By Friday afternoon and the fourth day of voting, and after lengthy behind-the-scenes negotiations, more than a dozen of those Republicans flipped in favour of McCarthy in the 12th ballot.

But faced with the remaining holdouts, the California Republican still lacks a majority to become House speaker, and he was denied in both the 12th and a subsequent 13th ballot.

Photos from inside the House chamber show the growing frustration – and boredom – with the proceedings.

The four-day standstill means that the House currently has zero members. It cannot swear-in lawmakers, introduce any bills, or pass legislation until a speaker is elected.

Basic functioning of the members’ offices, such as committee work and constituent services have also been brought to a halt.

Congressmen Hal Rogers (left) and Steve Womack listen to the 11th round of votes for House speaker on Thursday. Photo: AP

Republican congressman Blake Moore of Utah was photographed slumped in his seat on Day 2.

Moore, who voted for McCarthy, told CNN on Tuesday that Republicans, “for better or worse, notoriously, don’t always fall in line”.

On Day 3, congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California, apparently took to reading comics on the House floor.

Other members of Congress read the newspaper.

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez plays a game on her tablet before the start of the ninth vote for House speaker in Washington on Thursday. Photo: AP

Before the ninth vote began on Thursday, congresswoman Linda Sanchez played a game on her tablet.

Sanchez tweeted on Wednesday that McCarthy was having a “terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day”, a reference to the classic children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Republican congressman Steve Womack was photographed yawning during the 11th round of votes.

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Congresswoman Nancy Mace brought her dog, Libby, to the House floor as she voted to adjourn at the end of the third day.

When asked by a reporter if dogs were allowed in the House chamber, Mace replied that “there are no rules right now”, the Independent reported.

“I don’t know if we will get there today, but we are going to make progress,” McCarthy told Bloomberg News reporter Erik Wasson as he entered the Capitol on Friday, the fourth day of voting.