As Matthew Berry takes the reins as the new House general counsel under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, those who have been Congress’ top lawyer, dating back to the first to hold the post in the 70s, argue he’s inheriting a unique role impacted by the office’s legacy work.

With the Republican majority set on investigating President Joe Biden and Democrats for what they perceive as an overreach from the Jan. 6 committee and beyond, Berry, as new House general counsel, will be tasked with authoring subpoenas and briefs executing their requests if negotiations fail. But the office itself has humble beginnings, and while its nonpartisan nature was arguably tested over the last several years, questions remain as to how much power Congress, via House general counsel action, will wield.