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The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer elected by the members of the U.South. Business firm.

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

Current speaker

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

The office was established in 1789 by Article I, Section two of the Usa Constitution.


United States Constitution, Article I Section 2:

The Firm of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers...


The Constitution does non require that the speaker be an elected fellow member of Congress, but no non-member has e'er been elected to the part.[two]

Elections

When a Congress convenes for the starting time time, each major party conference or caucus nominates a candidate for Speaker. Members customarily elect the Speaker past curl telephone call vote. A member usually votes for the candidate from his or her own party briefing or caucus just can vote for anyone, whether that person has been nominated or non.[2]

To exist elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes cast—which may exist less than a majority of the full Business firm because of vacancies, absentee members, or members who vote "nowadays." If no candidate receives the majority of votes, the curl call is repeated until a bulk is reached and the Speaker is elected.[two]

Duties

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

  • Presides over the House
  • Administers the Oath of Office to House Members
  • Communicates with the President of the United states of america and the U.Southward. Senate
  • Leads his or her party conference or caucus
  • Chairs his or her party's steering commission, 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 Firm Administration.


The Speaker also appoints:[2]

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

The Speaker recognizes Members to speak on the Business firm Floor or make motions during Floor proceedings. The Speaker makes many important rulings and decisions in the House. The Speaker may contend or vote, but typically merely occasionally does and so. The Speaker also serves as an ex officio member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Past statute, the Speaker is 2nd in line, after the Vice President of the United States, to succeed the President.[ii] [iii]

See also

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

External links

  • House Leadership and Officers Information
  • Speaker of the Business firm website
  • Listing of Speakers of the Business firm 1789-Present
  • Speaker of the Firm facts
  • U.S. House of Representatives website
  • The Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives website

Footnotes

  1. United States Business firm of Representatives, "House Press Gallery, Salaries" accessed February 15, 2013
  2. 2.0 ii.1 two.2 two.iii 2.4 two.five House of Representatives, "Member FAQ" accessed February 14, 2013
  3. Cornell Law: US Code, "Text of 3.xix" accessed Feb 14, 2013