Congress 4 - Party / House Leaders in Congress

Question 1

Roles of the House Speaker

Answer 1

Presiding officer in the house
Represent constituents in district
Party leader - leader of the majority

Question 2

Power of House Speaker: Presiding officer in the house

Answer 2

Maintain order during debates
Control over legislative process
Assigns legislation to each committee
Sets schedule for debates
Appoints majority party members of House Rules Committee
Appoints members of House Rules Committee - sets special rules for each bill

Question 3

What is the Hastert rule

Answer 3

A rule followed by Republican speakers - Only allowing debates on bills that have support of Majority of Republicans

Question 4

Power of House Speaker: Party leader

Answer 4

Chairs party steering committee, which nominates members to chair or serve standing committees
Media looks to speaker for leader of opposition role’. Eg. Pelosi 2007-09

Question 5

Argument that the House Speaker remains powerful

Answer 5

Significant formal powers

Concentration of power by recent Speakers (E.g. Pelosi)

Question 6

Argument that Speaker is no longer powerful

Answer 6

Depends on leadership style. Boehner less controlling

More recent speakers undermined by divisions within own party. E.g. Ryan