About the Speaker of the House of Representatives

About the Speaker of the House of Representatives The position of Speaker of the House of Representatives is created in Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution. It states the House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers... Key Takeaways: Speaker of the House The Speaker of the House is designated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution as the highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives.The Speaker of the House is second in the line of presidential succession, after the Vice President.The election for Speaker of the House takes place at the beginning of each new congressional session.While the Speaker is designated as the presiding officer of the House, this day-to-day duty is usually assigned to another representative.The 2019 annual salary of the Speaker of the House is $223,500, compared to $174,000 for rank-and-file Representatives. How the Speaker Is Chosen As the highest-ranking member of the House, the Speaker is elected by a vote of the members of the House. While it is not required, the Speaker usually belongs to the majority political party. The Constitution does not require that the Speaker be an elected member of Congress. However, no non-member has ever been elected Speaker. As required by the Constitution, the Speaker is elected by a roll call vote held on the first day of every new session of Congress, which begins in January following the November midterm election thats held every two years. The Speaker is elected to a two-year term.   Typically, both the Democrats and the Republicans nominate their own candidates for Speaker. Roll call votes to select the Speaker are held repeatedly until one candidate receives a majority of all votes cast. Along with the title and duties, the Speaker of the House continues to serve as the elected representative from his or her congressional district.   Speaker of the House, the Role, Duties, and Powers Typically the head of the majority party in the House, the Speaker outranks the Majority Leader. The salary of the Speaker is also higher than that of the Majority and Minority Leaders in both the House and Senate. The Speaker rarely presides over regular meetings of the full House. Instead, they delegate the role to another representative. The Speaker does, however, typically preside over special joint sessions of Congress in which the House hosts the Senate. The Speaker of the House serves as the presiding officer of the House. In this capacity, the Speaker: Calls meetings of the House to orderAdministers the oath of office to new membersEnsures that order and decorum are maintained on the floor of the House and in the visitor galleriesMakes rulings on disputed House procedures and parliamentary issues As any other Representative, the Speaker may take part in debates and vote on legislation, but traditionally does so only in exceptional circumstances - such as when his or her vote could decide very important issues (like resolutions declaring war or amending the Constitution). The Speaker of the House also: Appoints the chairpersons and members of standing House committees and select and special committeesAppoints a majority of members to the important House Rules CommitteeExerts power over the legislative process by setting the House legislative calendar determining when bills will be debated and voted onOften utilizes this power to help fulfill his or her responsibility of making sure bills supported by the majority party are passed by the HouseServes as chair of the majority partys House steering committee Perhaps most clearly indicating the importance of the position, the Speaker of the House stands second only to the Vice President of the United States in the line of presidential succession. The first Speaker of the House was Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania, elected during the first session of Congress in 1789.   The longest-serving and perhaps most influential Speaker in history was Texas Democrat Sam Rayburn, who served as Speaker from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961. Working closely with House committees and members from both parties, Speaker Rayburn ensured the passage of several controversial domestic policies and foreign aid bills backed by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. The 2019 annual salary of the Speaker of the House is $223,500, compared to $174,000 for rank-and-file Representatives. Source The Constitution of the United States of America. Constitution Center.

The Busiest Subway and Metro Systems in the World

The Busiest Subway and Metro Systems in the World Subways, also known as metros or the Underground, are an easy and economical form of rapid transit in approximately 160 world cities. After paying their fares and consulting their subway maps, residents and visitors to the city can quickly travel to their home, hotel, work, or school. Travelers can get to government administration buildings, businesses, financial institutions, medical facilities, or religious worship centers. People can also travel to the airport, restaurants, sporting events, shopping venues, museums, and parks. Local governments closely monitor the subway systems to ensure their safety, security, and cleanliness. Some subways are extremely busy and crowded, especially during commuting hours. Here is a list of the fifteen busiest subway systems in the world and some of the destinations that the passengers might be traveling to. It is ranked in order of total annual passenger rides. The Worlds Busiest Subway Systems 1. Tokyo, Japan Metro – 3.16 billion annual passenger rides Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the world’s most populated metropolitan area and home to the world’s busiest metro system, with approximately 8.7 million daily riders. This metro opened in 1927. Passengers may travel to the many financial institutions or Shinto temples of Tokyo. 2.Moscow, Russia Metro – 2.4 billion annual passenger rides Moscow is the capital of Russia, and about 6.6 million people daily ride beneath Moscow. Passengers may be trying to reach Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, or the Bolshoi Ballet. Moscow metro stations are very beautifully decorated, representing Russian architecture and art. 3. Seoul, South Korea Metro – 2.04 billion annual passenger rides The metro system in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, opened in 1974, and 5.6 million daily riders can visit financial institutions and the many palaces of Seoul. 4. Shanghai, China Metro – 2 billion annual passenger rides Shanghai, the largest city in China, has a subway system with 7 million daily riders. The metro in this port city opened in 1995. 5. Beijing, China Metro – 1.84 billion annual passenger rides Beijing, the capital of China, opened its subway system in 1971. About 6.4 million people daily ride this metro system, which was expanded for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Residents and visitors can travel to the Beijing Zoo, Tiananmen Square, or the Forbidden City. 6. New York City Subway, USA – 1.6 billion annual passenger rides The subway system in New York City is the busiest in the Americas. Opened in 1904, there are now 468 stations, the most of any system in the world. About five million people daily travel to Wall Street, the United Nations headquarters, Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or theater shows on Broadway. The MTA New York City Subway map is incredibly detailed and complex. 7. Paris, France Metro – 1.5 billion annual passenger rides The word â€Å"metro† comes from the French word â€Å"metropolitan.† Opened in 1900, about 4.5 million people daily travel beneath Paris to reach the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, or the Arc de Triomphe. 8. Mexico City, Mexico Metro – 1.4 billion annual passenger rides About five million people daily ride the Mexico City metro, which opened in 1969 and displays Mayan, Aztec, and Olmec archaeological artifacts in some of its stations. 9. Hong Kong, China Metro – 1.32 billion annual passenger rides Hong Kong, an important global financial center, opened a subway system in 1979. About 3.7 million people ride daily. 10. Guangzhou, China Metro – 1.18 billion Guangzhou is the third largest city in China and has a metro system which opened in 1997. This important trade and commercial center is an important port in Southern China. 11. London, England Underground – 1.065 billion annual passenger rides London, United Kingdom opened the world’s first metro system in 1863. Known as the â€Å"Underground,† or â€Å"The Tube,† about three million people daily are told to â€Å"mind the gap.† Some stations were used as shelters during the air raids of World War II. Popular sights in London along the Underground include the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Globe Theater, Big Ben, and Trafalgar Square. Other Busy Subway Systems The metro in Delhi, India is the busiest metro in India. The busiest metro in Canada is in Toronto. The second busiest metro in the United States is in Washington, DC, America’s capital. Subways: Convenient, Efficient, Beneficial A busy subway system is very beneficial to the residents and visitors in many world cities. They can quickly and easily navigate their city for business, pleasure, or practical reasons. The government uses the revenues raised by fares to further improve the city’s infrastructure, safety, and administration. Additional cities around the world are constructing subway systems, and the ranking of the world’s busiest subways will likely change over time.