Representative Kevin McCarthy lost his position as speaker of the House on Tuesday after a historic vote to remove him from power.
A resolution to impeach McCarthy (R-Calif.), led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), passed 216-210 — with Gaetz and seven other Republicans joining 208 Democrats in voting to remove the California Republican from the speakership.
The lower house is now tasked with electing a new speaker before it can move forward with any other business.
Although McCarthy is now the first House speaker ever to be impeached, the process to choose a new lower house leader will be reminiscent of the four-day, 15-ballot election in January that resulted in McCarthy’s elevation.
Acting Speaker replaces McCarthy
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), a staunch McCarthy ally, has been appointed speaker pro tempore and will oversee the House until a permanent speaker is chosen.
McHenry was chosen because his name topped the list of replacements McCarthy needed to prepare for clerk of the House in January.
Kevin McCarthy was ousted as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. AP
The speaker has been required to submit a list of non-civilian replacements since 2003, part of a post-9/11 contingency plan to keep the government functioning in the event of a foreign attack or other catastrophe.
As speaker pro tempore, McHenry will only have the power to recess the House, adjourn the house and recognize nominations for vacant speakerships.
North Carolinians are not, primarily, part of the presidential succession line.
A moment that has never happened before
In the 234-year history of the Dewan Rakyat, lawmakers dismissing and replacing the speaker of the House has never been done before.
The last time the House voted on a motion to impeach a speaker was in 1910, when an attempt was made to oust Speaker Joe Cannon (R-Ill.) The resolution was unsuccessful.
Representative Matt Gaetz said he wants McCarthy removed as Speaker because of his lack of commitment to cutting spending.Reuters TV
When will the House vote on the permanent speaker?
Following the vote to impeach McCarthy, McHenry closed the chamber “subject to call of the chairman,” meaning lawmakers could reconvene at any time.
During Tuesday night’s meeting of the Republican conference, McHenry announced he plans to retain the House until next week, with a candidate forum to be held on October 10 and an election by the full House to be held on October 11.
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest on Kevin McCarthy being ousted as Speaker of the House
Each time the House reconvenes, lawmakers can nominate any individual they wish for the speakership, followed by a roll call vote.
Members of the assembly are not bound to vote solely for the nominated individual, and the winner must win by a simple majority of those voting for the candidate (meaning “present” votes lower the required support threshold).
McCarthy was elected speaker in the early morning of January 7 after the largest round of voting since the mid-19th century.
Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Jim Banks (R- Ind. .), former Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and former President Donald Trump (R) all received votes for speaker during the marathon process in January.
The longest election for speaker of the House lasted two months – Dec. 3, 1855, to Feb. 2, 1856 – and saw Nathaniel Banks (R-Mass.) elected on the 133rd ballot.
Which Republicans can be nominated for speaker?
Gaetz has reportedly floated House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) as possible replacements for McCarthy.
The Florida Republican also said Monday that he thinks “very highly” of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who announced in August that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
“I would probably vote for Steve Scalise,” Gaetz said of the 57-year-old lawmaker, adding that there are probably 100 Republican caucus members he would support.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who voted in favor of McCarthy’s ouster, suggested on Monday that Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) would also be a good speaker.
It is unclear whether any of those potential candidates will put themselves forward.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
