what does speaker of the house do

The Speaker of the House is the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, elected every two years by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on the first day of each new Congress. The Speaker is responsible for administering the oath of office to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, giving Members permission to speak on the House floor, designating Members to serve as Speaker pro tempore, counting and declaring all votes, appointing Members to committees, sending bills to committees, and signing bills and resolutions that pass in the House. The Speaker is also second in line, behind the Vice President, to become President should the President be unable to fulfill his or her duties. The Speaker is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party, and they can make or break a US presidents agenda, stymie opposition, and spearhead their partys biggest legislative initiatives. The Speaker sets the Houses legislative agenda, controls committee assignments, sets the vote and work calendar, and is responsible for keeping their party members unified behind major initiatives.