6.8 Leadership Structure

• Speaker of the House – The top leader in the House of Representatives, responsible for guiding bills through the House and maintaining order. This person sets the House’s agenda and determines which bills get voted on and which bills don’t. This makes the Speaker tremendously influential in the lawmaking process.

• President of the Senate – The top leader in the Senate, with similar responsibilities to the Speaker of the House. Also, extremely influential.

• Speaker Pro Tempore and President Pro Tempore – Second-in-command in their respective chambers. They assume the duties of the presiding officers in their absence.

Powers and responsibilities of these presiding officers include:

• Recognizing members who wish to speak during debates.

• Interpreting and applying the rules of the chamber.

• Determining and forming standing committees.

• Appointing members to committees, including replacing them if necessary.

• Acting as chairperson of the influential Rules and Reference Committee.

• Signing all bills and resolutions to certify that procedural requirements are met.