#Powers   #Speaker   

The Speaker of The House, is the presiding officer of the House and is charged with numerous duties and responsibilities by law and by the House rules. As the presiding officer of the House, the Speaker maintains order, manages its proceedings, and governs the administration of its business.

In 1997, Newt Gingrich (House Speaker) made a 3-hour unofficial visit to Taiwan for the purpose of stirring up geopolitical tension and he accomplished just that. Just because he did, it does not mean that his visit was sanctioned by the US nor is it an unspoken rule of office. In point of fact, no such rule allowing it even exists.

On Tuesday August 2nd, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan, becoming the first person of her rank to do so in almost thirty years. Her trip was not officially sanctioned by the Biden Administration.

Nowhere in the rules does it say that the Speaker has either the right or authority to travel to a foreign country as an ambassador or otherwise for that matter. (See Rules below). It does allow them to designate members to travel on official business of the House. Manual Sec. 636. However, this was not an officially sanctioned visit, she acted on her own and, she cannot appoint herself.

[House Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House]

[Chapter 34. Office of the Speaker]

[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

The speaker of the house has too much authority as exampled by the current speaker of the house (Nancy Pelosi) ignoring the president of the United States and risking global conflict by travelling to Taiwan. This would never happen if their authority was limited only to presiding over the house meetings.

Removing the house speakers powers to act independently of all parties will ensure that the sovereignty of another country is not violated by their actions. 

As Americans, we have zero rights to act or to vote on house actions. This has to end to prevent rogue actions as exampled in the opening paragraph.

The lives of the people of the whole world cannot reside in hands of the speaker of the house.

The speaker should not be next in line to succeed to the presidency. The house speakers are not elected by the people but by their parties constituents. Therefor, they only act in their parties self-interest and not that of the people regardless of what they would have you believe.

The speakers powers should be limited to presiding over the house meetings but have zero powers beyond that.