MEDIA COVERAGE RULES
OVERVIEW
Congress requires the Radio-Television Correspondents’ Galleries accredit all members of the electronic news media covering Capitol Hill.
Gallery credentials are required for news coverage inside the Capitol or on Capitol grounds.
Out of town reporters are not eligible for regular membership and should contact the House or Senate Gallery staffs for temporary credentials. The House Gallery number is 202-225-5214 and the Senate Gallery number is 202-224-6421.
Congressional Radio-TV Gallery credentials may be used only when covering news stories. They may not be used to gain access to Capitol grounds or buildings when working for non-news clients or for other unrelated purposes.
Rules of Congress prohibit Gallery members from engaging in lobbying, advertising, publicity or promotion work for any individual, corporation, organization or government.
Equipment must never be left unattended within the U.S. Capitol campus.
Gallery members must follow the directions of Senate and House Gallery staff at all times.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SHOOTING INSIDE THE CAPITOL – HOUSE SIDE
Shooting video on the House side of the Capitol building is allowed with permission in designated areas including the Hall of Columns (portable only), Center Steps (tripod only), and HVC-304 (tripod only).
Shooting video on the House side of the Capitol building is allowed without permission in designated areas including the Will Rogers Statue (tripod only with cameras pointing away from the door), HVC Spiral Staircase (portable only), HVC-217 Hallway (portable only) and behind stanchions in the HC-5 Hallway (portable only).
Video is not allowed around the 2nd and 3rd floors of the House Chamber.
Shooting any video of the chamber is prohibited.
HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING RULES
Shooting portable video inside the public areas of the House office buildings (Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn) is allowed at all times as long as it doesn’t interfere with the safety of staff and visitors.
Shooting video on a tripod without Gallery permission is only allowed in the Cannon Rotunda on the House side.
SHOOTING OUTDOORS IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX – HOUSE SIDE
Shooting video portably outside of the Capitol building is allowed throughout the complex with the exception of the House Carriage entrance underneath the East Front steps.
At the carriage entrance, portable cameras may stand by the nearest lamppost. Reporters and producers are not required to stand next to the lamppost and have free movement.
Shooting video on a tripod on Capitol grounds is allowed without Gallery permission only on the grassy areas (with the exception of the Memorial Doors grassy exterior), House Elm Tree, and House Triangle locations.
TRIPOD STAKEOUT RULES
If the House Gallery approves a tripod stakeout, unattended tripods may not be used to reserve camera positions.
Reporters and producers are not required to remain inside the tripod stakeout area, just the cameras.
STANDUPS – HOUSE SIDE
Standups are allowed wherever video cameras are allowed, unless specifically prohibited (i.e. mandated pool stakeout). Some areas allow portable video cameras that could be used for standups; the restriction against tripods would still apply.
Media should contact the House Gallery for any questions about where standups are allowed.
CANNON ROTUNDA
Interior camera positions inside Cannon Rotunda can be used on a first come, first serve basis. Tripods are allowed here.
Balconies must be booked through the House Gallery staff.
Additionally, when using this area, cameras are to be setup in such a way as to allow one foot of egress behind their setup.
HOUSE HEARINGS
Coverage of House hearings must be arranged through the Gallery.
TV pool coverage may be mandated in cases of camera numbers exceeding committee-imposed camera limits.
Camera positions will generally be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. However, Gallery staff may give preferred positions to organizations providing live or pool coverage.
All electronic equipment must be installed at least 15 to 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to begin, depending on the committee. If you are late, you may not be allowed to set up.
Tripods and microphones may not be broken down or removed during a hearing except during a break or recess in the hearing. Cameras may be removed from tripods for cutaways in some hearing rooms.
Unattended tripods may not be used to reserve camera positions inside a committee hearing room.
Rules for cutaway crews during hearings vary, depending on the committee. In
crowded hearings, crews may be required to rotate into the room to shoot cutaways.
HOUSE GALLERY STUDIOS RULES
Current members of Congress, the Vice President, and witnesses testifying that day at a congressional hearing may be interviewed in the House Gallery studios.
All members must be invited to appear in the House Gallery studios except for the Speaker of the House, House Majority Leader, House Minority Leader, and the Vice President.
Appearances in HVC Studio A must be at the invitation of a current member of the Radio-Television Gallery.
HVC Studio B requires an invitation from any member of any Congressional News Gallery.
Members of the Galleries who issue an invitation for a news conference must be present for the event. Television organizations who issue invitations also must cover the event with a camera.
