Simone Lawson
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress and is the lower house, with the Senate being the upper house. The House of Representatives determines the rules by which it passes legislation, and the Constitution provides that the House may choose its own speaker. The speaker is the constitutional leader of the House of Representatives and is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party. The current speaker of the House is Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Election | Elected 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. |
| Requirements | The Constitution does not require the Speaker to be an incumbent member of the House, but every Speaker thus far has been. |
| Role | Leader of the House and leader of their party (which need not be the majority party). The Speaker is second in the line of presidential succession, after the vice president. |
| Salary | $223,500 per year |
| Current Speaker | Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana |
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What You'll Learn
The Speaker of the House
The Constitution provides that the House may choose its own speaker, and while it does not explicitly require the Speaker to be an incumbent member of the House, every Speaker thus far has been. The Speaker is elected 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 historically taken on a partisan cast, which is very different from the speakership of most Westminster-style legislatures, such as the speaker of the United Kingdom's House of Commons, which is meant to be non-partisan. The Speaker of the United States, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House, outranking the majority leader. The Speaker has the right to vote but typically does not participate in debates and only votes on the most significant bills or when their vote would be decisive.
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The Speaker's voting rights
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the leader of the House and is elected by the House members themselves. The Speaker is second in the US presidential line of succession, after the vice president. The Speaker is chosen from the sitting membership of the House, although this is not a requirement set out in the Constitution.
The Speaker's role is to preside over the House, maintain order, manage proceedings, and govern the administration of its business. They are responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party. The Speaker is also in charge of overseeing the House's officers, such as the clerk, sergeant-at-arms, chief administrative officer, and chaplain.
While the Speaker has the right to vote, they usually do not participate in debates and only vote on significant matters, such as constitutional amendments or major legislation. The Speaker's vote is typically only cast when it would be decisive or on matters of great importance. Under the early rules of the House, the Speaker was generally barred from voting, but today they have the same right as other members to vote but exercise it sparingly.
The Speaker is elected by a majority vote, and each party's caucus selects a candidate for the position. The Speaker is usually the head of the majority party in the House, outranking the majority leader. The Speaker's role is meant to be impartial, protecting the rights of the minority party.
The Speaker of the House has a significant role in the legislative process and can influence the direction of legislation, but their voting rights are limited to decisive or important matters.
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The Speaker's role in presidential succession
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the leader of the House and combines several institutional, administrative, and procedural roles. The Speaker is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party, and they oversee the House's officers, including the clerk, sergeant-at-arms, chief administrative officer, and chaplain.
The Speaker also plays a crucial role in the presidential succession process. While the Vice President is first in the line of succession, the Speaker of the House is second in line, ahead of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. This order of succession is outlined in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which was last revised in 2006.
In the event of a vacancy in both the presidency and vice presidency, the powers and duties of the presidency would pass to the Speaker of the House. The Speaker would serve in an acting capacity until a new president could be elected, as outlined in the Presidential Succession Act of 1792. This scenario has never occurred, as there has never been a simultaneous vacancy in both the president and vice president roles.
The role of the Speaker in presidential succession has been a subject of debate. Some have questioned whether the Speaker, who may not be an elected representative, should be in line for the highest office. Critics argue that the line of succession should prioritize elected officials, such as Congressional leaders, over unelected Cabinet members.
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The Speaker's salary
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the leader of the House and is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party. The Speaker also performs various administrative and procedural functions, such as overseeing the officers of the House and serving as the chairperson of the House Office Building Commission. The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the vice president.
It is worth noting that there has been debate around raising congressional salaries. While some argue that higher salaries would make congressional positions more accessible to individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and reduce the influence of lobbyists and PACs, others view salary increases as a form of corruption. Since 2010, Congress has annually voted against accepting the cost-of-living adjustment provided for by the Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989, opting to maintain the same nominal salary amount since 2009.
In addition to their salary, Members of Congress with at least five years of service are eligible for a pension that offers significantly higher benefits than those provided to similarly-salaried workers in the private sector. The value of this pension is determined by factors such as the length of service and the average of the three highest-salary years. However, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 and the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 mandated the forfeiture of federal pensions for former members of Congress convicted of specific corruption-related crimes.
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The Speaker's election
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the leader of the House and is elected by its members. The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the vice president. The Speaker also votes on business as needed as a representative from a Congressional district.
The House elects its speaker 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 is usually selected during party meetings before a new Congress meets, and the House confirms the selection by individual voice votes. The current and 56th Speaker of the House is Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana.
The election of the Speaker involves a roll call vote, with each party's caucus or conference selecting a candidate for the speakership from among its senior leaders prior to the roll call. Representatives are not restricted to voting for the candidate nominated by their party but generally do so. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast, which may require multiple rounds of voting.
The process of electing a Speaker is a significant event in the House of Representatives, as it determines which party will control the House and shape its legislative agenda. The Speaker plays a crucial role in presiding over the House, representing their district, and ensuring the passage of legislation supported by the majority party.
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Frequently asked questions
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the constitutional leader. The current Speaker is Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana.
No, the Constitution does not outline the Speaker's role. However, the Speaker is the head of the majority party in the House and is responsible for ensuring the House passes legislation supported by the majority party.
No, the Constitution does not explicitly require the Speaker to be a member of the House. However, every Speaker thus far has been a member.
The Speaker is second in the US presidential line of succession, after the vice president.
The House elects a new Speaker biennially, at the beginning of a new Congress, or when a Speaker dies, resigns, or is removed from their position during a congressional term.
