State Speaker of the House
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The speaker of the House is a partisan leadership position in the lower house of a state legislature. The speaker serves as the chief spokesman for the lower chamber, presides over legislative sessions, directs the legislative process, and performs additional administrative and procedural duties.
The speaker often selects junior members of the chamber to serve as the presiding officer in their absence. This custom gives new members a hands-on opportunity to learn the rules and procedures of the chamber.
Overview
- See also: United States Speaker of the House
The speaker of the House is the primary leader of the lower house of a state legislature. The speaker serves as the chief spokesman for the chamber, presides over legislative sessions, directs the legislative process, and performs additional administrative and procedural duties.
Leadership at the state legislative level refers to a range of different positions, including senate presidents and presidents pro tempore, house and assembly speakers, and minority and majority leaders. There are also middle- and lower-level leadership positions, such as whips, deputies, and floor leaders. Voters typically have little direct say in who holds these positions. Instead, the legislators themselves usually select their leaders. While the power and authority—and even the names—of leadership positions vary from chamber-to-chamber and state-to-state, leaders in state legislatures generally play influential roles in four, often interconnected, areas: the legislative process, elections, management, and career advancement. Read more about state legislative leadership positions here. |
At the federal level, the speaker of the House is second in the line of presidential succession, following the vice president. The positions of state speakers of the House vary with respect to the line of gubernatorial succession.[1][2]
History
The role of speaker of the United States House of Representatives was established in 1789 by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution.
The position of speaker of the House in the United States was originally modeled on the speakers of the British House of Commons and the presiding officers of the colonial legislatures. In this way, early speakers of the House in the United States House of Representatives functioned as the ceremonial heads of the chamber and ensured that members adhered to the body's rules and procedures. Over time, the position grew to include administrative duties and party leadership.[1][3]
All 50 state legislatures operate with a speaker as the chief leadership role of the lower house. In Nebraska, the speaker serves as the leader of the unicameral legislature. Moreover, the head of the Tennessee State Senate is also referred to as the speaker.[4][5]
Responsibilities
The speaker is the principal leader of the lower legislative chamber. Though specific duties of the position vary in state legislatures across the country, the speaker may assume any or all of the following duties:[3][6][7]
- Presides over the chamber to ensure that members abide by the rules and procedures
- Acts as a leader of the majority party
- Serves the constituency of their district
- Administers oaths of office
- Communicates with state executives and Senate leadership
- Rules on procedural questions
- Appoints committee chairs and/or members
- Signs legislation and official documents
At the federal level, the speaker also appoints the speaker pro tempore, conference committee members, a member of the House Committee on the Budget, members of select committees, and certain staff members. The speaker also nominates members and chairs of the House Committee on Roles and the House Committee on Administration.[6]
Depending on the state, speakers may take on additional duties. The speaker may assign bills to committees or serve as an ex officio member of standing committees. The speaker may also have the authority to schedule priority bills for advanced consideration by the chamber.[4][8][9]
Votes
Depending on the state, the speaker of the House may vote on all questions before the chamber or may only cast tie-breaking votes. In some states, the speaker may vote on all questions, but is only required to vote in the event of a tie.[10][11]
Tenure
Selection
At the federal level, the speaker of the House is elected at the beginning of each Congress by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The members vote from among a slate of candidates chosen by the members of the majority and minority parties.[1]
State speakers of the house are similarly elected by the members at the beginning of each state's legislative session.
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
State legislators who serve as speakers of the house are subject to any applicable term limits on elected offices in their respective states.
In New York, the speaker of the Assembly can serve a maximum of eight years in the position.[12]
About state leadership positions
State legislative leadership refers to a range of different positions, including senate presidents and presidents pro tempore, house and assembly speakers, and minority and majority leaders. These positions are typically elected by the full membership of the chamber instead of by the public at large. Although the power and titles of leadership positions vary between states, these leaders all play a role in the legislative process.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 United States House of Representatives—History, Art & Archives, "Speakers of the House (1789 to present)," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ National Lieutenant Governors Association, "States' Lines of Succession of Gubernatorial Powers," accessed February 2, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 United States House of Representatives—History, Art & Archives, "Speakers of the House Bibliography," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nebraska Legislature, "Speaker of the Legislature," accessed January 31, 2017
- ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, "Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate Senator Ron Ramsey," accessed February 2, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 United States House of Representatives—Office of the Clerk, "Member FAQs," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Roles and Responsibilities of Selected Leadership Positions," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Montana Legislative Services Division, "Legislative Leadership," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ The Ohio Legislature, "Rules of the Ohio House of Representatives," accessed February 2, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "HRULE 2.5," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Texas House of Representatives, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed February 3, 2017
- ↑ The New York State Senate, "Senate Passes Term Limits for State Legislative Leadership," January 12, 2016
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