Speaker of the House

This individual is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives, the office being established under Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. Ironically, the Speaker need not be a member of the House, but no non-member has ever been elected as such. The Speaker is second in the Presidential line of succession after the Vice President, but before the President pro tempore of the Senate. Typically, the Speaker heads the House, the majority political party in the House, oversees joint sessions and joint meetings of the House and the Senate, and is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by his or her party.