Although neither the Constitution nor its own rules require it, the House has always chosen the Speaker from among its own members. Usually, the Speaker is a longtime member who has risen in stature and influence through years of service.
The Speaker of the House is both the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of the its majority party. Speakers are expected to preside in a fair and judicious manner, and they regularly do. They are also expected to aid the fortunes of their own party and its legislative goals.
Nearly all of the Speaker's specific powers revolve around two duties: to preside and to keep order. The Speaker presides over all sessions of the House, or appoints a temporary presiding officer. No member may speak until recognized by the Speaker. The Speaker interprets and applies the rules, refers bills to the standing committees, rules on points of order (questions of procedure raised by members), puts questions to vote, and decides the outcome of most of the votes taken. The Speaker also names the members of all select and conference committees and signs all bills and resolutions passed by the House.
As a member, the Speaker may debate and vote on any matter before the House. But if he chooses to do so, he must appoint a temporary presiding officer (the Speaker pro tempore), and that member then occupies the Speaker's chair. The Speaker does not often vote, and the House rules say that he must vote only to break a tie. Notice then, because a tie vote defeats a question, the Speaker can occasionally vote to cause a tie and so defeat a proposal.
The Speaker of the House follows the Vice President in the line of succession to the president - a considerable testimony to the power and importance of both the office and the person who holds it.
Current Speaker of the House:
Dennis Hastert