Featured Media Resource: [VIDEO] “What Does The Speaker of the House Do?” [TestTube News]
A breakdown about the origins and duties of the Speaker of the House, and the crisis in Congressional leadership caused by Speaker John Boehner’s decision to resign from this position.
Do Now
As the presiding officer in the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House has a large amount of power and can significantly influence which political issues Congress chooses to address and vote on. If you were the Speaker of the House, what national issues would you make your top priorities and why? #DoNowSpeaker
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Learn More About the Role of the Speaker of the House
Student Council elections go more smoothly than the election of the next Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker John Boehner quit suddenly last week. The expected successor, Kevin McCarthy, backed out because he didn’t appear to have the support of the most conservative members of the Republican party. Democrats don’t vote for the House Speaker because they aren’t in the majority.
So this has become a struggle between mainstream Republicans and the more conservatives members known as the Freedom Caucus–a coalition of about 40 Republicans that was developed after the success of the Tea Party. It’s a Tea Party versus establishment battle.
And so, the race is wide open.
The Speaker of the House is a powerful job. It’s second in line for succession to the President, after the Vice President. The House Speaker controls which bills come to the floor and when. They set the majority party’s legislative agenda in the House. The job has been held by such famous men as Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill and more recently Newt Gingrich.
Some members have called on Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to run for the post, but he hasn’t decided yet. In fact, the Constitution doesn’t require that the House Speaker be an elected member of Congress. So anyone could be up for the job.
Republicans and Democrats have struggled to work together this term. If a conservative Republican leader is elected, the political gridlock could get worse. Many Washington observers feel this leadership vacuum reveals that increasingly divisive politics will continue to impact the ability of Congress to govern effectively.
More Resources
AUDIO: “McCarthy Withdraws Candidacy For Speaker” [WBUR’s Here and Now]
This radio news story describes how the front runner for Speaker drops out, leaving the Republicans and the whole House with a void at the top.
ARTICLE: “Hard Line Republicans Flex Muscle as Election of House Speaker Looms” [New York Times]
The impasse over the House Speaker job goes deeper than filling it post. It cuts to the growing power of hardline Tea Party Republicans.
VIDEO: The Bicameral Congress: Crash Course Government and Politics #2 [PBS Digital Studios: CrashCourse)
In this episode, Craig Benzine discusses the United States Congress, and why it’s bicameral, and what bicameral means. Craig explains the purpose of the Senate and House of Representatives, some of the history of the institutions, and reveals to you just how you can become a representative.
Do Next
Do Next takes the online conversation to the next level: these are suggestions for ways to go out into your community and investigate how the topic featured in this Do Now impacts people’s lives. Use digital storytelling tools and social media to share your story and take action. Make sure to tag your creations with #DoNowSpeaker.
- Create a Campaign Video for your Class House Speaker Create a video supporting your bid for the Speaker of the House in your class. Find some inspiration from this LowDown post about the most successful commercials for presidential campaigns. Share your video with #DoNowSpeaker
- Create a Meme About the Speaker of the House: Check out our tutorial on making humorous memes to make a point. Tag your meme with #DoNowSpeaker
- Create an Infographic Illustrating the role of the Speaker of the House: Use a free infographic template like those on the website easel.ly to visualize the role of the Speaker of the House in Congressional politics. If you’re feeling really creative, try illustrating the power vacuum caused by John Boehner’s resignation.Tag your infographic with#DoNowSpeaker
