View source for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

== Overview ==
The [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives]] is a role established by Article I, Section 2 of the [[United States Constitution]]. The Speaker is the political and parliamentary leader of the House of Representatives, and is simultaneously the House's presiding officer, de facto leader of the body's majority party, and the institution's administrative head. Speakers also perform various other administrative and procedural functions, and represent their congressional district. The Speaker of the House is second in the [[United States presidential line of succession]], after the Vice President and ahead of the President pro tempore of the Senate.

== History ==
The position of Speaker of the House is as old as the United States Congress itself, being established by the Constitution in 1789. The first Speaker was [[Frederick Muhlenberg]], who was elected to the position on April 1, 1789.

[[Image:Detail-60772.jpg|thumb|center|A view of the United States Capitol Building, the meeting place of the U.S. Congress.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-60773.jpg|thumb|center|A view of the United States Capitol Building, the meeting place of the U.S. Congress.|class=only_on_desktop]]

== Powers and duties ==
The Speaker of the House has a variety of powers and duties, both legislative and non-legislative. The Speaker's legislative duties include the power to designate the order of business on the House floor, to direct business on the floor to a particular committee, and to decide points of order. Non-legislative duties include the power to administer the oath of office to new members, to make rulings on points of order, and to refer bills to committee.

== Election ==
The Speaker of the House is elected by the members of the House of Representatives, usually on the first day of a new Congress. Typically, each party nominates one candidate for the position, with the majority party usually winning the election. The Speaker is elected by a majority vote of all members of the House, not just those of the majority party.

== Role in party leadership ==
In addition to their role as presiding officer of the House, the Speaker also serves as the de facto leader of their party in the House. They are responsible for ensuring that their party's legislative agenda is advanced through the House, and they often play a key role in shaping that agenda.

== List of Speakers ==
As of 2021, there have been 54 Speakers of the House, with the current Speaker being [[Nancy Pelosi]] of California. The longest-serving Speaker was [[Sam Rayburn]] of Texas, who served for a total of 17 years, two months, and two days.

== See Also ==
* [[United States Congress]]
* [[United States Senate]]
* [[President of the United States]]
* [[Vice President of the United States]]

[[Category:United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Legislative speakers]]
[[Category:United States federal government]]