What Does The Speaker of the House Do?

What is the Speaker of the House?

• The Speaker of the House is the primary spokesperson and leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House presides over the lower chamber of Congress. 
• According to the Constitution, the Speaker of the House is the second in line of succession after the vice president.
• Democrat Nancy Pelosi stepped down as House Speaker when Republicans took control of the House on January 3, 2023. 
• The current House Speaker is Republican Kevin McCarthy.

What are the Speaker of the House's responsibilities?

• The Speaker of the House is responsible for maintaining order during House proceedings. The Jefferson’s Manual is an important resource for the Speaker of the House as it serves as a guidebook on the proper procedures and protocols in the House of Representatives.
• The Speaker of the House also navigates legislation to help advance their parties preferred laws, oversees House finances and is involved in national party election efforts.

Who decides on the Speaker of the House?

• The Speaker of the House is elected every two years at the start of each new Congress, or if the current speaker dies, resigns, or is removed from office intra-term.
• The speaker is decided on by full membership of the House, however the role is occupied by a member of the majority party.
• Traditionally, the Speaker of the House is elected on the first vote. However, the current Republican Speaker of the House, Representative Kevin McCarthy, did not initially secure the necessary votes due to opposition from far-right Republicans within his own party.

How does the Speaker of the House impact American politics?

• The Speaker can play a major role in shaping national policy and affecting the lives of American citizens.
• As one of the most influential positions in Washington, the Speaker of the House holds the power to advance or impede a U.S. president's agenda, curb opposition, and lead their party's key legislative initiatives.
• It is a longstanding practice and tradition that the House must elect a speaker before lawmakers take any other action. Without a speaker, the House cannot function, as members cannot be sworn in, lawmakers are not available to respond to emergencies, and the legislative process cannot move forward.

Have you ever considered how former Speaker of the House's have impacted American politics?