What the Speaker of the US House of Representatives is doing and why this is such an important position

The United States House of Representatives is having a historic year.

The chairman of that chamber, Kevin McCarthywas fired this Tuesday, less than nine months after he managed to be sworn in following a strong blockade within his own party, the Republicans.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives has an enormously powerful role, with almost total control over the functions of this legislative body, in which the Republican Party has had a majority since January this year.

BBC tells you what you need to know about one of the most important positions in American politics, third in importance after the president Joe Biden and the vice president Kamala Harris.

What does the Speaker of the House of Representatives do?

The U.S. Constitution states that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is responsible for overseeing that chamber of Congress. He is traditionally an active member of the majority party, although this is not a constitutional requirement.

In addition to being chairman of the House of Representatives, he is therefore also leader of the majority party therein.

In practice, he sets the legislative agenda for the House of Representatives, controls committee assignments, sets the voting and work schedule, and is responsible for keeping his party members united on major initiatives.

Why is the Speaker of the House of Representatives so important?

If this office is held effectively, it will be one of the most powerful in Washington.

Depending on the partisan makeup of Congress, he can make or break a U.S. president’s agenda, thwart the opposition and lead his party’s most important legislative initiatives.

A smart and effective president will be able to rally members of Congress behind his party’s agenda and keep rebellious lawmakers in check through the handing out of incentives or punishments.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who preceded McCarthy as leader of the House of Representatives, was considered one of the most effective modern speakers.

Although the Democratic caucus he oversaw had multiple factions, including progressives, moderates and more conservative-leaning representatives, he was able to use the tools at the Speaker of the House’s disposal and maintain a united front when it came to winning a majority in important votes.

How is the Speaker of the House of Representatives chosen?

The House of Representatives operates on a two-year cycle, also known as a ‘session’. The new congress started on January 3, 2023.

The first thing a new session must do is vote for the president. Without that person, the House of Representatives cannot proceed with another function, including the swearing-in of members.

After McCarthy’s resignation, that role will be temporarily filled by Republican Patrick McHenry.

Now this legislative body must hold votes until a new president is elected.

This election requires that a candidate receive the support of the majority of the House of Representatives: 218 votes. It is usually assumed that the existing leader of the majority party is the person who will assume the presidency.

For over a century, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was determined on the first ballot. That record was broken during McCarthy’s difficult election in January 2023.

Why were the 2023 elections for the Speakers of the House of Representatives so unusual?

Earlier this year, in early January, McCarthy tried to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. But things didn’t go according to his plan.

Through 14 rounds of voting, McCarthy failed to get the 218 votes to fill the position, even though his party has 222 seats this term. At the same time, no other representative managed to surpass McCarthy.

This vote is usually a procedure agreed upon by the majority party, but a group of insurgent Republicans formed a wall of opposition and refused to vote for him, claiming he was not conservative enough.

The Democrats, as usual, did not support the rival party either.

It had been a hundred years since that position was first voted on, and not since 1860, on the eve of the Civil War, had there been so many votes to elect the president. 44 voting rounds were then needed.

On January 7, after four days, 15 votes and several concessions, McCarthy convinced another 18 Republicans to support him and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

One of them was Matt Gaetz, the same one who proposed this week to vote for his impeachment, and he succeeded, something that had never happened in the history of the US Congress.

What is going to happen now?

“The office of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is hereby declared vacant,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Arkansas.

The House is now in uncharted waters, but some procedures will determine what happens next.

Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, who supported McCarthy, is now president pro temporethat is, he serves as interim president.

It is unclear whether the acting president will have all the powers of the office or only administrative powers and the ability to oversee new elections.

The rules do not determine how long someone can serve as interim president or when new elections will be held.

The House is likely to descend into chaos until another Speaker is elected. Given the hostile divisions within the Republican caucus, that process could prove as complicated as McCarthy’s own battle.

Does the House of Representatives have a minority leader?

The head of the minority party is known simply as the “minority leader.”

He does not control the functions of the House like the President does. He wields power within his group to keep lawmakers united in their opposition to the majority or to advance bipartisan efforts.

Democrats are in the minority in the current House. Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York was elected as Democratic minority leader. (JO)