which of the following determines who holds the position of speaker of the house?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives
The Senate?
The position of Speaker of the House is determined by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The following explains how the Speaker of the House is chosen:
1. Party Affiliation: The first step in determining the Speaker of the House is to consider the composition and majority party of the House of Representatives. Typically, the Speaker is chosen from the majority party.
2. Party Nomination: Within the majority party, a Speaker candidate is nominated through internal party elections. Members of the party caucus/state delegation participate in these closed-door elections, where they vote for their preferred candidate for the Speaker position.
3. Floor Vote: Once the nominee is chosen by the majority party, a vote is held on the House floor to elect the Speaker. All members of the House, regardless of party affiliation, have the opportunity to cast their vote for the Speaker. The candidate who receives an absolute majority of the votes (more than half of the votes) becomes the Speaker of the House.
It's important to note that the Speaker of the House does not need to be an elected member of the House of Representatives. However, historically, the Speaker is usually a sitting member of the House due to their knowledge of House rules and procedures.
In summary, the Speaker of the House is determined by a combination of party affiliation, internal party elections, and a floor vote in the House of Representatives.