All the things the House can't do without a speaker

[mystery-ak]

All the things the House can't do without a speaker
by Jack Birle, Breaking News Reporter
October 04, 2023 08:47 AM

The House of Representatives is without a speaker for the second time this year, grinding many functions of the legislative body to a halt.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted as House speaker in a historic 216-210 vote, which saw eight Republicans join all present Democrats in the motion to vacate. Following the vote, McCarthy said he would not seek the speakership again, setting up a battle in the House Republican Conference. House Republicans plan on voting for a new House speaker on Oct. 11, meaning the body will be without its constitutionally mandated leader.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving as speaker pro tempore of the House until a new speaker can be elected, but he is only an interim leader of the chamber and does not have the same powers as an elected speaker. McHenry was selected as speaker pro tempore after being at the top of McCarthy's secret list for succession to the speakership.

No legislative function can occur on the House floor until a new speaker is elected. No votes or any other basic functions can occur on the floor of the House until the election has been resolved.

While this does not cause any immediate problems, a prolonged speaker election could cause trouble, with the government set to shut down if spending bills are not approved by Nov. 16. The longest vacancy the House has had for a speakership dates back to the 1800s, when the chamber took 133 ballots from December 1855 to February 1856 to elect a speaker.

Despite the House floor being effectively paralyzed by the lack of a House speaker, committees may continue to work and function without a speaker. The current situation is less harmful to House functions outside of the floor than the vacant speakership was in January because a rules bill outlining how the 118th Congress will function has been passed, unlike nine months ago.

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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/all-the-things-house-cant-do-without-speaker

[Wingnut]

Thay say that like it is a bad thing.

[libertybele]

Thay say that like it is a bad thing.

They have until Nov. 16 until a shutdown if the spending bill is not approved and they're voting on Oct. 11 on a new speaker ... I see it as the GOP has time to get their schitz together and unite (that's a monumental feat these days).

[mountaineer]

McCarthy's secret list for succession to the speakership

Hmm, what?

[DefiantMassRINO]

#1 - Congress can't further indenture future generations to the tyranny of inter-generational debt.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving as speaker pro tempore of the House until a new speaker can be elected, but he is only an interim leader of the chamber and does not have the same powers as an elected speaker. McHenry was selected as speaker pro tempore after being at the top of McCarthy's secret list for succession to the speakership.

No legislative function can occur on the House floor until a new speaker is elected. No votes or any other basic functions can occur on the floor of the House until the election has been resolved.

I don't think that's true at all.  There are literally no specific duties for the Speaker listed in the Constitution, and no requirement that a speaker being placed in order to pass legislation.  That would all be by House rule.

I watched yesterday as McHenry was appointed, and the powers granted to him under House rules were extremely broad. Essentially, to have all the powers of a Speaker necessary and proper to conduct the business of the House.   So I'd have to see something more thoroughly analyzed before accepting this claim that they can't pass legislation with a Speaker pro tempore.

[Hoodat]

No legislative function can occur on the House floor until a new speaker is elected. No votes or any other basic functions can occur on the floor of the House until the election has been resolved.

So it's a win-win.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Hmm, what?

In the aftermath of 9/11, there was a concern as to what would happen if the office of speaker were suddenly vacant.  So the House passed a rule saying that the sitting Speaker should prepare a list of five names, and if the Speakership was ever vacant, the top name on the list would become the Speaker pro tempore until another could be elected.

[mountaineer]

In the aftermath of 9/11, there was a concern as to what would happen if the office of speaker were suddenly vacant.  So the House passed a rule saying that the sitting Speaker should prepare a list of five names, and if the Speakership was ever vacant, the top name on the list would become the Speaker pro tempore until another could be elected.

I have no problem with designating a successor, but the secrecy is a little disturbing.

[Fishrrman]

The government that governs least, governs best.

Let the Speaker's seat stay vacant.
The country is better off when they do nothing.

[dfwgator]

The less the House does, the better.