Editing Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (section)

== History ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Frederick Muhlenberg.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.90|[[Frederick Muhlenberg]] (1789–1791, 1793–1795) was the first speaker.]]
[[File:Clay-standing.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.90|[[Henry Clay]] (1811–1814, 1815–1820, 1823–1825) used his influence as speaker to ensure the passage of measures he favored.]]
The first speaker of the House, [[Frederick Muhlenberg]] of [[Pennsylvania]], was elected to office on April 1, 1789, the day the House organized itself at the start of the [[1st United States Congress|1st Congress]]. He served two non-consecutive terms in the speaker's chair, 1789–1791 (1st Congress) and 1793–1795 ([[3rd United States Congress|3rd Congress]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Speakers of the House|url=https://history.house.gov/People/Office/Speakers-List/|website=history.house.gov|publisher=United States House of Representatives|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194829/https://history.house.gov/People/Office/Speakers-List/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As the Constitution does not state the duties of the speaker, the speaker's role has largely been shaped by [[Procedures_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives#Rules_of_the_House|rules]] and customs that evolved over time. Scholars are divided as to whether early speakers played largely ceremonial and impartial roles or whether they were more active partisan actors.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Peart|first=Daniel|date=2021|title=Rethinking the Role of the Speaker: Power, Institutional Development, and the Myth of the "Impartial Moderator" in the Early US House of Representatives|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-policy-history/article/abs/rethinking-the-role-of-the-speaker-power-institutional-development-and-the-myth-of-the-impartial-moderator-in-the-early-us-house-of-representatives/F3F15AB7CF57317963C1C35484D6AC63|journal=Journal of Policy History|language=en|volume=33|issue=1|pages=1–31|doi=10.1017/S0898030620000226|s2cid=231694119|issn=0898-0306|access-date=March 11, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202082525/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-policy-history/article/abs/rethinking-the-role-of-the-speaker-power-institutional-development-and-the-myth-of-the-impartial-moderator-in-the-early-us-house-of-representatives/F3F15AB7CF57317963C1C35484D6AC63|url-status=live}}</ref>

===19th century===
From early in its existence, the speaker's primary function had been to keep order and enforce rules. The speakership was transformed into a position with power over the legislative process under [[Henry Clay]] (1811–1814, 1815–1820, and 1823–1825).<ref>C. Stewart III, "Architect or tactician? Henry Clay and the institutional development of the US House of Representatives" [http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/18148/clay.pdf?sequence=1 1998, online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194616/http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/18148/clay.pdf?sequence=1 |date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://millercenter.org/president/adams/essays/clay-1825-secretary-of-state| title=Henry Clay (1825–1829)| work=U.S. Presidents| date=October 4, 2016| publisher=Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia| location=Charlottesville, Virginia| access-date=May 10, 2021| archive-date=May 10, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510112824/https://millercenter.org/president/adams/essays/clay-1825-secretary-of-state| url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast to many of his predecessors, Clay participated in several debates and used his influence to procure the passage of measures he supported—for instance, the declaration of the [[War of 1812]], and various laws relating to Clay's "[[American System (economic plan)|American System]]" economic plan. Furthermore, when no candidate received an [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] majority in the [[1824 presidential election]], causing the president to be elected by the House, Speaker Clay threw his support to [[John Quincy Adams]] instead of [[Andrew Jackson]], thereby ensuring Adams' victory. Following Clay's retirement in 1825, the power of the speakership once again began to decline, despite speakership elections becoming increasingly bitter. As the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] approached, several sectional factions nominated their own candidates, often making it difficult for any candidate to attain a majority. In 1855 and again in 1859, for example, the contest for speaker lasted for two months before the House achieved a result. Speakers tended to have very short tenures during this period. For example, from 1839 to 1863 there were eleven speakers, only one of whom served for more than one term. [[James K. Polk]] is the only speaker of the House who was later elected president of the United States.

