Speaker Of The House's Crucial Role In Government

U.S. House of Representatives elect Mike Johnson Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

As Speaker of the House Mike Johnson faces reelection, it is important to understand the crucial role that the speaker of the House holds in the upper echelons of government.

The Speaker of the House is an officer described in Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution, which also established the House of Representatives. The speaker presides over the entire House and is elected by House colleagues. When a new Congress comes into session every two years, the speaker position is vacant and among the first duties of the House to fill.

Elected by House colleagues every two years.

The Speaker is a constitutional officer in the U.S. government.

Supervises House members and assigns committee leadership.

The speaker supervises the day-to-day activities of House members, assigns committee leadership, decides which bills will be voted on, and serves as the most prominent spokesperson for the majority party’s agenda and priorities. The speaker also serves as a key negotiator between the president and Congress.

The Speaker of the House also ranks notably high on the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. If a president can no longer serve in office, the speaker of the House is second in line to assume the position, behind the vice president.