How Is the Speaker of the House Elected?
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The Speaker of the House presides over the House, controls which bills reach the floor and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice president. The Constitution says only that the House "shall chuse their Speaker"; the rest comes from House practice.
The vote
On the first day of a new Congress, before members are sworn in, the House elects its Speaker. The clerk calls the roll and each member answers with a name. To win, a candidate needs a majority of members voting for a person by name. Members who vote "present" or don't vote lower the number needed, which is why a Speaker can win with fewer than 218 votes. The Speaker doesn't have to be a member of the House, though every Speaker so far has been.
When no one wins
The House keeps voting until someone has a majority, and it can do nothing else in the meantime, including swearing in its members. In January 2023 it took 15 ballots over four days to elect Kevin McCarthy, the most ballots since 1859.
Removing a Speaker
A member can offer a motion to vacate the chair. If a majority votes for it, the Speakership is vacant. In October 2023, McCarthy became the first Speaker removed this way; the House elected Mike Johnson three weeks later. The House has since changed its rules to make the motion harder to bring.
For the 120th Congress, the vote is set for January 3, 2027. See when the new Congress takes office.
Sources: U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2; Office of the House Historian; Congressional Research Service.
Questions and answers
How many votes does a Speaker need?
A majority of members voting for a person by name. Members voting "present" or absent lower the number, so it can be fewer than 218.
Does the Speaker have to be a member of the House?
No, the Constitution doesn't require it, but every Speaker so far has been a member.
When will the next Speaker be elected?
On the first day of the 120th Congress, January 3, 2027, before members are sworn in.