[[File:Thomas Brackett Reed - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|upright=.90|[[Thomas Brackett Reed]] (1889–1891, 1895–1899) was one of the most powerful speakers.]]
Toward the end of the 19th century, the office of speaker began to develop into a very powerful one. At the time, one of the most important sources of the speaker's power was his position as Chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Rules|Committee on Rules]], which, after the reorganization of the committee system in 1880, became one of the most powerful standing committees of the House. Furthermore, several speakers became leading figures in their political parties; examples include Democrats [[Samuel J. Randall]], [[John Griffin Carlisle]], and [[Charles F. Crisp]], and Republicans [[James G. Blaine]], [[Thomas Brackett Reed]], and [[Joseph Gurney Cannon]].

The power of the speaker was greatly augmented during the tenure of the Republican [[Thomas Brackett Reed]] (1889–1891, 1895–1899). "Czar Reed", as he was called by his opponents,<ref>Robinson, William A. "Thomas B. Reed, Parliamentarian". ''The American Historical Review'', October 1931. pp. 137–138.</ref> sought to end the obstruction of bills by the minority, in particular by countering the tactic known as the "[[disappearing quorum]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Oleszek|first=Walter J. |url=http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/pre20th_rules.htm |title=A Pre-Twentieth Century Look at the House Committee on Rules |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives|date=December 1998|access-date=July 5, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050825205640/http://rules.house.gov/archives/pre20th_rules.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2005}}</ref> By refusing to vote on a motion, the minority could ensure that a quorum would not be achieved and that the result would be invalid. Reed, however, declared that members who were in the chamber but refused to vote would still count for the purposes of determining a quorum. Through these and other rulings, Reed ensured that the Democrats could not block the Republican agenda.

===20th century===
[[File:JGCannon.jpg|thumb|upright=.90|[[Joseph Gurney Cannon]] (1903–1911) is often considered the most powerful speaker.]]

The speakership reached its apogee during the term of Republican [[Joseph Gurney Cannon]] (1903–1911). Cannon exercised extraordinary control over the legislative process. He determined the agenda of the House, appointed the members of all committees, chose committee chairmen, headed the Rules Committee, and determined which committee heard each bill. He vigorously used his powers to ensure that Republican proposals were passed by the House. In 1910, however, Democrats and several dissatisfied Republicans joined to strip Cannon of many of his powers, including the ability to name committee members and his chairmanship of the Rules Committee.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jones|first=Charles O.|author-link=Charles O. Jones|date=August 1968|title=Joseph G. Cannon and Howard W. Smith: An Essay on the Limits of Leadership in the House of Representatives|journal=[[The Journal of Politics]]|volume=30|issue=3|pages=617–646|doi=10.2307/2128798|jstor=2128798|s2cid=154012153}}</ref> Fifteen years later, Speaker [[Nicholas Longworth]] restored much, but not all, of the lost influence of the position.

[[File:Sam Rayburn.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.90|[[Sam Rayburn]] (1940–1947; 1949–1953; and 1955–1961) was the longest serving speaker.]]
One of the most influential speakers in history was Democrat [[Sam Rayburn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thc.state.tx.us/samrayhouse/srhdefault.html|title=Sam Rayburn House Museum|publisher=Texas Historical Commission |access-date= July 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701112906/http://www.thc.state.tx.us/samrayhouse/srhdefault.html|archive-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref> Rayburn had the most cumulative time as speaker in history, holding office from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961. He helped shape many bills, working quietly in the background with House committees. He also helped ensure the passage of several domestic measures and foreign assistance programs advocated by Presidents [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Harry Truman]].

Rayburn's successor, Democrat [[John W. McCormack]] (served 1962–1971), was a somewhat less influential speaker, particularly because of dissent from younger members of the Democratic Party. During the mid-1970s, the power of the speakership once again grew under Democrat [[Carl Albert]]. The Committee on Rules ceased to be a semi-independent panel, as it had been since 1910. Instead, it once again became an arm of the party leadership. Moreover, in 1975, the speaker was granted the authority to appoint a majority of the members of the Rules Committee. Meanwhile, the power of committee chairmen was curtailed, further increasing the relative influence of the speaker.

