First job for Conyers as dean of House: Swear in speaker

For the first time in 20 years, John Dingell won't be administering the oath of office to the House speaker.

Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat who first came to Congress in 1965, is now dean of the House — the title bestowed to the chamber's longest continuously serving member. His main responsibility Tuesday is to swear in the speaker of the 114th Congress, who is expected to again be Rep. John Boehner despite a challenge from some unhappy GOP conservatives.

Conyers, 85, is also the first African-American lawmaker to serve as dean of the House.

Dingell, a Democrat who retired when the 113th Congress officially ended last week, swore in four House speakers while he was dean. Newt Gingrich was the first in 1995, followed by Dennis Hastert, Nancy Pelosi and then Boehner.

Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in history, is expected to be on hand when the new lawmakers are sworn in to office. Debbie Dingell was elected to succeed her husband in Michigan's 12th congressional district.

Another tenure-related title will take effect in the Senate. Utah's Orrin Hatch, the most senior Republican in the upper chamber, is now Senate president pro tempore. The constitutional office, usually held by the longest-serving senator of the majority party, puts Hatch third in line to the presidency behind the vice president and House speaker. Hatch has been in the Senate since 1977.