Staffing Insights

18+4 Framework

The stafing cap in a House Member’s office was codified in 2 U.S.C. § 5321 at 18 permanent and 4 non-permanet staff in the 1970s

2 U.S.C. § 5321 (excerpt)
“Until otherwise provided by law, the number of employees who may be employed by each Representative in the House…shall not exceed 18 permanent employees and 4 additional employees…”

MRA Budgets

Members have one pot of money, known as the Member's Representational Allowance which covers 5 components:
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STAFF PAY | SUPPLIES | MAIL | RENT | TRAVEL

Though their budgets are formulated by estimating costs for these five components, Members can choose to spend their MRA however they wish. So, a Member could spend $0 on supplies to be able to spend more on staff, but they can not exceed the 18+4 limit or the MRA budgeted amount.

Typical Staffing

All Member Offices have a Chief of Staff. From there, because of the 18 + 4 limitation and the use of multiple roles for staff, most offices have the roles of Legislative Director and Communications Director but can look like Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director, etc. This makes it difficult to show a typical org chart, however the 20 permanent roles here do capture the typical makeup of an office.

Staffing History

Early 1900s

Most Members employed only a handful of staff in both the DC and district offices. Given no cap, each Member’s staffing was limited by appropriations.

1946 Legislative Reorganization Act

Recognizing the need to have more staff support, the Act authorized each Member to hire additional aides, though it did not set a limit.

Post-War to 1970s

Post-war appropriations expanded staff resources. The 1970 and later House Rules changes responded to increased workload by formalizing and capping the maximum number of staff positions. By the mid-1970s, the House had moved toward the principle of a defined “ceiling” on personal staff. The specifics (18 full-time plus 4 part-time or temporary) became the widely recognized standard though not codified into law.

Codification in 2 U.S.C. § 5321

Over time, House practices and appropriations measures were consolidated and codified, ultimately landing in 2 U.S.C. § 5321. Although precise year-to-year adjustments in personal staff ceilings have sometimes fluctuated through House Rules or annual appropriations, the “18 + 4” framework has remained in place for decades.