How Is the Speaker of the House Elected?

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the United States House and the highest-ranking member of the majority party in the chamber. The Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession, after the Vice President. Electing a Speaker is the first act of every new Congress.

The election process

At the start of each new Congress (every two years, on January 3 of odd-numbered years), the full House of Representatives votes to elect a Speaker. Each party’s caucus or conference nominates a candidate before the floor vote. The Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus each hold internal elections to choose their nominee, typically in November after the general election.

On the House floor, the Clerk of the House calls the roll alphabetically. Each member states aloud the name of their choice for Speaker. A candidate must receive an absolute majority of all votes cast for a specific individual — not just a plurality. With a full House of 435 members, this typically means 218 votes, though the threshold drops if members vote “present” rather than naming a candidate.

What happens if no one gets a majority?

If no candidate receives an absolute majority on the first ballot, the House continues voting. There is no limit on the number of ballots. The longest Speaker election in modern history occurred in January 2023, when Kevin McCarthy required 15 ballots over four days. Historically, the 1855–1856 election required 133 ballots over two months before Nathaniel Banks was elected.

Between ballots, party leaders negotiate with holdout members, often offering committee assignments, rule changes, or policy commitments in exchange for votes.

Powers of the Speaker

Once elected, the Speaker holds significant authority: setting the House’s legislative calendar, recognizing members to speak on the floor, referring bills to committees, appointing members to select committees and conference committees, and interpreting House rules. The Speaker also controls access to the House floor and has informal influence over committee chair selections through the Steering Committee.

The Speaker can be removed mid-Congress through a “motion to vacate the chair,” a procedural tool that forces a new election for Speaker. This happened in October 2023 when Kevin McCarthy was removed — the first Speaker in American history to be ousted by his own chamber.

Current Speaker

The current Speaker of the House is Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who was elected on January 3, 2025, at the start of the 119th Congress.

Last updated: April 2, 2026.