] a [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] when he or she is [[election|elected]].<ref name=HR>{{cite web |url=http://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Oath-of-Office/ |title=Oath of Office |publisher=United States House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives |access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref> The Dean comes forward on the House Floor to administer (give) the [[oath]] to the Speaker-elect.<ref name=HR/> The new Speaker then administers the oath to the other members.<ref name=HR/> The Dean does not [[wikt:preside|preside]] over the election of the Speaker, unlike the [[Father of the House]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] and the [[Dean of the House (Canada)|Dean]] of the [[Canadian House of Commons]]. Because of other [[wikt:privilege|privilege]]s associated with [[wikt:seniority|seniority]], the Dean is usually given some of the most desirable [[Office|office space]]. The Dean is generally either [[Chairperson|chair]] or [[wikt:rank|rank]]ing [[wikt:minority|minority]] member of an influential [[wikt:committee|committe