House Republicans have a huge decision to make. Their current Speaker, Paul Ryan, recently announced his retirement. That means that House Republicans need to officially pick a new Speaker of the House. The role of the Speaker of the House is an important one, as it supervises business in the House and serves as the head of the ruling party.
The process to pick a new Speaker is set out by the Constitution but there are some procedural steps laid out by the House of Representatives. It starts with a nomination by majority party caucus. All members of the majority party can submit nominations for the speaker seat, and any member of the House can be nominated. The nomination process is usually a private affair, but can be conducted on the House floor depending on the circumstances.
After all nominations have been submitted, a vote is taken. The House votes on the individual nominees, with the most votes becoming the new Speaker. It is possible that a nomination can be taken multiple times until a candidate gets more than a majority of the votes. It is also possible for members to submit what is known as a “motion to postpone the election” to try and delay the process, although this can be overruled by a majority vote. If after multiple attempts, no candidate is able to receive the majority of the votes, then the House can appoint a Speaker of the House by a majority vote.
The new Speaker will then take the Oath of Office and deliver a speech to accept the position. From there, the Speaker will preside over House business and manage the floor debate while representing the majority party.
Therefore, House Republicans need to pick a new Speaker of the House. It is a crucial part of the legislative process and it is up to the majority party to come to a consensus. It is a long and detailed process but ultimately the House has the power to select one of its own to guide the house of representatives.