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David in Canada

(512 posts)

32. Absolute Majority Needed

Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:27 AM

Dec 2012

An absolute majority of House members is necessary to elect a Speaker, abstentions excepted.

If every person elected is sworn in and votes on January 3rd, John Boehner (or anyone else, for that matter) needs 218 votes to be elected Speaker. If no candidate is elected Speaker, a fresh vote is held until a person is elected.

While there is no precedent of this in the American system, standard parliamentary procedure is that a new round of voting is held until one person gets 218 votes. Candidates can be nominated or dropped each round.

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Report: Right wing plots coup to oust Boehner [View all] DonViejo Dec 2012 OP

They'll leave a trail of bourbon shots to a farm up state, where he can play and run free. JoePhilly Dec 2012 #1

Ah, the secret ballot, a favorite among the transparent-government crowd arcane1 Dec 2012 #2

That struck me too.. always the sniveling little cowards. Cha Dec 2012 #29

Yaaa! Goo Teabaggers...! Nothing like concentrating the crazynesss... to help Katashi_itto Dec 2012 #3

Will they send him home on one of their nifty buses? KansDem Dec 2012 #4

How many are missing Bugman these days? Roland99 Dec 2012 #5

I hope they succeed DJ13 Dec 2012 #6

IT'S TIME FOR THE PITY PARTY!!! Crowman1979 Dec 2012 #7

+1 Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2012 #46

+1000 n/t DeSwiss Dec 2012 #50

. 99th_Monkey Dec 2012 #8

OK well if we know about the plan don't you think Boner knows? I bet he already knows. southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #9

Probably. OTOH, TDale313 Dec 2012 #27

Yes but then again they still are in denial they lost the election. They think they still southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #39

Good. nt onehandle Dec 2012 #10

boner knows the crazy ass mf`s in the republican party want him gone madrchsod Dec 2012 #11

I would expect if they picked someone further to the right of John.. PatrynXX Dec 2012 #12

So we get Cantor. This is an improvement? n/t malthaussen Dec 2012 #13

Yep. Watch their party continue to implode. 2014 will give us the House as well. n/t eggplant Dec 2012 #15

If we dedicate ourselves to GOTV, it could definitely happen. Otherwise we get more RW radicals.... Hekate Dec 2012 #53

The baggers want Paul Ryan. Kablooie Dec 2012 #35

No malz Dec 2012 #47

The House will be in total chaos bucolic_frolic Dec 2012 #14

I love it Mz Pip Dec 2012 #16

Bullshit railsback Dec 2012 #17

We all have our opinions, but the knives have been out since 2010. DCKit Dec 2012 #40

Lobbying to be Speaker is hardly a low-brow affair. railsback Dec 2012 #44

Yet you think that's going to disqualify him from the position. DCKit Dec 2012 #48

Just when the people thought they had seen cosmicone Dec 2012 #18

How much would be accomplished with a Speaker who's to the right of Boner? groundloop Dec 2012 #19

Happy happy, joy joy L0oniX Dec 2012 #20

If the GOP splits their votes, doesn't Pelosi win BainsBane Dec 2012 #21

The majority party elects the speaker. DCKit Dec 2012 #41

Everyone doesn't get a vote? BainsBane Dec 2012 #45

Everyone votes; each party nominates someone for Speaker, but the majority party has always won Melinda Dec 2012 #51

How many votes does Boehner need to survive as speaker? Ken Burch Dec 2012 #22

Apparently a majority of the House is needed No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #26

Absolute Majority Needed David in Canada Dec 2012 #32

The Whole House David in Canada Dec 2012 #30

What would happen if NOBODY was elected speaker? Ken Burch Dec 2012 #36

very entertaining watching them implode JanT Dec 2012 #23

Here's a handy hint for the Coup plotters... brooklynite Dec 2012 #24

Damned straight. sofa king Dec 2012 #25

But it is fun watching them fight each other loyalkydem Dec 2012 #28

It would be very hard for them to elect someone to the right of Boehner. Jim Lane Dec 2012 #31

If a non-member is elected, that person No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #34

That's true, but by custom the Speaker doesn't vote anyway, except in case of a tie. (n/t) Jim Lane Dec 2012 #37

Huntsman? You gotta be kidding wordpix Dec 2012 #42

A flaw in the plot? creeksneakers2 Dec 2012 #33

Of course, right-wingers don't know the Constitution. NYC Liberal Dec 2012 #38

ah, yes, the Constitution - good find wordpix Dec 2012 #43

GOP..... DeSwiss Dec 2012 #49

Best of all, Chas. Krauthmmer credits Obama's "ruthless skill"...to "fracture and shatter" the GOP Hekate Dec 2012 #52