"Its Ground Hog Day in Congress - GOVT 101" S 2 EP 1

TOPLESS GOVERNMENT

This is the SECOND SEASON OF TOPLESS GOVERNMENT and I’ll be discussing topics that have been top of mind to everyone, providing an insight on how YOUR government works.

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My Citizen Legislators this week Congress convened the first session of the 118th Congress. There have been 11 rounds of votes for the Speaker of the House as of Thursday evening. House Republicans asked for a Motion to Adjourn and it was agreed to by a vote of 219 to 213 and 2 not voting.

Rep.-Elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) does not have the votes. Twenty republicans have consistently voted against him. Republicans have a 9 seat majority at 222 members to 213 Democratic members. McCarthy can only afford to lose 4 votes. He has conceded to the demands of the two Republicans – Motion to Vacate the Chair, a mechanism to oust the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Placing members of the House Freedom Caucus on the House Rules Committee. The Committee on Rules is amongst the oldest standing committees in the House, having been first formally constituted on April 2, 1789. The Committee is commonly known as “The Speaker’s Committee” because it is the mechanism that the Speaker uses to maintain control of the House Floor, and was chaired by the Speaker until 1910. Because of the vast power wielded by the Rules Committee, its ratio has traditionally been weighted in favor of the majority party and has been in its “2 to 1” (9 majority and 4 minority members) configuration since the late 1970s.

I am the host, Crystal Ellerbe. I live, breathe, eat, and sleep politics. I’ve done two tours of duty in the US Senate and one tour of duty in the US House. I had the privilege of working in state and local governments, corporate America, and several lobbying firms in Washington, DC.

CRS Report R44243 Electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions

CRS Report: The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the Senate Floor

CRS Report: Party Leaders in the House: Election, Duties, and Responsibilities

Bloomberg: McCarthy Blocked for 11th Time in Longest Fight Since 1859

Bloomberg: Conservative Revolt Against McCarthy Erupts After Years of Anger

Politico.com: McCarthy fails on 11th ballot amid hopes for tentative deal with conservatives

The Hill: GOP discusses new concessions in behind-the-scenes talks on making McCarthy Speaker