Election of the Speaker Process and House Rules Governing Election of the Speaker

Election of the Speaker: Process and House Rules Governing Election of the Speaker

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives and a crucial figure in the legislative process. The Speaker is elected by members of the House every two years, and the election process is governed by House rules. Here is a breakdown of the election process and the rules governing the election of the Speaker.

Election Process

The election of the Speaker takes place on the first day of the new Congress. Members of the House cast their votes for Speaker, which are tallied by the Clerk of the House. In order to be elected Speaker, a candidate must receive the votes of a majority of the members of the House who are present and voting. This majority does not have to consist of a majority of the full House, but must only include those members present and eligible to vote.

House Rules

The rules governing the election of the Speaker are found in the House Rules and Manual, also known as Jefferson’s Manual. The primary rule governing the election of the Speaker is found in Rule I, which states that the Speaker must be elected by a majority of the Members of the House. Rule II outlines the procedures for conducting the election, including how the Clerk of the House counts the votes and how the Speaker is officially announced.

In addition to the rules governing the election of the Speaker, there are also House rules that dictate the powers and duties of the Speaker. The Speaker is responsible for presiding over House meetings, maintaining order and decorum during debates, and interpreting House rules. The Speaker also has significant power over the legislative process, including the ability to set the agenda for the House, decide which bills are considered for debate and vote, and appoint members to committees.

Recent Changes

In January 2021, the House of Representatives made a temporary change to the election process for Speaker. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the House adopted a new rule that allowed for remote voting by proxy. Under this rule, a member could designate another member to cast their vote on their behalf if they were unable to be present in person for the vote. This rule was in effect during the election of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the 117th Congress.

Conclusion

The election of the Speaker of the House is an important process that is governed by House rules. The Speaker holds significant power over the legislative process and is responsible for presiding over House meetings and maintaining order during debates and votes. While the basic process for electing the Speaker has remained the same over the years, recent changes to House rules have allowed for new methods of voting and increased flexibility in the election process.

The House of Representatives is responsible for the election of the Speaker of the House. This is provided by the United States Constitution, as per Article I, Section 2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected every subsequent time a new House is to convene for the first time.

The Constitution does not provide for any provisions or legislature stating that the Speaker of the House of Representatives needs to be a member of this chamber of Congress in order to be eligible. Essentially, anyone that meets the requirements of eligibility for the office may be considered for nomination.

The requirements are the same as those for any other seat in the House of Representatives. However, those that have shown a skill for leadership will be given extra consideration.
The three basic requirements are:

● At least twenty-five years old
● Citizen of the United States for the
previous seven years
● An inhabitant of the State they are to represent at the time of the election.

Even though it is not required by Constitutional laws, every Speaker of the House of Representatives has always been a member of the House before being elected. Members of the House of Representatives will typically vote for the candidate that represents their political party or affiliation. However, any member that receives a nomination to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives can be voted in by any other member, regardless of ties to political factions. In certain cases, even members that are not formally nominated can also be voted for the position.

In recent practice, the candidate is typically chosen among the members of the House leadership in the majority party. The prospective candidate must be voted in on a majority vote of the House of Representatives. A majority vote can be reached, even if all of the members of the House of Representatives are not present. Absentee members of the House of Representatives can render a vote of “present.”

If there is no majority vote rendered in favor of anyone candidate, the election process is repeated until a Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected. Once the election is over and a Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected, the individual is then sworn into the office by the Dean of the House, which is the member that has longest served the House of Representatives at that given point in time.

Once in office, the Speaker of the House of Representatives have substantial powers and responsibilities, which include, but are not limited to:

● Administering the oath of office to new members of the House of Representatives
● Referring bills to committees
● Administering votes in regards to certain matters to the members of the House of Representatives
● Counting and declaring votes rendered in the
House
● Recognizing members of the House for speaking and making motions
● The appointment of House members to committees and conferences
● Signing bills and resolutions that are passed by the House of Representatives.