LEGAL COUNSEL FOR CONGRESS - PROTECTING INSTITUTIONAL INTERESTS

Traditionally, scholars have noted the predominance of lawyers serving in staff support positions and as elected members of the United State s Congress. This article explores yet another aspect of the legislativ e-judicial connection, namely, the roles of the Senate Legal Counsel a nd the General Counsel in the House of Representatives. Based on inter views, historical documents and court submissions, I examine the devel opment of the offices with particular attention to their work in prote cting the interests of both individual members of Congress and the ins titution in the judicial arena. In conclusion, I argue that the increm ental development of the General Counsel's office and the lack of form al rules and procedures governing its activity have given rise to part isan conflict over the office's role as the legal voice for the House of Representatives, a conflict that has not been evidenced in the stat utorily-based office of the Senate Legal Counsel.