Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th and current Speaker of the House
Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th and current Speaker of the House of Representatives on January 7th, 2023. He replaces Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who served two non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the House from 2007-2011 and 2019-2023.
McCarthy, who previously served as House Minority Leader, was elected after multiple days of intense negotiations and contentious debates, culminating in a confrontation between McCarthy and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Nevertheless, after 15 rounds of voting, McCarthy was announced and ascended to the gavel. “Our system is built on checks and balances” McCarthy says, “It’s time for us to be a check and provide some balance to the president’s policies,”
There is no doubt that over the past six and seven years, elections have become more and more intense and have received nonstop coverage in hopes of not only continuing to spread awareness but also solidify an understanding of what these elections mean for the everyday American.
The Speaker of the House has a wide range of autonomy over what motions can be brought. The Speaker also plays a vital role in encouraging discussion and collaboration among Democratic and Republican members.
According to a recent article in the New York Times, “Democrats… still control the Senate and the White House… the speaker, on behalf of the majority, controls the House floor. The main tool for doing so is the Rules Committee, which sets the terms of legislative debate, including which bills can be considered, for how long and — crucially — what amendments may be offered and by whom…”
What this means is that traditionally every new Congress must pass a new set of House rules. It is more than likely this will be the first agenda item during the convening. Based on McCarthy’s previous sentiments during the 2022 elections, it is safe to predict that the following items will take priority: inflation, crime, border patrol, etc.
However, the confrontation displayed on the House floor also indicates that it will continue to be an uphill battle for McCarthy to get this agenda done. Regardless of which political party one affiliates with, it has come down to the fact that any decision made on Capitol Hill will affect every American citizen, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. These very bills that are being thought up, drafted, and proposed will continue to shape the future of what is left of the American Dream.
Or even, dare to say, create a new dream.
