Eleanor Finch
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most important elected officials in Washington. 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's role has evolved over time, and while the Constitution does not explicitly outline their duties, they are generally the leader of the House and their political party. The Speaker controls the order of business on the House floor, votes on matters as needed, and plays a key role in negotiating with the president, Senate, and the legislative process. They are second in line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and are involved in the 25th Amendment's process of dealing with presidential disability. The Speaker also has the power to impeach and enforce rules.
| 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. |
| Voting rights | The Speaker may vote on any matter but usually only votes when their vote would be decisive or on matters of great importance. |
| Role | The Speaker is the leader of the House and the leader of their party. They control the order of all business on the House floor and play a key role as a negotiator between the House, the president, and the Senate. They are second-in-line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. |
| Powers | The Speaker has the sole power of impeachment and plays a role in the 25th Amendment's process of dealing with presidential disability. They also have the power to tax and spend taxpayer money. |
| Qualifications | The Speaker must be a member of the House. |
| Term | The Speaker's term expires at the end of their term as a Member of the House. |
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What You'll Learn
The Speaker is elected by the House
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most important elected officials in Washington. The Speaker is the leader of the House and the leader of their party. They are second-in-line to the presidency and play a key role in the legislative process, controlling the order of all institutional business on the House floor.
The Speaker is chosen from among the members of the House, although this is not an explicit constitutional requirement. The Speaker is elected by a majority of Members-elect voting by surname, with a quorum being present. The process begins with nominations from each party caucus.
The Speaker's role has evolved over time, with the position's duties and powers being shaped by the rules and customs of the House. The Speaker's primary function in the early days was to keep order and enforce rules. Today, the Speaker's role includes voting on business as a representative from a district, although they only occasionally exercise this right.
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The Speaker is the leader of the House
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most important elected officials in Washington. The Speaker is the leader of the House and combines several institutional and administrative roles. The Speaker is the majority political party leader in the House, which is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington.
The Speaker's role has evolved over time, with the Constitution not explicitly specifying the duties and powers of the position. The Speaker's primary function in the early days was to keep order and enforce rules. Over time, the role has become more powerful, with the Speaker controlling the order of all institutional business on the House floor and playing a key role in negotiating with the president, Senate, and House in the legislative process. The Speaker is second-in-line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and plays a role in the 25th Amendment's process in the event of a presidential disability.
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 chosen from among the members of the House, although this is not a constitutional requirement. The Speaker's term of office expires at the end of their term as a Member of the House.
The Speaker's role includes presiding over the House, although they often delegate this responsibility to other members. They participate in debates and can vote on any matter, although they typically only vote when their vote would be decisive or on matters of great importance. The Speaker also has various procedural and administrative duties, such as declaring the House adjourned and approving the assignment of leadership staff.
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The Speaker is the leader of their party
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most important elected officials in Washington. The Speaker is the leader of the majority political party in the House, which is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington. The Speaker also controls the order of all business on the House floor. 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's role has been shaped by rules and customs that evolved over time.
The Speaker's role within the House has changed since 1789. Under Jefferson's Manual, which serves as a foundation for the House's rules, the Speaker originally refrained from speaking on the House floor during debates. The Speaker's role was transformed into a position with power over the legislative process under Henry Clay (1811-1814). Clay was the first Speaker to occasionally "speak" on the House floor during debates in the Committee of the Whole. The Speaker's right to vote on all House matters was established in 1850, and they now have the same right as other members to vote.
The Speaker's term of office expires at the end of their term as a Member, and they are chosen by a majority vote of Members-elect. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House but does not preside over every debate, delegating this responsibility to other members in most cases. The Speaker also acts as a parliamentarian and peacekeeper, similar to the Speaker in the British House of Commons.
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The Speaker is second in line to the presidency
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is second in line to the presidency, after the vice president and before the president pro tempore of the Senate. This succession order is outlined in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.
The Speaker is a majority political party leader in the House, which is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington. The Speaker controls the order of all institutional business on the House floor and votes on business as a representative from a Congressional district. They also play a role in the 25th Amendment's process of dealing with presidential disability.
The Speaker is not explicitly required by the Constitution to be an incumbent member of the House of Representatives, although every Speaker thus far has been. As a member, the Speaker also represents their district and retains the right to vote. The Speaker is chosen by the House at the beginning of a new Congress, biennially, after a general election, or when a Speaker dies, resigns, or is removed from the position during a congressional term.
The Speaker's role has largely been shaped by rules and customs that have evolved over time, and scholars are divided on whether early Speakers played largely ceremonial and impartial roles or were more active partisan actors. One of the most influential Speakers in history was Democrat Sam Rayburn, who helped shape many bills and ensure the passage of several domestic measures and foreign assistance programs.
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The Speaker controls the order of business on the House floor
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most important elected officials in Washington. The Speaker is the leader of the House and is usually selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets. The House then confirms the selection by individual voice votes.
The Speaker of the House serves in several major constitutional roles. One of their key roles is to control the order of all business on the House floor. The Speaker presides over the business of the House and maintains order, manages its proceedings, and governs the administration of its business. The Speaker traditionally opens the session each day, but may designate a "Speaker pro tempore" to serve in their place for up to three legislative days.
The Speaker also plays a role in the legislative process, including the introduction and passing of bills. The Speaker may take the floor for purposes of debate and has the right to vote on any matter that comes before the House. However, they typically only exercise this right when their vote would be decisive or on matters of great importance.
The Speaker is also responsible for recognizing Members who wish to address the House and supervising the timing of debates and other proceedings. They rule on points of order and respond to parliamentary inquiries. Additionally, the Speaker has the power to declare the House in recess in the event of an emergency.
Overall, the Speaker of the House plays a crucial role in controlling the order of business on the House floor and ensuring the smooth functioning of the legislative process.
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Frequently asked questions
The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House and the leader of their party. They control the order of all business on the House floor and play a key role in negotiating between the House and the president and with the Senate. They are second in line to the presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.
The Speaker of the House is chosen by the House itself. The Speaker is usually selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets, and the House confirms the selection by individual voice votes.
No, the Speaker of the House does not have to be a member of the House. However, as of 2023, no person has been chosen as Speaker who was not a member of the House.
The qualifications to be chosen as Speaker of the House are not outlined in the Constitution. The Speaker is usually a political ally of the majority party leader in the House.
The Speaker of the House has a broad role, including the "sole Power of Impeachment". The Speaker's duties have largely been shaped by rules and customs that evolved over time.
