House Republicans are expected to implement changes to House rules that would make it more challenging to remove a speaker of the House, following a recent incident where a GOP lawmaker initiated the first-ever removal of a speaker.
In January 2023, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy was elected as speaker of the House after a prolonged process that required four days and 15 votes to reach a consensus. However, the infighting within the party continued even after McCarthy assumed the position.
Currently, House rules allow a single lawmaker to introduce a motion to vacate the speakership, leading to a vote on the floor. This process was exemplified when former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate McCarthy, resulting in his removal from the top House post.
Seeking to prevent similar incidents in the future, House Republicans are proposing changes to the rules that would require a lawmaker to have eight co-sponsors in order to introduce a motion to vacate the speakership. Additionally, the member and their co-sponsors must be from the majority party, meaning only Republicans, who currently hold the majority, would have the power to introduce such a motion for the next two years.
The proposed rule changes have faced criticism from Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, who argued that the alterations would shield the Speaker from being held accountable by the entire chamber. McGovern expressed concerns that the changes could potentially turn the House of Representatives into a rubber stamp for Republican policies.
The new rules package is set to be voted on once a speaker is elected and the 119th Congress is convened. The first speaker vote is scheduled for this Friday, with current House Speaker Mike Johnson seeking re-election. Despite some dissent within the GOP, Johnson recently received a strong endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.
