The Speaker of the House is second in line for the Presidency but often seems to be overlooked by the general public. Speakers are selected every 2 years by the majority party in the House of Representatives. Generally, their role is administrative and their power is derived from their ability to control the flow of bills through the chamber – moving bills they support through and suffocating those that they don’t. Some have been very successful while others merely fulfill the administrative requirements.
At the beginning of every new Congress a Speaker is elected by the House of Representatives. There have been 52 Speakers in US history with an average tenure of just over two sessions (although more recently the average tenure has approached three terms).
Eight Speakers have served 8 years or longer:
- Henry Clay (1811 – DR – Kentucky) – 6 terms
- Andrew Stevenson (1827 – D – Virginia) – 4 terms
- Joseph Gurney Cannon (1903 – R – Illinois) – 4 terms
- Champ Clark (1911 – D – Missouri) – 4 terms
- Sam Rayburn (1940 – D – Texas) – 10 terms
- John McCormack (1962 – D – Massachusetts) – 5 terms
- Tip O’Neil (1977 – D – Massachusetts) – 5 terms
- Dennis Hastert (1999 – R – Illinois) – 4 terms
Henry Clay is generally credited as the person who made the position of Speaker powerful. He used the position to promote his and (to a lesser degree) his party’s agendas. Since him, the position has had some high moments although James Polk is the only Speaker who has eventually gone on to become President.
A lot more great history, looking forward to getting deeper into it.
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