Explainer: What Does the Speaker of the House Do?

Jan 5

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, one of the two chambers in the United States Congress (the other being the Senate). Currently, the House of Representatives is voting for the next Speaker of the House, which requires one candidate to receive a simple majority of votes (precisely 218 votes or potentially fewer if some members are absent or vote ‘Present’).

So what exactly does the Speaker of the House do and why is it taking so long to elect one?

As mentioned above, the Speaker presides over the House of Representatives, maintaining order in the chamber, manages its proceedings, and governs the administration of its business. This includes overseeing House committee assignments and working with the House Rules Committee to structure floor debate. They also navigate legislative rules, and manage everything from accounting to procurement for the House.

The Speaker is a critical part of the United States Government, because aside from their duties governing the House of Representatives, they are also second in line for the Presidency after the Vice President.

The House cannot proceed with any official business until a Speaker is elected; however, none of the candidates have received the necessary majority to be elected to the position, prolonging the process and preventing any legislative actions.