House Leadership Megathread: it's House of Cards but without the monologues

[Taco Truck 🚚]

The Speaker can be from the minority party?

It says a lot about the average American that even people who post on politics forums haven't even bothered to read the Constitution.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

The Speaker can be from the minority party?

It says a lot about the average American that even people who post on politics forums haven't even bothered to read the Constitution.

I'm sorry but I don't see how "The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers" would, on its own, definitively answer Mr. Bigby's question

There is zero mention of political parties ANYWHERE in the Constitution so why would being in the majority party be a prerequisite for a job outlined in the document?

This is basic Constitution stuff.  It doesn't even require reading comprehension.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

The Speaker can be from the minority party?

It says a lot about the average American that even people who post on politics forums haven't even bothered to read the Constitution.

I'm sorry but I don't see how "The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers" would, on its own, definitively answer Mr. Bigby's question

There is zero mention of political parties ANYWHERE in the Constitution so why would being in the majority party be a prerequisite for a job outlined in the document?

This is basic Constitution stuff.  It doesn't even require reading comprehension.

You brought up the Constitution first. 

Say what you want but there is no party litmus test for the Speaker of the House in the Constitution.  When in doubt default to the Constitution.  One would think that goes without saying on a politics forum.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

All white Christian men. That's nice. Finally that disadvantaged group gets some taste of power.

Okay that's one battle, but they are still losing the war on Christianity. [/s]

[Taco Truck 🚚]

Yeah, that's the thing. A lot of rules about the House have been formed over the years and are not from the Constitution. You won't find the Hastert Rule in the Constitution, for example.

Yeah but when in doubt go with the Constitution.  The default assumption should be party is not a prerequisite.  Confirmation shouldn't cause surprise.

FYI the "Hastert Rule" isn't in the Constitution... and is ignored at times.  So you're proving my point.  You asked "can".  And yes a lot of things "can" happen according to the Constitution.  That doesn't necessarily mean they are likely to happen.

[Taco Truck 🚚]

Not necessarily. In 1855, following the collapse of the Whig Party, no party had a majority in Congress (the Dems had a plurality, with the remaining seats divided amongst various opposition parties). After 30-some consecutive votes in which no candidate managed to win a majority, the House changed the rules to allow the Speaker to be elected with a plurality, giving the office to Know-Nothing Nathaniel Banks. It's not inconceivable that something similar could occur again if the Tea Party sticks to its guns.

Wow.

Are you a history major or did you just google that?