MORE POWER for Jan. 6th
1000 MORE's weekly nonpartisan roundup of the most important happenings in federal government, written in a way that doesn't require a law degree to understand, with tools to take action.
January 6, 2023
Welcome back to MORE POWER! For the first time a century, the United States hasn't had a Congress for days! We're here to explain what the h$#@ is going on.
What's Happening in the House
Technically, for the first time in 100 years, the American people don't have a Congress, because House Republicans failed to elect a Speaker of the House. The Speaker's first job is to swear new and returning members into the new Congressional session, so without a Speaker, Congress can't be sworn in and get to work.
While Republicans hold a majority in the House, they have yet to agree on a Speaker of the House. The Speaker needs 118 votes and 20 hard-right Republicans keep voting against the party's chosen nominee Kevin McCarthy, (R-CA).
Two things can happen from here, but the first scenario is the most likely:
Negotiations between House Republican leadership and hard-right members continue until the 20 hold outs agree to vote for McCarthy, and McCarthy becomes Speaker.
Another nominee steps forward with the required votes to win the Speakership, someone who can bring the hard-right members together with the more center-right Republicans currently backing McCarthy. The question is, who is that candidate, and would they do so without McCarthy's blessing? Names like Steve Scalise, (R-LA) have been floated for months, but it remains to be seen how this will play out.
Have a view you would like to share with your representative on the vote for Speaker? You can use 1000 MORE to reach them!
Party Leadership Roles
The House and Senate each have a majority and minority leader who set the agenda for the term. The party in power elects the majority leader and the other elects the minority leader, in each chamber.
These are powerful positions!
The majority leader in the Senate and the Speaker of the House, are the only people who have the power to schedule legislation for a vote.
They also serve as the spokesperson for their party’s positions on the issues, coordinate their respective legislative strategies, consult with members to understand how party members feel about issues, and work to advance the goals of their party.
Chamber Leadership Roles
Members of the Senate elect the role of president pro tempore. The Constitution requires this position as presiding officer in the absence of the vice president. The president pro tempore is also authorized to preside over the Senate and sign legislation.
Members of the House elect a Speaker of the House. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House, like the president pro tempore, but it is a considerably more powerful role, as they also control the voting schedule like the majority leader does in the Senate.
Meet Your New Senate Leaders
Last year, both parties in the Senate re-elected their party leaders from the last Congress. Since Democrats held power, they continue to be in the majority and their leader becomes majority leader. Republicans continue to be in the minority and their leader becomes the minority leader.
Democrats re-elected Charles Schumer (D-NY) to continue in his role as majority leader. Republicans re-elected Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as minority leader, making him the chamber’s longest-serving party leader.
The Senate made history on Wednesday electing the first woman to serve in the role of president pro tempore, Patty Murray, (D-WA), who succeeded Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The Senate president pro tempore quickly swore members in, and the chamber adjourned until January 23rd, when they will return to D.C. to work on legislation.
Meet Your New House Leaders
At the end of the last term, before the holidays, House Republicans chose Kevin McCarthy, (R-CA) as their leader, and after Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA) declined to run again for leadership, House Democrats chose Hakeem Jeffries, (D-NY) to lead them. As Republicans took power in the midterm elections, it was expected that in the new term, McCarthy would be elected Speaker of the House and Jeffries would become minority leader, hence the confusion and chaos since Republicans repeatedly fail to do so.
The House is on the cusp of making history because Democrats elected the first Black leader in history with Jeffries. Once Republicans get it together, his position as minority leader will be official.