News conferences in the House Gallery studios with Representatives in their respective take precedence over other uses of the studios.
The House Gallery studios are open during news conferences to accredited reporters and technicians, Members of Congress, and staff of participating congressional offices.
The galleries are not available to outside groups and political campaigns for use.
Family members may accompany their Members in the House Gallery Studios at the discretion of Gallery staff if space allows.
Appropriate attire and professional behavior are expected at all times.
ATTIRE
House rules require appropriate and professional attire for access to the
Speaker’s Lobby (For example, men are required to wear a jacket and tie, and women may wear suits, skirts and slacks).
RADIO COVERAGE
Radio coverage is allowed throughout the U.S. Capitol complex, including the Speaker’s Lobby in designated areas.
SENATE
SHOOTING INSIDE THE CAPITOL – SENATE SIDE
Shooting video on the Senate side of the Capitol is only allowed when tripod stakeouts are approved through the Senate Radio-TV Gallery. This includes the Ohio Clock Corridor on the 2nd floor of the Senate and the Capitol end of the Senate Subway.
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING RULES
Shooting portable video inside the public areas of the Senate office buildings (Russell, Dirksen, Hart) are allowed as long as it doesn’t interfere with the safety of staff and visitors.
SHOOTING OUTDOORS IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX – SENATE SIDE
Shooting video portably outside of the Capitol building is allowed throughout the complex with the exception of the Senate Carriage entrance underneath the East Front steps.
At the carriage entrance, the nearest portable cameras may stand is at the lamppost.
Reporters and producers are not required to stand next to the lamppost and have free movement.
Shooting video on a tripod on the Senate side of the Capitol grounds is allowed without gallery permission only on grassy areas and the Senate Swamp location.
TRIPOD STAKEOUT RULES
If the Senate Gallery approves a stakeout, tripods may be used. However, unattended tripods may not be used to reserve camera positions.
Reporters and producers are not required to remain inside the tripod stakeout area just the cameras.
STANDUPS – SENATE SIDE
Standups are allowed wherever video cameras are allowed, unless specifically prohibited (i.e. mandated pool stakeout). Some areas allow portable video cameras that could be used for standups; the restriction against tripods would still apply.
Media should contact the Senate Gallery for any questions about where standups are allowed.
RUSSELL ROTUNDA
Interior camera positions inside Russell Rotunda can be used on a first come, first serve basis. Tripods are allowed here.
SENATE HEARINGS
Coverage of Senate hearings must be arranged through the Senate Radio-TV Gallery.
TV Pool coverage may be mandated in cases of heavily attended hearings.
Camera positions will generally be assigned on a first come, first served basis. However, the Gallery staff may give preferred positions to organizations providing live or pool coverage.
All electronic equipment must be installed at least 15 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to begin. If you are late, you may not be allowed to set up.
Tripods and microphones may not be broken down or removed during a hearing except during a break or recess in the hearing. Cameras may be removed from tripods for cutaways in some hearing rooms.
Unattended tripods may not be used to reserve camera positions inside a committee hearing room.
Rules for cutaway crews during hearings vary, depending on the committee. In
crowded hearings, crews may be required to rotate into the room to shoot cutaways.
SENATE STUDIO RULES
Senators news conferences in the Senate Gallery studio take precedence over other uses of the studios.
The Senate Gallery studio is open during news conferences to accredited reporters and technicians, Members of Congress, and staff of participating congressional offices.
Family members may accompany their Members in the House and Senate Gallery Studios at the discretion of the Gallery staff if space allows.
Only current members of Congress and the Vice President may be interviewed or make statements in the Senate Gallery studio.
Appearances on the Senate side may be at the invitation of any member of any Congressional News Gallery.
Members of the Galleries who issue invitations for news conferences must be present in the Galleries during interviews.
All members must be invited to appear in the Senate Gallery except for the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and the Vice President.
The galleries are not available to outside groups and political campaigns for use.
A witness testifying at a hearing can give interviews from Russell Rotunda or the Senate swamp locations only on the day of his or her testimony.
These restrictions do not apply to interviews given by credentialed members of the Congressional News Galleries.
ATTIRE
Professional business attire is required for access to the Senate Chamber. Please see Radio-TV Gallery staff for updated guidelines.
RADIO COVERAGE
Radio coverage is allowed throughout the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol.
CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
Shooting video is only allowed with prior approval from the Senate and House Radio and TV Galleries.