Speaker

The style or title of the presiding officer of some deliberative assemblies; particularly those of the United States house of representatives, and of the two houses of parliament. According to May, each house of parliament has an officer termed a speaker, who presides over and manages the formal parts of the business. The speaker of the house of lords is the lord chancellor, or keeper of the king's great seal, or any other person appointed by the king's commission; and, if none should be so appointed, the house of lords might elect. He is not necessarily a member: it has frequently happened that the loi'd keeper has officiated for years as speaker, without having been raised to the peerage; and on Nov. 22, 1830, Mr. Brougham sat as speaker, — being at that time lord chancellor, — although his patent of creation as a peer had not yet been made out. The speaker of the house of commons is chosen by the house, but must be approved by the king. tions; and the lord chancellor has no more to do with preserving order than any other peer. In the commons, his duties are to put questions, to preserve order, and to see that the privileges of the house are not infringed; and, in the event of the numbers being even on a division, he has the privilege of giving the casting vote. He is, moreover, the spokesman of the house on state occar sions, in reprimanding delinquents, &c. In the United States house of representatives, the speaker, in addition to the usual authority and powers of a presiding officer, has the appointment of the standing committees of the house; which imparts to the position a high degree of importance and influence over legislation.