Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives facts for kids
Steve Scalise (R-LA)
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Tom Emmer (R-MN)
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Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
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Katherine Clark (D-MA)
In the United States House of Representatives, special members are chosen to lead their political parties. These people are called party leaders or floor leaders. They help guide their party's plans and speak for their party's ideas in the House.
These leaders are picked every two years. Members of each party vote in a secret election. The two main groups are the House Democratic Caucus and the House Republican Conference. Depending on which party has the most members, one leader becomes the majority leader and the other becomes the minority leader.
Who Are the House Leaders?
The House Majority Leader is the second most powerful person in their party. The most powerful is the Speaker of the House. The Majority Leader helps decide what laws the House will work on each year. They also schedule when new laws will be discussed and voted on. Plus, they help organize the work of different committees.
The Minority Leader is the main leader for the party that has fewer members. They speak for their party's views and policies. They also work to make sure the minority party's rights are protected in the House.
What Do Whips Do?
Each party also has an assistant majority leader and an assistant minority leader. These are often called whips. Whips are the second-highest leaders in their party, after the main leader. Their most important job is to make sure party members vote the way their party wants on important issues. They count votes and encourage members to support their party's position.
See also
- Party leaders of the United States Senate
- Divided government in the United States
