1. these are the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. the latter is chosen by ballot of the members of the house. as this position gives him considerable influence over the course of legislation the party having a majority in the house are careful to select one on whose sympathy with their views and aims they can rely. when there is nearly or quite a balance of parties, it becomes an important and difficult matter to adjust; and has, in some instances, required a long struggle to elect the speaker. the result, in such a case, usually determines which shall control the general legislation of that congress.
2. the president of the senate, under ordinary circumstances, is determined by the constitution, that instrument devolving the office on the vice-president. it is the only active duty assigned him while the president is in condition to perform the duties belonging to that office. it seems to befit his relations, being the highest honorary place in the government below that of president, subjects him to no superior, and, from the part the senate takes in the responsibilities of the president, makes him acquainted with the general conduct of affairs; which may be an important advantage to him should he be called to act as president. in the latter case, and in case of the decease, resignation, or disability of the vice-president,[412] the senate proceeds to elect its president in the same way as in the house of representatives, i. e.: by ballot, for a candidate among its own members.
3. their duties are to open every sitting of their respective houses by calling the members to order at the appointed time, on the appearance of a quorum to cause the journal of the preceding day to be read, to preserve order and decorum during the deliberations, to decide questions of order that may arise, (from which an appeal may be taken to the house, at the instance of any two members,) to formally state, and call for the votes on, a question to be decided, and to declare the result of the same after the vote has been taken.
this is the regular routine duty of a presiding officer. they, as the recognized heads of their respective houses, have the general oversight of its interests, and a general control of the conduct of its business. they examine the journal to see that it is correct, may order the galleries and lobby to be cleared in case of any disturbance by spectators, and have general control over the unoccupied rooms in the capitol belonging to their respective houses. they are required to sign all acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, and appoint the members of all committees whose appointment is not specially directed by the house to be otherwise made. in all cases of ballot the speaker of the house must vote; but he is not required to vote in other cases unless there is a tie, (an equal number for and against,) when he must give the casting vote. the president of the senate may vote only in case of a tie.
when the house of representatives goes into committee of the whole, the speaker leaves the chair, but appoints a chairman to preside for the time being; and when the president of the united states is impeached before the senate the chief justice of the supreme court presides.
4. their duties are very distinctly defined in the rules adopted by each house for their guidance, but many opportunities for exerting great influence often arise, and many cases requiring great tact and judgment and an intimate knowledge[413] of parliamentary law. they receive a much larger salary than ordinary members of congress.
the following are the names of all the speakers of the house of representatives. a list of vice-presidents is given in the chapter devoted to that officer.
frederick a. muhlenburgh, penn., 1789 to 1791
jonathan trumbull, conn., 1791 ” 1793
frederick a. muhlenburgh, penn., 1793 ” 1797
jonathan dayton, n. j., 1797 ” 1798
theodore sedgwick, mass., 1798 ” 1801
nathaniel macon, n. c., 1801 ” 1807
joseph b. varnum, mass. 1807 ” 1811
henry clay, ky., 1811 ” 1814
langdon cheeves, s. c., 1814 ” 1815
henry clay, ky., 1815 ” 1820
john w. taylor, n. y., 1820 ” 1821
philip p. barbour, va., 1821 ” 1823
henry clay, ky., 1823 ” 1825
john w. taylor, n. y., 1825 ” 1827
andrew stevenson, va., 1827 ” 1835
john bell, tenn., 1835 ” 1837
james k. polk, tenn., 1837 ” 1839
robert m. t. hunter, va., 1839 ” 1841
john white, ky., 1841 ” 1843
john w. jones, va., 1843 ” 1845
john w. davis, ind., 1845 ” 1847
robert c. winthrop, mass., 1847 ” 1849
howell cobb, ga., 1849 ” 1851
lynn boyd, ky., 1851 ” 1856
nathaniel p. banks, mass., 1856 ” 1858
james l. orr, s. c., 1858 ” 1859
william pennington, n. j., 1860 ” 1861
galusha a. grow, penn., 1861 ” 1863
schuyler colfax, ind., 1864 ” 1869
james g. blaine, me., 1869 ” 1873
” 1873 ” 1875
