The House is set to consider a new rules package on Friday, following the speakership vote, which could make it harder to remove a sitting Speaker for the next two years.
On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled the proposed rules for the 119th Congress. Among the key changes is an increase in the number of majority party members required to initiate a “motion to vacate” the Speaker’s position. If adopted, this change would raise the threshold from one member to nine, significantly limiting the ability to force a no-confidence vote against the Speaker.
According to Punchbowl News, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), who is seeking to retain his position as Speaker, has been actively garnering support over the holiday break. Meanwhile, some members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus have reportedly been searching for an alternative candidate or negotiating concessions.
The motion-to-vacate rule has been modified several times over the years. In 2019, during Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) tenure as Speaker, Democrats changed the rule to require a majority of either party to bring the motion to the floor. This shift came after Republicans used the procedure against then-Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) in 2015, which led to his resignation. However, when the GOP regained the majority in 2023, the rule reverted to allowing a single member to initiate the process, a change that ultimately contributed to the removal of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in October 2023.
Following weeks of gridlock, Rep. Mike Johnson was elected as the 56th Speaker of the House in late October 2023. Now running to retain the position, Johnson is buoyed by an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump but faces opposition from some GOP members due to ongoing disputes over spending. A simple majority is needed to secure the speakership, and it remains unclear if any Democrats will support Johnson.
The proposed rules package includes additional provisions beyond altering the motion-to-vacate threshold. These include authorizing subpoenas for investigations involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, consideration of immigration-related bills, sanctions addressing actions by the International Criminal Court, and a rebranding of the Office of Congressional Ethics as the Office of Congressional Conduct.
