Jonah Patel
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, commonly known as the Speaker of the House or House Speaker, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker's role within the House has seen some important changes since 1789. The Speaker's duties are not explicitly listed in the Constitution, but they are outlined in various House rules and guidelines. The Speaker is the political and parliamentary leader of the House and is responsible for maintaining decorum and presiding over the business of the House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Selection Process | The Speaker is selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets, and the House confirms the selection by individual voice votes. |
| Term of Office | The Speaker's term expires at the end of their term as a Member of the House. |
| Role | The Speaker is the majority political party leader in the House, the presiding officer, and the de facto leader of the body's majority party. They also perform various administrative and procedural functions. |
| Voting Rights | The Speaker has the right to vote on business as a representative from a Congressional district. |
| Negotiation and Legislation | The Speaker is the key negotiator between the House and the President and with the Senate. They play a role in originating and passing legislation and controlling "the power of the purse" to tax and spend taxpayer money. |
| Succession | The Speaker is second in line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. |
| Disability | The Speaker plays a role in the 25th Amendment's process in the event of a presidential disability. |
| Duties | The Speaker calls to order and approves the Journal, refers bills and matters to the committee, disposes of business, designates a Speaker pro tempore, and appoints Chairmen of the Committee of the Whole. They recognize Members, state questions in prescribed form, supervise the timing of debates and proceedings, and rule on points of order and parliamentary inquiries. |
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What You'll Learn
The Speaker is the leader of the majority political party in the House
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or House Speaker, is the leader of the majority political party in the House. The Speaker is one of the most important elected officials in Washington, serving in several major constitutional roles.
The Speaker's role was established in 1789 by Article I, Section II of the US Constitution, which states that the "House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker." However, the Constitution does not provide many details about the position or the selection process. The Speaker is typically chosen during party meetings before a new Congress meets, and the House confirms the selection through individual voice votes.
As the leader of the majority party, the Speaker holds significant influence over the House's legislative agenda. They control the order of institutional business on the House floor and play a crucial role in negotiating with the President, the Senate, and the House in passing legislation. The Speaker is also second in line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and is involved in the 25th Amendment's process regarding presidential disability.
In addition to their legislative and political duties, the Speaker performs various administrative and procedural functions within the House. They call to order and approve the Journal, refer bills to committees, dispose of business on the Speaker's table, and designate a Speaker pro tempore or acting Speaker in their absence. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining decorum in the House and has the authority to enforce House rules through the Sergeant-at-Arms.
While the Constitution does not require the Speaker to be an incumbent member of the House, every Speaker thus far has been a representative. As a member of the House, the Speaker also represents their district and retains the right to vote on business as needed.
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The Speaker controls the order of business on the House floor
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, also known as the Speaker of the House or House Speaker, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The position was established in 1789 by Article I, Section II of the US Constitution.
The Speaker's role within the House has changed significantly since 1789. The Speaker has the authority to control the order of business on the House floor. They are responsible for maintaining decorum in the House and may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to enforce House rules. The Speaker also oversees much of the non-legislative business of the House, such as general control over the Hall of the House and the House side of the Capitol.
The Speaker is the de facto leader of the body's majority party and the institution's administrative head. They are also the majority political party leader in the House, which is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington. The Speaker is second in the US presidential line of succession, after the vice president.
The Speaker's duties include calling to order and the approval of the Journal, referring bills and other matters to committee, disposing of business on the Speaker's table, designating a Speaker pro tempore, and appointing Chairmen of the Committee of the Whole. They also recognise Members, state a question in the prescribed form, and supervise the timing of debate and other proceedings in the House.
The Speaker's role also includes passing on the constitutional powers of the House, the constitutionality of House rules, and the constitutionality of amendments offered to pending bills. They resolve questions on the consistency of an amendment with the measure to which it is offered or with an amendment already adopted. The Speaker decides whether a Member should be allowed to display an exhibit in debate, except under the Speaker's duty to preserve decorum.
