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The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer elected past the members of the U.South. Firm.

The Speaker receives a college salary than other members of Congress, earning $223,500 per year.[i]

Current speaker

The current speaker is Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who represents California's 12th Congressional District.

The office was established in 1789 by Commodity I, Section 2 of the United states Constitution.


United States Constitution, Article I Section two:

The Business firm of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers...


The Constitution does non require that the speaker be an elected member of Congress, but no not-fellow member has ever been elected to the office.[2]

Elections

When a Congress convenes for the first time, each major party conference or conclave nominates a candidate for Speaker. Members customarily elect the Speaker by scroll phone call vote. A member usually votes for the candidate from his or her ain political party conference or conclave only can vote for anyone, whether that person has been nominated or not.[2]

To exist elected, a candidate must receive an accented majority of the votes bandage—which may be less than a majority of the total House because of vacancies, absentee members, or members who vote "nowadays." If no candidate receives the majority of votes, the roll call is repeated until a majority is reached and the Speaker is elected.[2]

Duties

The Speaker performs a number of functions, including:[2]

  • Presides over the Business firm
  • Administers the Oath of Office to House Members
  • Communicates with the President of the U.s. and the U.South. Senate
  • Leads his or her party conference or caucus
  • Chairs his or her party's steering committee, which is involved in the selection of party members for standing committees
  • Nominates chairs and members of the Committee on Rules and the Committee on House Administration.


The Speaker as well appoints:[2]

  • Speakers pro tempore
  • The chair who presides over the Commission of the Whole Business firm on the country of the Union
  • Members to House-Senate conference committees
  • A Fellow member to the Committee on the Budget
  • Select committees
  • Sure Business firm staff

The Speaker recognizes Members to speak on the Firm Floor or make motions during Floor proceedings. The Speaker makes many of import rulings and decisions in the House. The Speaker may debate or vote, just typically only occasionally does so. The Speaker also serves equally an ex officio member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

By statute, the Speaker is second in line, later the Vice President of the United States, to succeed the President.[ii] [3]

Come across too

  • United States Business firm of Representatives
  • Us Congress
  • Leadership positions in state legislatures

External links

  • House Leadership and Officers Information
  • Speaker of the House website
  • List of Speakers of the House 1789-Present
  • Speaker of the House facts
  • U.S. House of Representatives website
  • The Part of the Clerk of the U.S. Firm of Representatives website

Footnotes

  1. United States House of Representatives, "Firm Press Gallery, Salaries" accessed February 15, 2013
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.ii 2.iii 2.4 ii.v House of Representatives, "Member FAQ" accessed Feb 14, 2013
  3. Cornell Law: United states Code, "Text of 3.19" accessed February xiv, 2013