House speaker: Anyone can run, even you (Ted Cruz?)

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 25, 2015 | Peter Grier, Washington editor

[2ndDivisionVet]

Non-House members have received votes for speaker, and that’s a trend that seems to be growing.

Who can replace Speaker of the House John Boehner, who announced Friday he’s quitting? Almost anyone. Maybe even you.

This isn’t a comment on the job Representative Boehner has or has not done in his role as leader of his legislative chamber. It’s meant to illustrate a little-known fact: Under the Constitution, the speaker does not have to be a member of the House. He or she doesn’t have to be an elected lawmaker or government official. The speaker can be an ordinary, private citizen.

In fact, there really are not any legal restrictions on qualifications for that office. The relevant words are from the Constitution’s Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5: “The House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and other Officers."(continued)

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

First off, CSMonitor DID NOT NEED the [sic] after “chuse”, in 1783, that was correct.

Second?
Hey,
Cletus! [sic] is available for a 12-month stint as Speaker.

[usual suspect]

Michelle Bachman. She has always been ahead of the curve.

[Bobalu]

Newt

[cripplecreek]

I hadn’t thought about her but that’s an interesting idea.

[usual suspect]

She ran for speaker before. She would get trashed for saying things like “Sharia law is coming to the US. Or The Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated Washington.” Turns out she was right on, but never got credited for it.

[cripplecreek]

I know she wasn’t afraid of pointing fingers at Grover Al Norquist.

[RiseUpPatriots]

Not with her covering up for that gay husband of hers. Kinda makes me wonder if she has a special arrangement set up that may come out of the closet and bite her in the butt.

[Libertynotfree]

My choice is Allen West

[Lisbon1940]

Earlier today I laid out a strategy whereby Ted Cruz, the one true conservative, could gain simultaneous control off all three branches of the federal government. It starts with a successful bid for the House Speakership.

[canuck_conservative]

Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin

either would get Media heads exploding uncontrollably

[MUDDOG]

helped convince the current speaker it’s time to move on.

We're the reason he's a-travelin' on.

But don't think twice, it's alright.

[onona]

Why not The Donald ?

[Dr. Sivana]

First off, CSMonitor DID NOT NEED the [sic] after “chuse”, in 1783, that was correct.

Heck, you should see what the CSMonitor does when it quotes Shakespeare!

[Dr. Sivana]

Newt Gingrich would be a fun choice.

[HarleyLady27]

OMGOSH.....Send ME to Washington D.C. to be speaker of the House...I’m as qualified as anyone else...come on folks, give me the support to get me there!!!!

[mrsmith]

Send Congress the man they deserve... Charles Manson.

[Kaslin]

For Ted Cruz to run wouldn’t he have to resign from the Senate?

[2ndDivisionVet]

No, the constitution says anyone can be chosen.

[Kaslin]

While is is true that the speaker does not have to be a member of the House, I doubt that Ted Cruz could be speaker of the House and Senator at the same time since his seat is not up for reelection.

On the other hand you could run.