The duties of the Speaker of the House are:
- Presides over the House of Representatives
- Appoints a a member of the House to act as Speaker pro tempore and preside over the House in the Speaker's absence
- "as soon as practicable after the election of the Speaker and whenever appropriate thereafter," must deliver to the Clerk of the House a confidential list of Members who are designated to act as Speaker in the case of a vacancy caused by an emergency, such as a terrorist attack.
- Designates a member of the house to preside over any "Committee of the Whole" (when the entire House meets in effect as a single committee) as the Chairman of the committee.
- Grants permission to speak (members of the House have to first be recognized by the presiding office before they can speak)
- Rules on "points of order", i.e. if someone thinks the rules have been broken, they ask the Speaker for a ruling
- Selects nine of the thirteen members of the Committee on Rules (of the House)
- Appoints all members of select committees and conference committees
- Assigns submitted bills to committees (decides which committee gets it)
- Maintains "decorum" in the House
- Directs the House Sergant-at-Arms to enforce House rules
- Assumes the Presidency if both the President and Vice-President are out of the picture
The Speaker also can vote on bills but normally does not unless his/her vote is decisive or it is an extremely important bill
