Speaker (politics)
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| Many bodies also have a speaker ''[[pro tempore]]'' or deputy speaker, designated to fill in when the speaker is not available. | Many bodies also have a speaker ''[[pro tempore]]'' or deputy speaker, designated to fill in when the speaker is not available. | ||
| - | == United Kingdom and other "Westminster system" countries == | ||
| - | IN Westminster-style chambers, the speaker does not have a deliberative vote, but only a tiebreaker. In some countries such as the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, this has developed into a convention of scrupulous political neutrality and the speaker resigns from his party, votes only by convention to ensure the government does not fall, and is either not challenged (in the UK) or automatically deemed elected if re-election is sought (in Ireland). Despite these conventions, the speaker is usually elected from among the members of the assembly by the members, and [[Whip (politics)|whips]] are not allowed to be among the selection. In the United Kingdom, a speaker is normally chosen from one of the two largest parties. | ||
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| - | These conventions do not apply in all countries. In Canada, major parties routinely field candidates against a speaker seeking re-election. In Australia, the speakership is a partisan position and the politically neutral position of the UK has been criticised by the Clerk of the Senate as potentially disenfranchising voters in the Speaker's seat.<ref>The Australian. (2010-08-31). [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/independent-speaker-not-fair-on-voters-warns-clerk-of-senate/story-fn59niix-1225912446520 Independent speaker not fair on voters, warns Clerk of Senate]. Retrieved 2010-08-31.</ref> | ||
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| - | Upper Houses in Westminster style Parliaments often have a presiding office which works differently, following the different conventions that apply in the British House of Lords. The officer may still be titled Speaker, as in the House of Commons, or use a different title, such as "President" as in Australian upper house. | ||
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| - | ==United States== | ||
| - | {{main|Speaker of the United States House of Representatives}} | ||
| - | {{also|Speaker of the House #United States}} | ||
| - | In the United States, in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and in state legislatures and local government councils, the speaker is usually selected by the members of the majority party and functions as a leader of that party. Thus, though speakers are supposed to be fair, they use procedural rulings to advance the agenda of their own party. Ceremonially, the speaker represents the whole house, but politically is the legislative voice of the party in power. | ||
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| - | There is one prominent case of a speaker who is not presiding officer. The [[New York City Council]], the unicameral legislative body for [[New York City]], has as its presiding officer the [[New York City Public Advocate|Public Advocate]], a position formerly known as City Council President, who is elected by all the voters of the city. As the public advocate's role has changed with several city charter revisions, a post of Council Speaker was created. The speaker is, effectively, [[majority leader]] of the council. | ||
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| - | The [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] is second in the [[United States presidential line of succession| presidential line of succession]], becoming [[President of the United States]] if the president and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] are unable to serve, although some scholars, however, have argued that this provision of the succession statute is unconstitutional.<ref>See Akhil Reed Amar & Vikram Amar, ''Is The Presidential Succession Law Constitutional?'', 48 Stan. L. Rev. 113 (1995). This issue is discussed in the entry on the [[United States Presidential Line of Succession]]</ref> | ||
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| - | The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is currently [[Nancy Pelosi]] (D-CA), who is the first woman ever to serve as Speaker. | ||
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| - | == Similar posts == | ||
| - | The presiding officer for an [[upper house]] of a [[bicameral]] legislature usually has a different title, although substantially the same duties. | ||
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| - | When the upper house is called a [[senate]], the equivalent title is often [[President of the Senate]]. [[Australia]], [[Chile]], the [[United States]] and many other countries have upper houses with presiding officers titled "president". In several American republics, the vice president of the country serves as the president of the upper house. | ||
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| - | This pattern is not universal, however. Some upper houses, including those of [[Speaker of the Canadian Senate|Canada]] and several U.S. states (including [[Tennessee Senate|Tennessee]]), have a speaker. | ||
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| - | In the [[United Kingdom]], the presiding officer of the [[House of Lords]] was until recently the [[Lord Chancellor]], who was also a member of the government (a cabinet member) and the head of the judicial branch. The Lord Chancellor did not have the same authority to discipline members of the Lords that the speaker of the Commons has in that house. (On 4 July 2006 the office was reformed, and [[Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman|the Baroness Hayman]] took the [[woolsack]] as the first [[Lord Speaker]].) (The office of Lord Chancellor remains, though with a modified role and duties.) | ||
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| - | The [[Welsh Assembly]] and [[Scottish Parliament]] have the positions of [[Presiding Officer]], which fulfils the same role as the speaker. | ||
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| - | ==List of current Speakers== | ||
| - | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" | ||
| - | !style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Country | ||
| - | !style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Legislature (or legislative chamber) | ||
