Speaker

The title of the presiding officer of the house of representatives of the United States. The position is one of great importance, as the speaker appoints 7 the standing committees of the house. The presiding officer of either branch of the state legislature generally is called the speaker. See Hinds, Rules of the House of Representatives. Both houses of parliament are presided over by a speaker. That of the House of Lords is commonly the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, though the latter office is practically merged in that of Lord Chancellor. This is by prescription. Or the appointment may be by royal commission. In the commons, he is elected by the house, with the approval of the crown. He holds over from one parliament to another, without regard to the political complexion of the majority of the house. He never votes, except when the votes are equal, nor debates, but when the house is in committee, the speaker leaves the chair, and may then address the committee. In the lords, if he be a peer, he has a vote with the rest of the house. See May, P. L. ch. 7. The first speaker of the house was in 1377. See Quorum; Prolocutor; Mac Conochie, Congressional Committees; Follett, The Speaker; 2 Steph. Com. 483.

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.

The presiding officer of the house of representatives of the United States is so called. The presiding officer of either branch of the state legislatures generally bears this name.