united-states constitutional-law us-constitution us-house-of-reps
Is voting in the House of Representatives automatically postponed if the Speaker of the House is unable to attend due to sickness?
<p>I am wondering what happens when the Speaker of the House is unable to come in to the U.S. Capitol Building due to sickness on a day in which voting is to take place. Is there anything written in the U.S. Constitution that says that the Speaker must be present in order for any voting to take place in the House chamber? Is all voting automatically postponed until the Speaker has recovered from his/her sickness and is able to attend?</p>
<p>I admit to not knowing too much on how things work in the House, or in the Senate, in regards to the issue of attendance on voting days.</p>

<h2>No, votes would not have to be postponed.</h2>
<p>The Constitution has nothing specific to say about this.  (It's not that long - you can and should read it through and check for yourself, and searching is even easier.)  The Constitution's only reference to the Speaker of the House is Article I Section 2: &quot;The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers [...]&quot;.  (Other than the 25th Amendment which prescribes the role of the Speaker in receiving declarations as to whether the President is incapacitated.)</p>
<p>The House's procedures, and the Speaker's role in them, are left up to the <a href="https://rules.house.gov/rules-and-resources" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rules of the House of Representatives</a>, which the House makes for itself.  (US Constitution, Article I, Section 5: &quot;Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings [...]&quot;.)   Rule I, Section 8 provides:</p>
<blockquote>
<ol start="8">
<li>(a) The Speaker may appoint a
Member to perform the duties of the
Chair. Except as specified in paragraph
(b), such an appointment may not extend beyond three legislative days.
(b)(1) In the case of illness, the
Speaker may appoint a Member to perform the duties of the Chair for a period not exceeding 10 days, subject to
the approval of the House. If the
Speaker is absent and has omitted to
make such an appointment, then the
House shall elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the
Speaker.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>So if the Speaker is ill, she can appoint a temporary substitute (Speaker pro tempore), who can preside over all House business, including votes.  If she cannot or does not do so, the House may elect a Speaker pro tempore with the same authority.  (That election itself would be presided over by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerk_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Clerk of the House</a>, an administrative official, as specified by Rule II Section 2(a).)</p>
<p>Either way, there would be no need for votes to be postponed.</p>