| - | !style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Title | ||
| - | !style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|Incumbent | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Australia]]''' || [[Australian House of Representatives]] || [[Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives|Speaker]] || [[Harry Jenkins]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Botswana]]''' || [[National Assembly of Botswana]] || [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana|Speaker]] || [[Margaret Nasha]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Bulgaria]]''' || [[National Assembly of Bulgaria]] || [[Chairperson of the National Assembly of Bulgaria|Chairperson]] || [[Tsetska Tsacheva]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Canada]]''' || [[House of Commons of Canada]] || [[Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons|Speaker]] || [[Peter Milliken]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[People's Republic of China|China]]''' || [[National People's Congress]] || [[Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress|Chairman of the Standing Committee]] || [[Wu Bangguo]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | »[[Hong Kong]] || [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] || [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong|President]] || [[Tsang Yok Sing]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | »[[Macau]] || [[Legislative Assembly of Macau]] || [[President of the Legislative Assembly of Macau|President]] || [[Susana Chou]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Croatia]]''' || [[Parliament of Croatia|Croatian Parliament ''(Sabor)'']] || [[List of Speakers of the Croatian Parliament|President]] || [[Luka Bebić]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Denmark]]''' || [[Parliament of Denmark]] ([[Folketinget]]) || Speaker || [[Thor Pedersen]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Estonia]]''' || [[Riigikogu]] || Speaker || [[Ene Ergma]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Finland]]''' || [[Parliament of Finland]] (eduskunta/riksdagen) || [[Speaker of the Parliament of Finland|Speaker]] || [[Sauli Niinistö]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Ghana]]''' || [[Parliament of Ghana]] || Speaker || [[Mrs. Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Germany]]''' || [[Bundestag]] || [[President of the Bundestag|President]] || [[Norbert Lammert]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Greece]]''' || [[Vouli]] || [[Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament|Speaker]] || [[Philippos Petsalnikos]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Hungary]]''' || [[National Assembly of Hungary]] (Magyar Köztársaság Országgyűlése) || [[List of Speakers of the National Assembly of Hungary|Speaker]] || [[László Kövér]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[India]]''' || [[Lok Sabha]] || [[Speaker of the Lok Sabha|Speaker]] || [[Meira Kumar]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Indonesia]]''' || [[People's Representative Council]] (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) || Speaker || [[Marzuki Alie]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]''' || [[Dáil Éireann]] || [[Ceann Comhairle]] || [[Séamus Kirk]] | ||
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| - | | '''[[Iran]]''' || [[Majlis of Iran]] || [[List of Speakers of the Parliament of Iran|Speaker]] || [[Ali Larijani]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Israel]]''' || [[Knesset]] || [[Speaker of the Knesset|Speaker]] || [[Reuven Rivlin]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Kosovo]]''' || [[Assembly of Kosovo]] || [[Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo|Chairman]] || [[Jakup Krasniqi]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Latvia]]''' || [[Saeima]] || Speaker || [[Gundars Daudze]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Lebanon]]''' || [[Parliament of Lebanon]] || [[List of Speakers of the Parliament of Lebanon|Speaker]] || [[Nabih Berri]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Liechtenstein]]''' || [[Landtag of Liechtenstein]] || [[List of Speakers of the Landtag of Liechtenstein|Speaker]] || [[Arthur Brunhart]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]''' || [[Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia]] || [[List of Speakers of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia|Speaker]] || [[Trajko Veljanovski]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Malaysia]]''' || [[House of Representatives of Malaysia]] (Dewan Rakyat) || [[Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat|Speaker]] || [[Tan Sri]] [[Pandikar Amin Mulia]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Malta]]''' || [[House of Representatives of Malta]] || [[Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta|Speaker]] || [[Anton Tabone]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Mexico]]''' || [[Chamber of Deputies (Mexico)|Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)]] || [[President of the Chamber of Deputies Directive Board|President]] || [[Ruth Zavaleta Salgado]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Moldova]]''' || [[Parliament of Moldova|Parliament]] || [[President of the Moldovan Parliament|President]] || [[Marian Lupu]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Montenegro]]''' || [[Assembly of Montenegro]] || [[President of the Parliament of Montenegro|President]] || [[Ranko Krivokapić]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Netherlands]]''' || [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands]] || [[List of Presidents of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands|President]] || [[Gerdi Verbeet]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[New Zealand]]''' || [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] || [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|Speaker]] || [[Lockwood Smith|Dr Lockwood Smith]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Nigeria]]''' || [[National Assembly of Nigeria]] || [[Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives|Speaker]] || ''acting'' [[Aminu Bello Masari]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Pakistan]]''' || [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] || [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan|Speaker]] || Dr. [[Fahmida