A member of either the House of Representatives or the Senate can become a speaker by being elected to the position by their peers. In the House, the Speaker is typically a member of the majority party and is chosen during a formal vote at the beginning of a new Congress, which occurs every two years. In the Senate, the title "Speaker" is not used; instead, the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate. However, the Senate Majority Leader is often considered the most influential figure in that chamber.
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Yes, a minority party member can be elected as the Speaker of the House, but historically it is uncommon due to the majority party typically holding the position.
No. The speaker of the house is appointed by the majority party in the House, and has always been a member of that party. The speaker can be anyone, even if they are not a member of the House. (barring a breach of balance of powers; i.e. a Governor could not also be the speaker).
Arnold Schwarzenegger, while a prominent public figure and former governor of California, is not eligible to become Speaker of the House. The Speaker must be a member of the House of Representatives, and Schwarzenegger has never served in that capacity. Additionally, there are no formal requirements for being a Speaker beyond being a member of the House, but political and party support is crucial for the role.
Yes, a member of the minority party can be elected as the Speaker of the House, but it is uncommon and typically requires a coalition of members from both parties to support the minority party candidate.
The whip is the member of either party who makes sure that members vote with the party. true
The House Speaker is always a member of the majority party for the simple reason that he is elected by a majority vote of the House.
Members of the majority party choose a speaker at the caucus, or closed meeting.
Members of the majority party choose a speaker at the caucus, or closed meeting.
The one in the Senate is traditionally elected to the position of president pro tempore. In the House , the leader of the majority party become the Speaker of the House, but he or she is rarely the member with the most seniority. Nationally party members who have a lot of seniority such as ex-presidents and such are called elder statesmen.
As of July 2014, John Boehner is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party.