The role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is central to the functioning of the U.S. government, yet little is known about the history and workings of this influential office. In this insightful and informative book, George Rothwell Brown provides a detailed and engaging account of the history and powers of the Speaker, tracing its evolution from colonial times to the present day. With a keen eye for detail and a wealth of fascinating anecdotes, Brown sheds light on the people and events that have shaped this vital institution. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.