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Speaker (politics) facts for kids

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Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers, Wellington 1984 (23565419019)
Speakers and presiding officers from various Commonwealth nations meet for a Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, 1984

Speaker is the title of the person in charge of some legislatures, usually the lower house.

House of Commons of the United Kingdom

The Speaker is elected by other members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, and is usually a member of the government party, but leaves his or her party because the Speaker must be neutral (not like one side more than another). The Speaker does not vote. If the Speaker wants to stand in for re-election the other parties do not oppose him to show he is neutral.

Dail Éireann in Ireland

The Speaker (Ceann Comhairle) of the Dáil Éireann is neutral, but the constitution (Bunreacht) of Ireland says he does not need to stand for re-election, he is given the first seat in his constituency.

United States House of Representatives

The Speaker is the leader of the largest party. He or she is not neutral, but votes for his party's policies. The Speaker also helps to get his party's ideas made law. The term of the Speaker of the House is two years in office.

Images for kids

  • Marshal's chair Sejm Plenary Hall

    Marshal's chair in the Sejm, lower chamber of the Polish Parliament

  • House of Commons. Speaker's Chair

    Ths Speaker's Chair in the UK House of Commons (19th century photograph)

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