Quote:
Originally Posted by SirFozzie
Not quite: He can be speaker for three legislating days. Once that term's over, then we're back into the "Forever voting for Speaker" phase.
Of course, if they try to do anything BUT arrange for speaker votes, several R's have said they will put in a new vote to vacate the chair, and then we're in "Forever Voting For Speaker" phase again
edit: What happens next after Kevin McCarthy ousted as U.S. House speaker? | Reuters |
The "three day" rule only applies for times when the Speaker will not be avaible due to illness or disability. In the case of a Speaker vacancy, there is no time limit.
"The intent of the rule was for the speaker
pro tempore to serve for a short period, until the House elected a new speaker, but the House rules set no specific limit on the length of time that a member may be speaker
pro tempore.
"
He does have all the powers of the Speaker, which is why for instance he was allowed to make the petty move of kicking Pelosi and Hoyer out of their offices. The only part of the Speaker he isn't granted is being in the line of Succession. Now it is likely if he tries to move forward as acting Speaker without quickly calling for a vote on a new Speaker, someone will probably call for another vote to vacate. But in theory, he could serve out the rest of the term if no Speaker is elected, and the House could continue to function in its regular disfunction.