Albert's successor, Democrat [[Tip O'Neill]], was a prominent speaker because of his public opposition to the policies of President [[Ronald Reagan]]. O'Neill is the longest continuously serving speaker, from 1977 through 1987. He challenged Reagan on domestic programs and on defense expenditures. Republicans made O'Neill the target of their election campaigns in 1980 and 1982 but Democrats managed to retain their majorities in both years.

The roles of the parties reversed in 1994 when, after spending forty years in the minority, the Republicans regained control of the House with the "[[Contract with America]]", an idea spearheaded by [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|Minority Whip]] [[Newt Gingrich]]. 
[[File:Dennis_Hastert_109th_pictorial_photo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.90|[[Dennis Hastert]] (1999-2007) was the longest serving Republican speaker.]]
Speaker Gingrich would regularly clash with Democratic President [[Bill Clinton]], leading to the [[United States federal government shutdown of 1995 and 1996]], in which Clinton was largely seen to have prevailed. Gingrich's hold on the leadership was weakened significantly by that and several other controversies, and he faced a caucus revolt in 1997. 

After the Republicans lost House seats in 1998 (although retaining a majority) he did not stand for a third term as speaker. His successor, [[Dennis Hastert]], had been chosen as a compromise candidate since the other Republicans in the leadership were more controversial. 

Hastert, who had been serving in the House since 1986, became the longest serving Republican speaker (1999-2007). Hastert led the campaign to elect [[Tom DeLay]], with whom he developed a close and effective partnership, as House Majority Whip.

===21st century===
[[File:2007SOU Bush Cheney Pelosi.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.90|[[Nancy Pelosi]] (first woman elected as U.S. House Speaker) behind President [[George W. Bush]] at the [[2007 State of the Union Address]]]]
The Republicans came out of the 2000 elections with a further reduced majority but made small gains in 2002 and 2004. The periods of 2001–2002 and 2003–2007 were the first times since 1953–1955 that there was single-party Republican leadership in Washington, interrupted from 2001 to 2003 as Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]] left the Republican Party to become independent and caucused with Senate Democrats to give them a 51–49 majority.

In the 2006 midterm elections, the Democratic Party regained control of the House of Representatives. [[Nancy Pelosi]] was elected Speaker of the House, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

President Bush acknowledged Pelosi as the first woman in that position in the opening of his [[2007 State of the Union Address]] .<ref>{{cite web |last=Bush |first=George W. |author-link=George W. Bush |date=January 23, 2007 |title=President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502232627/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |access-date=August 26, 2007 |publisher=[[The White House]]}}</ref>