Mirza]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Philippines]]''' || [[House of Representatives of the Philippines]] || [[Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives|Speaker]] || [[Feliciano Belmonte]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Poland]]''' || [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland]] || [[Marshal of the Sejm|Marshal]] || [[Grzegorz Schetyna]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Romania]]''' || [[Chamber of Deputies of Romania]] || [[President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania|President]] || [[Roberta Anastase]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Russia]]''' || [[State Duma]] || [[Chairman of the State Duma|Chairman]] || [[Boris Gryzlov]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Serbia]]''' || [[National Assembly of Serbia|National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia]] || [[President of the National Assembly of Serbia|President]] || [[Slavica Đukić Dejanović]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Singapore]]''' || [[Parliament of Singapore]] || Speaker || [[Abdullah Tarmugi]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Solomon Islands]]''' || [[National Parliament of Solomon Islands]] || [[Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands|Speaker]] || Sir [[Peter Kenilorea]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[South Africa]]''' || [[National Assembly of South Africa]]|| [[Speaker of the South African National Assembly|Speaker]] || [[Max Sisulu]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[South Korea]]''' || [[National Assembly of South Korea]] || [[List of Speakers of the National Assembly of South Korea|Speaker]] || [[Park Hee-tae]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Sri Lanka]]''' || [[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] || [[Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka|Speaker]] || [[W. J. M. Lokubandara]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Suriname]]''' || [[National Assembly of Suriname]] (De Nationale Assemblee) || Chairman || [[Jennifer Simons]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Sweden]]''' || [[Parliament of Sweden]] (Riksdag) || [[Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden|Speaker]] || [[Per Westerberg]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Republic of China|Taiwan]]''' || [[Legislative Yuan]]|| [[President of the Legislative Yuan|President]] || [[Wang Jin-pyng]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Thailand]]''' || [[House of Representatives of Thailand]]|| [[President of the National Assembly of Thailand|President]] || [[Chai Chidchob]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Ukraine]]''' || [[Verkhovna Rada]] || [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada|Chairman]] || [[Volodymyr Lytvyn]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[United Kingdom]]''' || [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] || [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker]] || [[John Bercow]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | » [[Isle of Man]] || [[House of Keys]] || [[Speaker_of_the_House_of_Keys|Speaker]] || [[Steve Rodan]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | » [[Northern Ireland]] || [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] || [[Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly|Speaker]] || [[William Hay (Northern Ireland politician)|William Hay]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | » [[Scotland]] || [[Scottish Parliament]] || [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament|Presiding Officer]] || [[Alex Fergusson (Scottish politician)|Alex Fergusson]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | » [[Wales]] || [[National Assembly for Wales]] || [[Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales|Presiding Officer]] || [[Dafydd Elis-Thomas]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[United States]]''' || [[United States House of Representatives]] || [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] || [[Nancy Pelosi]] | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Vanuatu]]''' || [[Parliament of Vanuatu]] || Speaker || [[George Andre Wells]]<ref name=ib> {{cite news |first=|last=|title=01 September confirmed as date for Vanuatu Presidential Election |url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=16428/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl|work=[[Islands Business]]|publisher=|date=2009-09-02 |accessdate=2009-08-20}}</ref> | ||
| - | |- | ||
| - | | '''[[Zimbabwe]]''' || [[House of Assembly of Zimbabwe]] || [[List of Speakers of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe|Speaker]] || [[Lovemore Moyo]] | ||
| - | |} | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer (chair) of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the house. The speaker often also represents the body in person, as the voice of the body in ceremonial and some other situations.
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerford in the Parliament of England for ; in most other cultures other styles are used, mainly translations of chairman or president. In Canadian French, the Speaker of the House of Commons or a legislature are referred to as Président. By convention, these Speakers are normally addressed in Parliament as Mister Speaker, if a man, or Madam Speaker, if a woman.
Many bodies also have a speaker pro tempore or deputy speaker, designated to fill in when the speaker is not available.
[edit]
See also
- Generic
- President of Congress
- President of the Legislative Assembly
- President of the National Assembly
- President of the Senate
- Speaker of the House
- Speaker of the House of Assembly
- Speaker of the House of Commons
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- Speaker of the National Assembly
- Speaker of the Senate
- Specific
- Speaker of the Canadian Senate
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council
- Cathaoirleach (Speaker of the Irish Senate)
- Lord Speaker (Speaker of the United Kingdom House of Lords)
- Marshal of the Senate, Poland
- President of the European Parliament
- President of the National Assembly of Quebec
- President of the Senate of Romania
- Presiding Officer of the United States Senate
- Historic
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Speaker (politics)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
