What system is used to select office assignments in the House?

The correct answer is the lottery system, which is employed to assign office spaces to members of the House of Representatives. This method is designed to ensure fairness and randomness, especially when space is limited, and there is a need for an equitable process among the varying seniority levels of the representatives.

Using a lottery system helps mitigate potential conflicts and ensures that every member, regardless of their tenure or influence, has an equal chance of receiving a desirable office assignment. This is particularly important in maintaining a balanced environment in the House, where newer members might compete for space alongside more established ones.

In contrast, while methods such as seniority, appointment by the Speaker, or a bid system might be related to other aspects of legislative operations, they do not apply to the selection process for office assignments in the House. Seniority could favor longer-serving individuals, and appointment by the Speaker would centralize power rather than distributing it fairly. A bid system might introduce competition but would not guarantee fairness among all members, especially those who are newly elected.