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The Speaker votes on business as a representative from a district
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or House Speaker, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker is usually selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets, and the House confirms the selection by individual voice votes. The Speaker is the majority political party leader in the House, which is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington.
The Speaker's duties are not explicitly outlined in the Constitution, but they do include voting on business as a representative from a Congressional district. The Speaker is the second-highest ranking legislative official in the U.S. government and has the right to vote, although they usually do not participate in debates and only vote on significant bills. The Speaker's vote is typically reserved for matters where it would be decisive.
The Speaker also plays a key role in negotiating between the House and the President, as well as with the Senate. They are responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party. The Speaker chairs the majority party's House steering committee, which selects the majority members of each House standing committee.
In addition, the Speaker has the power to appoint a member of the House to act as Speaker pro tempore and to preside over the House in their absence. The Speaker also designates a Speaker pro tempore for special purposes, such as choosing a representative whose district is near Washington, D.C. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining decorum in the House and may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to enforce House rules.
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The Speaker is second-in-line to the presidency
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or the Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United States Congress. The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the vice president and ahead of the president pro tempore of the Senate.
The Speaker's role as second-in-line to the presidency was established by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. This Act outlines the presidential order of succession, specifying that the Speaker of the House is next in line after the vice president. The Speaker's role in the presidential line of succession is also recognised by the Twenty-fifth Amendment, which outlines the process for dealing with a presidential disability.
The Speaker's position as second-in-line to the presidency is significant as it underscores the importance and influence of the role within the US government. The Speaker is typically selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets and is usually a member of the majority party in the House. The Speaker's duties include controlling the order of business on the House floor, negotiating with the president, the Senate, and the House, and playing a key role in the passage of legislation and control of the "power of the purse" to tax and spend taxpayer money.
While the Speaker is second-in-line to the presidency, it is important to note that the likelihood of the Speaker assuming the role of acting president is relatively low. The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, established a mechanism for filling a vice-presidential vacancy, making it unlikely that the Speaker would be called upon to serve as acting president unless in the aftermath of a catastrophic event.
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The Speaker plays a role in the 25th Amendment
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or House Speaker, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker is the majority political party leader in the House and is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington. The Speaker's role is outlined in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, which states that the House of Representatives "shall choose their Speaker".
The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the vice president. In the event of a presidential disability, the Speaker plays a role in the 25th Amendment's process of dealing with the situation. The amendment states that when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration of their inability to discharge their powers and duties, the Vice President shall assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
The Speaker's role in the 25th Amendment is significant as it ensures that there is a clear procedure for determining presidential disability and provides for succession to the Presidency. This was highlighted in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson underwent planned surgery and was unable to temporarily transfer power to the Vice President. The 25th Amendment also played a role in the Watergate scandal of the 1970s, when Gerald Ford replaced Spiro Agnew as vice president, and then replaced Richard Nixon as president.
In summary, the Speaker of the House plays a crucial role in the 25th Amendment by receiving the President's written declaration of inability to discharge their duties and facilitating the transfer of power to the Vice President. This ensures a smooth transition of power and maintains the stability of the government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Speaker of the House has several duties, including:
- Presiding over the business of the House.
- Controlling the order of all institutional business on the House floor.
- Voting on business as needed as a representative from a district.
- Negotiating between the House and the president and with the Senate.
- Playing a role in the 25th Amendment’s process of dealing with the event of a presidential disability.
- Passing on the constitutional powers of the House, the constitutionality of House rules, or the constitutionality of amendments offered to pending bills.
- Recognizing Members.
- Supervising the timing of debate and other proceedings in the House.
- Making appointments pursuant to statute, House rules, and House resolutions.
The Constitution does not explicitly list the Speaker's duties, but it does give a broad outline of the role: "The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."
The Speaker is chosen by the House through an election. The general practice is that each party caucus first makes nominations, followed by a viva voce vote of the Members-elect.
No, the Speaker does not have to be a member of the House of Representatives. However, as of 2023, every person chosen as Speaker has been a member of the House.
