Speaker of the House

1.     What does the Constitution have to say about the job of Speaker of the House?

• Says that it must be filled by a vote of the House, at the start of the two year term. The speaker is also the leader of the majority party in the House and has chosen members. http://firstclass.rfsd.k12.co.us/~mschneiter/Fad/speaker.htm
• Doesnt say anything about ACTUAL political party
• Will elect leader, leaves it up to Congress

2.     The Constitution has nothing to say about parties – yet parties are the basis for organizing leadership in Congress.  Read about Congressional leadership here.  List the leadership roles that exist in each house of Congress – along with a brief description of each job.

HOUSE OF REP

• Speaker of the house
• rules over proceedings on floor
• influence bills
• influences committees for new members
• appoints party leaders
• rules on questions that Parliament says
• Majority Leader
• Party leader of the floor
• helps legislative program
• Minority Leader
• Helps organize the minority parity
• Influence is limited

SENATE

• Vice President
• only cast votes if a tie
• President Pro Tempore
• Since the vice president doesn't attend, he takes the place
• Floor Leaders
• Real leaders of the senate

3.     What would have to happen for the Speaker of the House to become the President?

• President= impeached or die= Vice President THEN
• If the vice president cannot serve, then it falls to speaker of the house.
• http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/us/succession-presidential-and-vice-presidential-fast-facts/

4.     Who was the longest-serving Speaker in history?

• Sam Rayburn
• 1882-1961
• Served for 17 years
• http://history.house.gov/Institution/Firsts-Milestones/Speaker-Fast-Facts/

5.     Who was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House?  (Provide dates and party)

• Nancy Pelosi- California
• Youngest to be elected as a woman
• !st Californian to be elected Speaker of the House
• Served through 2011 when Democrats controlled the house after 2010.
• http://www.makers.com/nancy-pelosi

6.     When did Newt Gingrich serve as Speaker?  For what is he

• First Republican Speaker in 40 years
• 1994-1999
• Contract on or FOR America
• Ethic Isssues- $$$$conflict of issues
• Head of Anti Clinton Republican wave in 1994
• http://www.biography.com/people/newt-gingrich-9311969#elected-to-congress

7.     Who just resigned as Speaker of the House?  How long had he been serving as Speaker, and why is he quitting now?  (Find a news article that analyzes this question.)

• John Boehner
• Battle with Conservatives
• Caught in issue to defund planned parenthood
• No longer lead the Republicans in Congress
• January 5,2011
• http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/25/house-speaker-john-boehner-to-resign
• http://www.biography.com/people/john-boehner-20656041#speaker-of-the-house

8.     Who was considered to be a likely successor?  Why is that no longer the case?

• Kevin McCarthy
• knew he did not have enough support
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/08/mccarthy-withdraws/

9.     Why do many Republicans in Congress hope Paul Ryan will enter the race for speaker?  What is the latest news on whether or not he is likely to do so?

• http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/why-republicans-need-paul-ryan-as-house-speaker.html
• only eligible candidate
• National Standing and Conservative credentials
• Good Reputation w/ Conservatives
• Has reasons to stay away, already the president of Republican America

10.  What committee does Paul Ryan currently chair?  What is this committee responsibility?  Visit it’s website to learn about it.

• Powerful ways and Means Committee
• Chief Tax Writing Committee in the House of Rep. jurisdiction comes from Article 1, Section VII of the Constitution
• http://waysandmeans.house.gov/

11.  What is a congressional committee? How many are there?

• Legislative sub organization in US Congress
• enables members to specialize in matters under jurisdiction
• Takes 200 committees and subcommittees
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_committee

12.  What are some of the reasons he may choose NOT to take the job?

• Not planning to run
• Considering

13.  What would you do if you were in his position?  What would be the best reasons for taking the job?  Or for avoiding it?

• Shot at Presidency
• Conservative Attention and hes already got there approval.

14.  The Speaker of the House is an important position – but is it a stepping stone to the White House?  Has a former Speaker ever risen to the presidency?

• James K Polk
• Only speaker to become president
• Being speaker doesn't guarantee
• 3rd in line

15.  What is a congressional caucus?  How many are there?  How are caucuses different from committees?

• Group of members of the US Congress that meets about the same common legislative problems
• 4
• Study groups, coalitions, tasks forces
• Governed under rule of chamber

16.  What is the House Freedom Caucus?  What role is it playing in the current struggle over leadership?  What kind of speaker do they want?

• Consists of Conservative Republican members of hose of rep.
• Gives a voice to the average American, whom they feel like Washington can't support them
• Like the Tea Party Movement
• Formally was small group of Congressman
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Caucus
• 
  

17.  Add a current articles summary to your blog, based on one or more of the articles you’ve read today.  

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/99509/presidential-succession-speaker-house

In this Article, it talks about how the Speaker of the House should never try to run or be president because it would result in failure. It says that the speakers have limited skills and are amateurs on the world stage and unfit to become a president. The recent out break dealing with Boehner sums this up because of his failure to negotiate with Obama over payroll tax cuts.