[[John Boehner]] was elected speaker when the [[112th Congress]] convened on January 5, 2011, and was re-elected twice, at the start of the [[113th United States Congress|113th]] and [[114th United States Congress|114th]] Congresses. On both of those occasions his remaining in office was threatened by the defection of several members from his own party who chose not to vote for him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/were-the-g-o-p-votes-against-boehner-a-historic-rejection|title=Were the G.O.P. Votes Against Boehner a Historic Rejection?|last=Cohen|first=Micah|date=January 4, 2013|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 1, 2019|url-access=limited|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194655/https://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/were-the-g-o-p-votes-against-boehner-a-historic-rejection|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/politics/house-speaker-boehner-vote|title=Boehner Overcomes Big Opposition to Remain Speaker|last=Walsh|first=Deirdre|date=January 6, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129025454/http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/politics/house-speaker-boehner-vote/|archive-date=January 29, 2015|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Boehner's tenure as speaker, which ended when he resigned from Congress in October 2015, was marked by multiple battles with the conservatives in his own party related to "[[Obamacare]]", [[Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014|appropriations]], among other political issues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/25/john-boehner-resigns-house-speaker/72793398/|title=Speaker John Boehner to resign from Congress|last1=Shesgreen|first1=Deirdre|date=September 25, 2015|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=February 4, 2019|last2=Allen|first2=Cooper|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194812/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/25/john-boehner-resigns-house-speaker/72793398/|url-status=live}}</ref> This intra-party discord continued under Boehner's successor, [[Paul Ryan]].
[[File:McCarthy Holding Gavel After Speaker Election.jpg|thumb|[[Kevin McCarthy]] became the first Speaker to be successfully [[Removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House|removed from office]] in October 2023]]
When Republican leader John Boehner succeeded Pelosi as speaker in 2011, Pelosi remained the leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives and served as House minority leader for eight years before she led her party to victory in the 2018 elections. Following the [[2018 midterm elections]] which saw the election of a Democratic Party majority in the House, [[Nancy Pelosi]] was again elected speaker when the [[116th Congress]] convened on January 3, 2019. In addition to being the first woman to hold the office, Pelosi became the first speaker to return to power since Sam Rayburn in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/03/nancy-pelosi-speaker-of-the-house/|title=Nancy Pelosi regains the House speaker's gavel as Democrats confront Trump over partial shutdown|last=Wire|first=Sarah D.|date=January 3, 2019|work=[[The Denver Post]]|access-date=September 28, 2019|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194822/https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/03/nancy-pelosi-speaker-of-the-house/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[2022 midterm elections]] which saw the election of a narrow Republican Party majority in the House, Pelosi did not seek a Democratic leadership post in the next Congress. The Democratic Caucus named her "Speaker Emerita".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Diaz |first=Daniella |date=December 2, 2022 |title=House Democrats pick Hakeem Jeffries to succeed Nancy Pelosi, the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress| url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/politics/house-democratic-leadership-vote/index.html| work=[[CNN]]| access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last=Schnell| first=Mychael| date=December 1, 2022| title=House panel votes to designate Pelosi 'Speaker Emerita'| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3757247-house-panel-votes-to-designate-pelosi-speaker-emerita/| access-date=January 7, 2023| work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

[[Kevin McCarthy]] then became the new Speaker of the House on January 7, 2023, after the longest multi-ballot speaker election since 1859.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=McCartney|first1=Allison|last2=Parlapiano|first2=Alicia|last3=Wu|first3=Ashley |last4=Zhang |first4=Christine |last5=Williams |first5=Josh |last6=Cochrane |first6=Emily |last7=Murphy |first7=John-Michael |date=January 4, 2023|title=Vote Count: McCarthy Elected House Speaker After 15 Ballots |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/04/us/politics/house-speaker-vote-tally.html |access-date=October 20, 2023|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Kevin McCarthy elected US House Speaker after 15 rounds of voting |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64193932 |access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref> McCarthy was eventually [[Removal of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House|removed as speaker]] on October 3, 2023, after a further split in the Republican caucus, with five [[House Freedom Caucus]] members voting against McCarthy, which when combined with votes of Democrats, resulted in the ouster of McCarthy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2023 |title=House passes 45-day funding bill, likely avoiding a government shutdown|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/government-shutdown-saturday-rcna118201 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> This was the first time in the history of the House of Representatives in which the Speaker of the House was successfully removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hutzler |first1=Alexandra |last2=Peller |first2=Lauren |last3=Scott |first3=Rachel |last4=Siegel |first4=Benjamin |last5=Parkinson|first5=John|title=McCarthy vote live updates: House speaker ousted for first time in US history |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/mccarthy-speaker-vote-live-updates/?id=103692404 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> Following a multi-day four-ballot election, [[Mike Johnson]] was [[October 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election|elected speaker]] on October 25, 2023.<ref>{{cite news| last=Greve | first=Joan E | title=Republican Mike Johnson elected House speaker after weeks of chaos |work=The Guardian | date=October 25, 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/mike-johnson-republican-house-speaker-vote | access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Zurcher | first=Anthony | title=Mike Johnson: Republicans got a Speaker elected. Now begins the hard part |work=BBC News | date=October 25, 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67223383 | access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Republican Mike Johnson elected US House speaker | website=Al Jazeera | date=October 25, 2023 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/25/republican-mike-johnson-elected-us-house-speaker | access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref>